Nearly half, 49.1%, of New York Asian American voters cast their votes Tuesday for Zohran Mamdani, who is set to become New York City’s first Muslim mayor, the first mayor of South Asian descent, and the first foreign-born mayor in nearly 50 years, according to a recent exit poll.
Findings also showed that 33.8% of Asian American voters supported Andrew Cuomo. Among South Asian voters, however, support for Mamdani was overwhelming — 87.2% cast their ballots for him, compared to only 9.6% for Cuomo. Notably, 20% of Trump voters voted for Mamdani in the mayoral race.
The findings were part of a nonpartisan exit poll conducted by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans, in partnership with the Asian American Federation (AAF), an advocacy organization centered on amplifying the influence and enhancing the well-being of the pan-Asian American community.
More than 70 volunteers surveyed 1,268 voters on Election Day, across Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx in 11 languages, including English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Voting patterns also reflected national political divides. Nearly three-quarters of respondents who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 backed Mamdani, while 65% of those who voted for Donald Trump supported Cuomo.
The economy, particularly jobs, was cited as the top issue by 50.2% of respondents, followed by public safety, with 31.9% of respondents choosing it as the top issue. Other key concerns included democracy, housing, and healthcare. Voters who supported Cuomo were more likely to prioritize public safety, while those who backed Mamdani placed greater emphasis on democracy and housing.
Asian American youth, historically the least likely to vote within the community, turned out in much higher numbers this election. The exit poll showed that while 10% of respondents said they were first-time voters, that figure doubled to 20% among those aged 18 to 29.
Also Read: Why Young Asian-American Voters Chose Mamdani
On Election Day, several young Chinese voters told Documented that Mamdani’s message of affordability and optimism gave them something to hope for and vote for, compelling them to head to the polls.
More than half of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with how the Trump administration has handled immigration policy, with 40.4% saying they “strongly disapprove” and another 18.1% saying they “disapprove.”
In addition to conducting the exit poll, AALDEF monitored poll sites across New York City to ensure compliance with voting rights laws.
你知道吗？非公民办理驾照时的这个错误可能会导致选民欺诈
“Asian American communities are a force in New York City elections — that is undeniable,” said Bethany Li, executive director of AALDEF. “Our communities have too often been ignored by those in power, but elected officials and political candidates can no longer afford to overlook our voices or our priorities.”
Community leaders also noted that the exit poll results highlighted that amid growing threats to the social safety net caused by the federal shutdown, concerns about programs like SNAP and the broader economy have been rising among Asian Americans.
“The results of the exit poll show that Asian American voters in New York City are not a monolith — they are discerning, issue-driven, and deeply engaged in shaping the city’s future,” said Catherine Chen, chief executive officer of AAF. “When half of our community names the economy as their top concern, and at a time when SNAP benefits are being taken away, it’s a reminder that elected leaders must engage with us not only during election season but in shaping policies that secure opportunity and fairness year-round.”
