NEW YORK CITY — What once looked like a runaway race for progressive Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has turned into a full-fledged mayoral showdown, as a new Suffolk University poll shows former Governor Andrew Cuomo cutting Mamdani’s lead in half just one week before Election Day.

The survey, released Monday, finds Mamdani leading Cuomo 44% to 34% among likely voters — a sharp drop from the 20-point lead Mamdani enjoyed in September. Republican Curtis Sliwa trails in third place at 11%, with 7% of voters still undecided and four minor candidates collectively drawing 2%.

The tightening race comes after Mayor Eric Adams dropped his reelection bid and endorsed Cuomo, giving the former governor a late boost. Cuomo’s comeback is driven partly by growing dissatisfaction with Mamdani’s far-left platform, as many moderate and independent voters appear to be coalescing behind Cuomo as a stabilizing alternative.

Suffolk’s polling director David Paleologos said the data shows Sliwa’s 11% support could prove decisive, as his voters currently split the anti-Mamdani bloc that Cuomo needs to win. “There is one person in New York City whose voters could have an outsized impact on the outcome,” Paleologos said. “It’s Curtis Sliwa — whose base is blocking Cuomo from overtaking Mamdani.”

Notably, the survey reveals that Cuomo’s rise is fueled as much by opposition to Mamdani as by enthusiasm for the former governor himself. Among Cuomo’s backers, 40% said they are voting “for” him, while another 40% are voting mainly “against” Mamdani. In contrast, 79% of Mamdani’s supporters said they are backing him out of genuine support rather than opposition.

Demographically, Cuomo has made major gains among Hispanic and independent voters. He is now running even among Hispanic New Yorkers after trailing by 30 points just a month ago, and he leads independents by 10 points — a dramatic reversal from September, when he lagged behind by 18 points.

Pollsters note that if Sliwa were not in the race, many of his voters would shift to Cuomo, potentially flipping the election. Among respondents, 32% named Cuomo as their second choice, compared to just 3% for Mamdani.

As early voting surges to record levels across the five boroughs, New York’s political landscape appears to be tightening into a high-stakes contest between Mamdani’s progressive coalition and Cuomo’s bid for a centrist revival. With one week to go, both campaigns are ramping up outreach efforts — and the city’s voters are bracing for one of the most unpredictable finishes in recent memory.