10/5: Mayor de Blasio with 42-Point Lead

NBC 4 New York/Marist New York City Poll

In the contest for New York City mayor, Democratic incumbent Bill de Blasio leads his closest competitor, Republican Nicole Malliotakis, by 42 points among likely voters citywide including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate. In his 2013 victory, de Blasio had a 49-point margin over his closest opponent.

Mayor de Blasio has the support of 58% of likely voters citywide to 16% for Malliotakis. Independent candidate Bo Dietl and Reform Party candidate Sal Albanese each receive 5%. One percent supports Smart Cities Party candidate Michael Tolkin, and 1% of likely voters volunteered another candidate. 15% are undecided. Among registered voters, de Blasio, 55%, outpaces Malliotakis, 15%, by 40 points. The support for Dietl, 5%, Albanese, 5%, or Tolkin, 2%, is in single digits. One percent support someone else, and 17% are undecided.

“As the first debate of the general election draws near, Mayor de Blasio has a formidable advantage over his challengers,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “He may not reach the margin of victory he achieved in 2013, but right now, the mayor has points to give.”

In NBC 4 New York/Marist’s September survey, de Blasio, 65%, was ahead of Malliotakis, 18%, among likely voters in New York City including those who were undecided yet leaning toward a candidate.

Among likely voters with a candidate preference, 53% say they strongly support their choice of candidate for New York City mayor. Mayor de Blasio’s supporters, 57%, are more firmly committed to their choice of candidate than Malliotakis’ backers, 50%.

Looking at Mayor de Blasio’s job approval rating, 42% of registered voters citywide think de Blasio is doing either an excellent, 7%, or good, 35%, job in office. His approval score is little changed from the 44% he received in September. 29% currently think he is doing a fair job, and 23% say he is performing poorly as mayor of New York City.

Most city residents think Mayor de Blasio has not improved the affordability of the Big Apple during his tenure. 48% say the city is about as affordable as it was before de Blasio became mayor while 38% believe it is less affordable. Only 10% of adults in New York City consider it to be more affordable. There has been little change on this question since it was last reported in September.

Registered voters citywide remain divided about the direction of the city. 46% think the five boroughs are headed in the right direction while 43% believe they are moving in the wrong one. When this question was reported last month, 47% thought the city was on track while 43% believed it was off course.

Complete October 5, 2017 NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll NYC Release

Complete October 5, 2017 NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll of NYC (Tables of Adults and Registered Voters)

Complete October 5, 2017 NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll of NYC (Tables of Likely Voters)

Marist Poll Methodology

Nature of the Sample