New data from the Marist Poll reveals a city deeply divided and a Mayor struggling to capture the broad support seen by previous occupants of City Hall. Despite a shift in the city’s sentiment, Mamdani’s personal approval rating stands at a lukewarm 48%, significantly underperforming the 61% approval Eric Adams held at the same milestone in 2022.
The numbers suggest a “wait-and-see” skepticism is defining the early Mamdani era. Nearly one in four New Yorkers (23%) say they are still unsure how to rate his performance, and his support is heavily localized.
While he maintains majorities in Brooklyn and Manhattan, he has failed to win over the outer boroughs; in Staten Island, a crushing 57% majority already disapproves of his leadership, while nearly a quarter of Queens residents remain undecided on his effectiveness.
Though 56% of residents say the city is moving in the right direction—a rebound from the lows of late 2025—this optimism does not seem to translate directly into a mandate for the Mayor.
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A substantial 41% of New Yorkers admit they have little to no trust in Mamdani to make decisions in the best interest of the five boroughs. Furthermore, 45% of the city either believes he is changing New York for the worse or not changing it at all.
The partisan divide also remains a significant hurdle for the administration. While Mamdani enjoys solid backing from his Democratic base, he has failed to make inroads with the rest of the electorate. Among independent voters, 57% believe the city is still heading down the wrong track, and a 41% plurality disapproves of his job performance.
Comparatively, the report highlights areas where Mamdani is falling short of historical benchmarks. He is currently perceived as less “caring” than both Eric Adams and Bill de Blasio were during their first 100 days.
While 74% acknowledge he is “working hard,” the translation of that effort into perceived results remains lumpy across the different demographics of the city.
The Marist Poll, conducted March 26th through March 31st, surveyed 1,454 adults across the five boroughs. With a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points, the data suggests that while the city’s mood has stabilized since the fall, Mayor Mamdani has yet to establish the broad, citywide confidence typically seen during a new mayor’s “honeymoon” period.
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