ERNA NY Poll Shows Andrew Yang Leading in NYC Mayoral Race
COVID-19 Response & Relief a Top Priority for New Yorkers
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Dec. 21, 2020)—Education Reform Now Advocacy New York (ERNA NY), a partner organization of Democrats for Education Reform New York (DFER NY), released a poll today revealing that Andrew Yang and Eric Adams have emerged as top contenders for the 2021 mayoral race, with 4 in 10 New Yorkers still undecided.
The poll found that responding to COVID-19 was the preeminent concern (18%) for voters when choosing a mayoral candidate, with nearly half of respondents (48%)—and 51% of parents— also saying NYC Public Schools did not provide the necessary resources for students to succeed during the pandemic and two-thirds (63%) reporting there was not enough assistance with childcare. A whopping 77% of survey respondents also said the next Mayor of New York City should make bridging the digital divide for students a top priority.
“Until we address the digital divide, too many of our students will be left behind” said DFER NY State Director Crisanta Duran. “Our next mayor should absolutely make digital learning a priority, but we also need to take more immediate steps to provide our students with broadband access, like passing the E-LEARN Act.”
Also of note, 75% of respondents support changing New York’s current funding model so the students most in need have increased funding to achieve greater equity in education.
“The COVID-19 crisis has greatly exacerbated inequity in our city, especially for our students,” said Duran. “We urge our next mayor to take bold action to address educational inequity so that every child has the chance for a brighter future.”
The breakdown of first-choice support for 2021 Democratic mayoral candidates is as follows:
- Andrew Yang 17%
- Eric Adams 16%
- Maya Wiley 7%
- Christine Quinn 6%
- Dianne Morales 5%
- Scott Stringer 5%
- Raymond McGuire 4%
- Someone else/not sure 40%
Favorability of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio hovers at 39%, with 56% of likely Democratic voters holding an unfavorable view. In contrast, 76% of likely Democratic voters hold a favorable view of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, with only 22% disapproving.
The New York City Democratic Primary for the Mayoral election will be held on June 22, 2021.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 755 likely Democratic primary voters in New York City from December 16-17, 2020. The margin of error is +/- 3.6%. You can view the results here. This is the first release in a series examining support for issues impacting education reform in New York City.
About Education Reform Now Advocacy New York
Education Reform Now Advocacy New York is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that believes deeply in the power of communities and leaders to drive innovation in public education, and works to ensure that all children have access to a world-class education. ERNA is a partner of Democrats for Education Reform New York (DFER NY), a political action committee that seeks to elect leaders who will support policies that benefit all students—particularly Black and Latino students.
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