Registered NYC Democrats were asked: Who do you back for mayor in 2026 — and the results are overwhelming

Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo would handily win a ranked choice Democratic primary election for mayor, a new poll projected — as embattled incumbent Eric Adams trailed the pack.

Cuomo dominated the field of likely opponents in a ranked-choice election — even though he hasn’t officially jumped into the race for City Hall, according to the poll, conducted by Democratic activist group Progressive Democrats of America.

Here’s who New Yorkers are backing for mayor in 2026:

Some 32% of those polled picked Cuomo as their favorite candidate, with former city Comptroller Scott Stringer trailing far behind with 10%, followed by city Comptroller Brad Lander at 8%, Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos at 7%.

Adams was the top choice of only 6% of those polled, tying him with Assemblymember Zohran Mandani.

In a projected ranked-choice scenario, Cuomo would win on the fifth round with 51% of the Democratic vote, to 16% for Stringer, and 14% apiece for Ramos and Lander, according to the poll.

Adams would be eliminated with just 8% of the vote followed by Mamdani, with 7%, the poll determined.

Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie and former Bronx state Assemblyman Michael Blake get 2% each.

Oddly, the survey included former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. —an Adams ally — who garnered 10%.in a ranked choice contest.

The poll, first reported by Politico, was conducted between Dec. 16 and Dec. 22.

Adams is seeking re-election while fighting federal corruption charges and low approval ratings.

The survey showed 71% of respondents had a negative view of Adams, compared to 22% who had a positive view.

By comparison, 48% of Democrats viewed Cuomo favorably, while 44% said they had a negative view of the governor.

Adams dismissed the survey during a press briefing Monday .

He noted that businessman Andrew Yang had a significant double digit lead over him in a February 2021 poll for mayor.

“They were calling him mayor. They were measuring the drapes,” Adams said during a press briefing Monday.

“Polls don’t make mayors. People do. I don’t focus on polls.”

He said he didn’t start life on “third base” — perhaps a subtle shot at Cuomo, the son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

“No one handed me an empire,” Adams said.

Alluding to his legal and political challenges, Adams said “it’s so amazing I’m still in it. I’m still here.”

Experts questioned if the poll represented the larger Democratic voter base in the city.

“This is a poll from a far left group that clearly over-samples liberal voters and also includes two candidates who take directly from the mayor’s base — Cuomo and Diaz — who will not run against Eric—so it’s nonsense,” a source close to the Adams’ campaign said.

“We know that in the current field, Eric is the front runner. We also know that his numbers improve when voters hear about his opponents’ irresponsible positions on crime,” the Adams’ insider said.

Cuomo resigned as governor in August of 2021 under the threat of impeachment following a slew of sexual misconduct accusations that he denies.

Cuomo is not a candidate for mayor but he is mulling a run.

His camp declined comment.

But a former top Cuomo aide, Melissa DeRosa, said last month that she reviewed other polls that indicated that Cuomo would win a ranked choice primary if he decides to run.

“[Cuomo] starts out as the clear front runner and it’s not just because of his name ID,” DeRosa said. 

She believes that supporters of former city Comptroller Scott Stringer and state Sens. Zellnor Myrie of Brooklyn and Ramos — all announced candidates for mayor — are likely to rank Cuomo as their second choice.

Stringer’s camp also brushed off the survey.

“New Yorkers aren’t going to replace one corrupt showboat with another who spent eight years selling out New York City and cares more about rehabilitating his own image than improving New Yorkers’ lives,” Stringer campaign spokesperson Alyssa Cass said.

“Scott is leading the current field and is best positioned to close the curtains on Andrew Cuomo’s potential vanity act.”