One-third of Jewish voters backed Mamdani, Cuomo swept Orthodox strongholds
Exit poll shows deep political and cultural divides within New York’s Jewish community, as younger progressive Jews backed Zohran Mamdani while Orthodox neighborhoods turned out overwhelmingly for Andrew Cuomo
NEW YORK (MNTV) — A CNN exit poll has revealed striking divisions within New York City’s Jewish electorate during this year’s mayoral race.
While about one-third of Jewish voters supported Zohran Mamdani, the progressive Queens assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, nearly two-thirds backed former Governor Andrew Cuomo, the independent centrist who dominated Orthodox and more conservative enclaves across the city.
According to CNN, 33% of Jewish respondents voted for Mamdani, 63% for Cuomo, and only 3% for Republican Curtis Sliwa. The poll’s Jewish sample included roughly 710 voters, though the network did not release details about its methodology or margin of error.
Because New York City does not record voters’ religion or ethnicity, analysts rely on geographic data to interpret voting patterns. That data shows a clear religious and generational split.
In Hasidic and Orthodox neighborhoods such as Williamsburg, Crown Heights, and Boro Park, Cuomo captured overwhelming majorities — often above 90%. In one Boro Park precinct, he secured more than 96% of the vote, making it his single strongest area in the city.
These communities, which tend to prioritize public safety, religious education funding, and close relations with city authorities, have long maintained close ties with establishment figures like Cuomo.
Community leaders reportedly viewed Mamdani’s criticism of Israeli crimes and calls to redirect police funding with suspicion, helping consolidate the Orthodox vote behind Cuomo.
But just a few blocks away, in gentrified corners of Brooklyn and Queens, Mamdani found robust support. Neighborhoods such as Astoria, Long Island City, Greenpoint, and parts of Park Slope voted for him in landslide numbers, often exceeding 80%.
Many younger and secular Jewish voters in these areas were drawn to Mamdani’s message of social justice, affordable housing, and opposition to corporate influence in politics.
Cuomo also performed strongly in affluent Manhattan precincts, especially on the Upper East Side and parts of the Upper West Side. Both areas include large but diverse Jewish populations — blending older liberal voters with younger professionals — yet the former governor’s appeal to moderation and experience won out.
Political observers say the results reflect broader cultural fault lines within American Jewry. “The Jewish vote in New York is not monolithic,” said Sarah Klein, a senior analyst at the Gotham Institute for Civic Studies.
“Younger Jews are far more likely to identify with progressive movements and question traditional party loyalties, while Orthodox voters remain deeply pragmatic and loyal to leaders who protect their communal interests.”
The 2025 election results have thus underscored how New York’s Jewish community — once considered a cohesive voting bloc — now mirrors the city’s wider ideological polarization. As Mamdani’s movement reshapes local politics, the contest for Jewish voters’ future allegiance may prove to be one of the defining stories of the city’s next political era.
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