Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned under a cloud, would win a special election to replace under-fire New York Mayor Eric Adams if such a vote were to take place today, a new poll shows.
The poll by political consultancy firm Catapult solutions Released Saturday showed Cuomo beating Public Advocate Jumaane Williams in a simulated ranked-choice voting election to replace Adams.
The survey also found that a majority of voters – 52 percent – believe Adams should resign if indicted in an ongoing FBI investigation into allegations of campaign finance violations.
Adams was not charged and denies any wrongdoing, but last month the FBI searched his electronic devices as part of a reported investigation into possible illegal campaign donations from foreign entities, including the Turkish government.
The new poll lights the way to a political comeback for Cuomo, the Democrat who was once touted as a likely presidential candidate but who resigned as governor in 2021 following sexual harassment allegations, which he denied.
Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned under a cloud, would win a special election to replace under-fire New York Mayor Eric Adams, a new poll shows
Cuomo would win support from 22 percent of New Yorkers in a bid for mayor if Adams resigns or is removed from office, surpassing Jumaane Williams with 15 percent
The new polls show Cuomo would have the support of 22 percent of New Yorkers in a bid to become mayor if Adams resigns or is removed from office, surpassing Williams by 15 percent.
In a simulated ranked choice, the multiple-choice method New York City now uses for local offices, Cuomo emerged victorious after eleven rounds of elimination, defeating Williams 64 percent to 36 percent.
However, over a third of voters in the simulated election said they were unsure who they would vote for, leaving a large number of votes up for grabs.
For weeks, multiple media reports citing unnamed sources close to Cuomo have indicated he is considering a mayoral bid, in what appears to be trial balloons for a possible run.
A spokesperson for Cuomo declined to comment on his potential interest in the mayor's office when reached by DailyMail.com on Saturday morning.
“While Andrew Cuomo leads the field largely due to his name recognition, the significant division within the field shows that there are many New Yorkers who are looking for other options or are undecided,” said Slingshot Founding Partner Evan Roth. Smith, who conducted the survey.
“These numbers show Cuomo is well positioned, but a special election could be his for the taking as 'not sure' is currently the top choice,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Slingshot poll found that support for Adams, the once-popular mayor, is waning.
A majority of voters – 52 percent – say Adams (above) should resign if indicted in an ongoing FBI investigation into allegations of campaign finance violations
In a simulated ranked choice, the multiple-choice method New York City now uses for local offices, Cuomo emerged victorious in an immediate runoff after eleven rounds.
A majority of respondents believe Adams has done something unethical or illegal, with 26 percent of voters saying they think he broke the law, and 34 percent saying they think he did something unethical but not illegal done.
Adams' favorable rating in the poll was only 36 percent, with 50 percent of voters having an unfavorable view of the mayor.
If charges are filed, Adams will be forced to fight a legal battle while in office or resign. New York Governor Kathy Hochul would also have the option to remove him from office if formal charges are filed.
Should the latter scenario occur, it could lead to chaotic, sixty-day open elections to find a replacement
Much of the fuss surrounding Cuomo would depend on the outcome of the federal investigation into Adams.
After the FBI seized his phones and iPad in the first week of November, the first-term Democrat reiterated Tuesday that he was cooperating with what he called a “review” and said he would not speculate on its outcome.
The federal investigation entered the public spotlight on Nov. 2 when agents searched the home of Adams' chief fundraiser during his 2021 mayoral campaign, Briana Suggs.
If Adams resigns, he will immediately be replaced by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (above) for 60 days until an election is held.
The development prompted Adams to leave a planned meeting at the White House and fly home from Washington, later explaining that he wanted to be among his staffers because “there needs to be a leader here in those tough times.”
Four days later, after the search of Suggs' home, FBI agents stopped Adams as he left a public event, asked his police security officer to step away and took his electronic devices.
The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan, which is overseeing the investigation, declined to comment. A spokesperson for Suggs also declined to comment. Neither she nor Adams have been accused of wrongdoing.
The New York Times reported that a search warrant indicated that authorities were investigating whether the Adams campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources, funneled through straw donors.
