‘Enjoy The Honeymoon’: New York Voters Warm To Mamdani, His Socialist Policies, Poll Shows

Voters are bracing for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and some of his left-leaning policy priorities, according to a University of Siena poll released Tuesday.

Mamdani, a self-described socialist, had a 46% favorable rating statewide in New York, marking an increase from his 40% favorable rating last month, according to the new poll. Meanwhile, by a margin of 49 to 32 percent, up from 45 to 39 percent in November, voters statewide believe Mamdani’s mayoral victory on Nov. 4 will be good for New York City, according to the poll. (RELATED: Some in Mamdani’s radical base are already ‘seething’ over his decisions)

Among New York City voters alone, 66% said electing Mamdani would be good for the city, while 25% said it would be bad for the city, according to the poll. That marks an increase from November, when 57% of voters said his election was a good thing for the city and 26% said it was a bad thing, according to the poll.

“Enjoy your honeymoon, Mayor-elect Mamdani,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement. “Two-thirds of Democrats statewide view him favorably. Independent voters now lean six points favorably, up from six points unfavorable in November. And while he is viewed favorably in New York, between 61 and 23 percent, voters outside the city, who were decidedly negative toward him last month, are now close to breaking even.”

“Two-thirds of city voters and a small majority of voters outside the Big Apple say Mamdani’s election will be good for New York City. Two-thirds of Democrats say his election is good and two-thirds of Republicans say it is bad. Independent voters, 43 to 30 percent, up from 38 to 40 percent last month, now say it will be a good one,” Greenberg continued.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference at District Council 37 (DC37) headquarters on December 12, 2025 in New York City. Mamdani held a press conference to announce the creation of an elected advisory committee made up of more than 100 elected officials after a private meeting at DC37 with members from all levels of government. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Mamdani has already promised to introduce a variety of “free” taxpayer-funded initiatives in the Big Apple, including “free” buses, “free” day care and city-run grocery stores, according to his campaign website. The democratic socialist also pledged to “use every tool available” to reduce rents, create “world-class public transportation” and “make it easier for New Yorkers to raise a family.”

The poll found that 65% of respondents said they would support universal, free child care for infants through kindergarten, funded by increased taxes on New York taxpayers earning more than $1 million, while 27% disapprove. Additionally, 50% of New York City voters favor eliminating bus fares in the city, financed by raising taxes on city taxpayers who earn more than $1 million, compared to 41% who disapprove of the move, according to the survey.

On November 21, Mamdani and President Donald Trump held a meeting in the Oval Office that was widely described as friendly. Trump said during the meeting that he thinks Mamdani has the opportunity to “really do something big for New York.”

The Siena poll showed New York voters were 20 points more likely to believe the mayor-elect and president would have a positive working relationship that would benefit the city.

“Even after the friendly Oval Office meeting between the mayor-elect and President Trump last month, a majority of voters still believe Mamdani and Trump will not work together to improve the quality of life for New Yorkers, 47 to 29 percent,” Greenberg noted. “However, it’s an improvement from November’s 67-14%. Significant movement on this issue occurred across the board, from Democrats, Republicans, independents, as well as voters inside and outside the city.”

The Siena poll was conducted Dec. 8-12 among 801 registered voters in New York state. The survey has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

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