Big Apple goes red
Report: 56% of New Yorkers Support Mamdani Socialism
A new citywide poll suggests that Zohran Mamdani has managed to pull New York politics noticeably to the left, even as a large share of voters remain uneasy about how far his agenda can realistically go.
While many across the United States and around the world are concerned by the policies proposed and planned by Zohran Mamdani and his incoming administration in the nation's biggest city, it seems his local voters may disagree. A new citywide poll suggests that the new Mayor has managed to pull New York politics noticeably to the left, even as a large share of residents remain uneasy about how far his agenda can realistically go.
According to the latest 5 Borough Barometer survey conducted by the Honan Strategy Group, 56 percent of New York City voters say they support Mamdani’s brand of democratic socialism, while 39 percent oppose it. The results point to growing openness among city voters to policies centered on expansive public spending and government-provided services, even as skepticism persists about cost and feasibility.
Voters are nearly evenly split over whether Mamdani’s views represent the Democratic mainstream in the city. Forty-five percent of respondents described his policies as mainstream, while 47 percent said they fall far outside it. The divide underscores a city still negotiating what “normal” Democratic politics looks like in the post-pandemic, post-Biden era.
Bradley Honan, president of the polling firm, said the findings reflect a broader ideological shift. In his words, New York Democrats are continuing a leftward migration, and Mamdani has become a particularly effective messenger. By pairing ambitious proposals with accessible rhetoric, Honan argued, the mayor has made democratic socialism more palatable to voters who might once have dismissed it outright.
The poll also asked voters to assess the overall direction of the city’s Democratic Party. Forty-two percent said it is moving too far left, while 38 percent believe it is heading in the right direction. Another 10 percent said the party is not going far enough. Taken together, the numbers suggest enthusiasm for progressive ideas exists, but it is far from universal or settled.
Where Mamdani appears to run into trouble is on money. Many voters doubt whether the city can afford his agenda, which includes taxpayer-funded child care, expanded bus service, and other large-scale public investments. Implementing those promises would require an estimated $9 billion in new revenue, largely through higher taxes on corporations and wealthy residents.
When asked about the city’s financial resilience, 44 percent of voters said New York is already stretched thin and would not be able to sustain new spending if federal aid were reduced. Only 32 percent said the city’s finances are sound enough to absorb federal budget cuts while still moving ahead with Mamdani’s plans. The remainder were either split or unsure.
Concerns about long-term sustainability were similarly pronounced. Forty-four percent of respondents said Mamdani’s proposals risk future budget deficits. Just 27 percent believe they are financially sustainable, while 20 percent described them as a mix of both.
The poll surveyed 848 voters between December 4 and 12 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.36 percentage points.
The takeaway is less a ringing endorsement than a complicated mandate. Mamdani has succeeded in making left-wing ideas popular with a majority of voters, but he has not fully convinced the city that his vision can be paid for, especially in an era of uncertain federal support. In New York, democratic socialism may now be fashionable, but it is still on probation.