Zohran Mamdani's First 100 Days: A Look at New York City's Approval Ratings and Expectations
As Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, nears his first 100 days in office, a recent survey reveals that approximately half of city residents approve of his performance. According to the Marist Institute for Public Opinion survey released on Wednesday, 48% of residents approve of Mamdani's work, while 30% disapprove, and 23% are undecided. The survey also indicates that 55% of residents have a favorable view of him, and 56% believe the city is heading in the right direction, showing an improvement from previous years.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents believe that Mamdani is working diligently as mayor, with 61% acknowledging his understanding of the city's challenges. A majority also considers him a good leader who cares about the people and is focused on uniting rather than dividing the city. Over half of the residents express trust in Mamdani to make decisions in the city's best interest, and 60% believe he is fulfilling his campaign promises.
Despite his positive ratings, the survey highlights that Mamdani's approval rating falls behind that of his predecessor Eric Adams at the same point in their terms. In comparison to Adams, Mamdani's approval rating is more aligned with that of Bill de Blasio in 2014. However, the survey notes that Mamdani surpasses both Adams and de Blasio in terms of effecting positive change in New York City, particularly among registered voters.
The survey, conducted between March 26 and March 31, 2026, polled 1,454 New York City residents and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. Lee M Miringoff, the director of the Marist poll, described the results as a promising start for Mamdani, emphasizing that New York City residents are discerning and that Mamdani still has to prove himself in the role.