New Yorkers are famously tough critics, but a fresh SlingShot Strategies survey of city voters reveals some love (and some lingering scorn) for today’s biggest political names, including one major surprise.
Click through to see who’s riding high and who’s barely breaking even. We’ll start from the top.
Hillary Clinton (+54)
Seven years removed from her last campaign, the former senator and secretary of state still enjoys rock‑star status at home. More than half of respondents give Clinton positive marks, underscoring her enduring brand as a trailblazer and hometown favorite.
Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez (+50)
The progressive firebrand from Queens and the Bronx continues to energize young voters and the left flank of the Democratic Party. AOC’s sizable net‑favorability shows that, despite national controversy, New Yorkers largely applaud her outspoken advocacy on climate, housing, and labor rights.
It’s worth noting that the congresswoman’s presidential odds have surged on prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket.
In fact, AOC now has a 14% chance to win the Democratic primary, placing her behind only one front-runner, California Governor Gavin Newsom who currently has a 19% chance to represent the party in the general election.
Andrew Cuomo (+47)
After resigning in 2021 amid scandal, the former governor’s rehabilitation tour appears to be working…at least in the five boroughs. Voters remember his pandemic briefings and infrastructure wins, pushing him back into positive territory.
Curtis Sliwa (+47)
Tied with Cuomo but slotted here based on tiebreaker criteria, the red‑beret‑wearing founder of the Guardian Angels parlayed his crime‑fighting persona into a solid favorability score. Even after losing the 2021 mayoral race, Sliwa’s every‑man radio presence keeps him relatable.
Al Sharpton (+43)
The civil‑rights leader and MSNBC host remains a fixture in city politics. While his national profile can polarize, Sharpton’s decades of activism still resonate with many Black and progressive New Yorkers, earning him a healthy net‑positive.
Zohran Mamdani (+42)
A rising Democratic Socialist assembly‑member from Astoria parlayed his profile into a Democratic primary win for the current New York City Mayor race.
Mamdani is best known for pushing bold housing and transit reforms. His profile is surging in the city, as his grassroots style is clearly clicking with local voters.
Donald Trump (+38)
The Queens‑born former president posts a surprisingly competitive number in deep‑blue NYC, yet it still lands him in the bottom third. His courtroom drama and polarizing rhetoric continue to divide the electorate, but it’s no surprise that some New Yorkers still love him.
Jessica Tisch (+38)
New York City’s sanitation commissioner ties Trump in net favorability but ranks lower because fewer respondents felt strongly about her either way. Still, the “Trash Czar” earns praise for cleaner streets and the city’s new containerization pilot.
Eric Adams (+37)
Rounding out the list is the current mayor. While Adams touts crime declines and a pro‑business agenda, concerns about housing costs, migrant‑shelter spending, and ethics probes drag his net favorability to the bottom of the pack.
