Mass legal immigration is reshaping New York City’s political landscape as socialist Zohran Mamdani leads the race for mayor, backed heavily by the city’s foreign-born voters. A new Patriot Polling survey shows Mamdani pulling ahead with 43% of the vote, beating out former Governor Andrew Cuomo (32%) and Republican Curtis Sliwa (19%).
Mamdani’s lead is driven almost entirely by non-native voters. Among foreign-born residents, he commands a striking 62% support rate—more than doubling Cuomo’s 24% and Sliwa’s 12%. In contrast, among native-born Americans in New York City, Mamdani trails Cuomo 40% to 31%, with Sliwa climbing to 25%.
Religious demographics also reflect a divide. Mamdani is notably weak among Catholic and Jewish voters, drawing only 29% and 30% support respectively. Cuomo dominates with 41% among Catholics and a commanding 63% among Jewish voters.
Despite Mamdani’s self-branding as a voice for the poor and working class, his core support is concentrated in Manhattan and Brooklyn—New York’s two most expensive boroughs. He leads with 47% in Manhattan, where average rent exceeds $5,700 per month, and 55% in Brooklyn, where rents average nearly $4,500.
The Bronx, which remains the city’s most affordable borough, slightly prefers Cuomo, while Staten Island voters largely reject Mamdani in favor of Cuomo and Sliwa. The geographic divide highlights the paradox of Mamdani’s campaign—a socialist candidate rising on elite, immigrant-heavy strongholds rather than broad working-class appeal.
