A recent poll of New York City residents reveals significant apprehension about the prospect of Zohran Mamdani being elected mayor. According to the survey:
- Roughly 9 percent of the city’s population (about 765,000 people) say they would definitely move away if Mamdani wins.
- About 25 percent (around 2.12 million people) say they are considering leaving.
- Older residents (ages 50–64), high‑income earners, white and Asian voters, and residents of Staten Island showed the strongest inclination toward relocation.
- Among Staten Island respondents, 21 percent said they would definitely leave, and another 54 percent said they would consider it.
- Popular destinations cited by those planning a move include states like Florida, the Carolinas, and Tennessee — often for lower taxes and cost of living.
- The poll accentuates fears among respondents that a Mamdani‑mayor term would bring severe economic or social shifts; words like “disaster” and “hell” were used in aggregate responses describing his potential leadership.
- Men were more likely than women to say they’d definitely leave (12 percent vs 7 percent).
- The timing of the poll is notable: as early voting is underway and the mayoral race is drawing intense scrutiny, the public’s expressed appetite to leave underscores the stakes.
Implications
If even a fraction of those saying they would leave actually follow through, the impact on New York City could be profound — affecting tax revenues, real‑estate markets, business investment, and the city’s workforce.
Such a large‑scale shift of residents could reshape the urban landscape — both socially and economically. Real‑estate developers, employers, and municipal finance officials may view the numbers as a warning sign.
Electoral campaigns are likely to leverage this data: opponents of Mamdani may use the poll as evidence of waning confidence among traditional city dwellers, while his supporters may argue that voters are merely reacting to fear‑based narratives.
