New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is entering City Hall with significant wind at his back, according to a new Siena College poll released this December. The survey indicates that Mamdani’s favorability has seen a double-digit jump as voters across the state begin to embrace the progressive’s core policy proposals. Currently, Mamdani holds a net favorability of plus 15 statewide, with his support in New York City reaching a robust 61%.
The “honeymoon” surge is largely attributed to a softening of opposition among independent voters and a growing statewide appetite for his affordability platform. Most notably, two-thirds of New York State voters now support Mamdani’s plan for universal free childcare for infants through pre-K, even when presented with the trade-off of increased taxes on residents earning more than $1 million. In the city, a narrow majority also backs his proposal to eliminate bus fares, signaling a mandate for the transformative economic shifts he promised on the campaign trail.
Siena pollster Steven Greenberg noted that while Mamdani remains a polarizing figure along party lines—with two-thirds of Republicans viewing his election as a negative—he has successfully made inroads with those outside his initial base. Independent voters, who viewed him unfavorably just last month, now lean in his favor by a six-point margin. Furthermore, voters are increasingly optimistic about the incoming administration’s ability to work with other leaders; a growing plurality now believes Mamdani can maintain a functional relationship with President Trump to benefit the city, a significant shift from previous months of skepticism.
As Mamdani prepares to take office on January 1, 2026, as the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, analysts suggest his long-term success will depend on his ability to maintain this momentum. While his early administrative appointments and bold policy goals have energized the electorate, the transition from campaign rhetoric to municipal results will be the true test of his burgeoning popularity.
