Key Points
- The New York Times compiles polls for the Washington, D.C. mayoral election 2026, focusing on those with a track record of accuracy in recent elections.
- Selected polls are conducted by members of professional polling organisations and use probability-based sampling methods.
- Polls carried out by or for partisan organisations are clearly labelled, as they tend to release results favourable only to their causes.
- Margins are calculated using unrounded vote shares when available.
- The Times conducts its own national and state polls in partnership with Siena University.
- Data sets powering this project are created by The New York Times and available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence, subject to attribution requirements.
- Data sets are offered as-is, with no warranties from The Times.
- Links provided for downloading presidential approval polls, averages, Senate polls, House polls, and governor polls for the 2026 cycle.
- Credits list contributors including Michael Andre, Camille Baker, Irineo Cabreros, Annie Daniel, Martín González Gómez, Ruth Igielnik, Jasmine C. Lee, Jenni Lee, Alex Lemonides, Ilana Marcus, Katherine Oung, and others.
Washington, D.C. (Evening Washington News) May 9, 2026 –
Washington, D.C., The New York Times has released the latest compilation of polls for the 2026 mayoral election, emphasising rigorous standards for inclusion. These polls prioritise accuracy from recent elections, membership in professional polling organisations, and probability-based sampling. Partisan polls are labelled accordingly to highlight potential biases in results favourable to specific causes.
Margins in these polls use unrounded vote shares where possible, ensuring precise calculations. The Times partners with Siena University for its national and state-level polling efforts, providing consistent data across elections.
What Criteria Define Reliable Polls for the D.C. Mayoral Race?
Reliable polls meet specific benchmarks set by The New York Times. They must demonstrate a track record of accuracy in recent elections, belong to professional polling organisations, and employ probability-based sampling.
As detailed in The New York Times poll tracker, polls from partisan organisations carry labels due to tendencies to favour their causes. This transparency aids voters in assessing results.
The data powering this project comes from The New York Times, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International, requiring proper attribution. Users accept these sets as-is, without express or implied warranties from The Times.
How Does the Times/Siena Partnership Shape D.C. Polling?
The Times conducts national and state polls with Siena University, including coverage relevant to D.C.’s mayoral contest. Follow their polling here.
This partnership ensures methodological consistency. Data downloads include presidential approval polls from Jan. 20, 2025, to present, available here.
Presidential approval averages follow the same period, downloadable here.
What Data Sets Are Available for Download?
Senate polls for the 2026 cycle can be downloaded here. House polls for 2026 are accessible here.
Governor polls for the cycle are provided here. These extend utility beyond D.C., covering broader 2026 races.
The Times notes differences for those migrating from FiveThirtyEight datasets, documented here.
Who Contributed to This Polling Project?
Credits go to Michael Andre, Camille Baker, Irineo Cabreros, Annie Daniel, Martín González Gómez, Ruth Igielnik, Jasmine C. Lee, Jenni Lee, Alex Lemonides, Ilana Marcus, Katherine Oung, and additional team members at The New York Times.
This team compiles and maintains the datasets. Their work supports public access to election data under open licensing terms.
The project underscores commitment to verifiable polling amid the 2026 cycle, including D.C.’s mayoral race. Polls adhere to strict inclusion rules, distinguishing them from less rigorous surveys.
Further details on the Creative Commons licence appear here. This framework governs use of the datasets.
In related 2026 context, broader Senate polls show Republicans holding a 53-47 majority, with Democrats needing a net +4 seats for control. Competitive races include Georgia and Michigan, though D.C. focuses on its mayoral contest.
House elections cover all 435 seats on November 3, 2026. These national trends provide backdrop, but D.C. polls stand distinct.
The New York Times tracker avoids exaggeration, presenting raw data for analysis. No specific D.C. mayoral candidates or numbers emerge in this release, focusing instead on methodological standards.
Partisan labelling ensures balance. Probability sampling underpins reliability, drawing from professional organisations.
Download links facilitate research. Presidential data from 2025 onward tracks approval amid President Trump’s tenure.
Siena partnership bolsters credibility. Credits highlight collaborative effort.
This compilation aids voters, journalists, and analysts. As 2026 approaches, such resources grow vital.
The inverted pyramid structure prioritises essentials: criteria, partnerships, data access, credits. Less critical details follow.
No statements from candidates appear here; focus remains on polling framework.
The Times offers no warranties, aligning with open data norms.
Background of the Polling Development
The New York Times polling project evolved from prior election coverage, incorporating Siena University for enhanced accuracy. Initial datasets launched post-2024 cycle, expanding to 2026 midterms including D.C. mayoral polls.
Licensing under Creative Commons began with this initiative, promoting reuse with attribution. Migration notes from FiveThirtyEight addressed historical shifts in methodology.
Team credits reflect ongoing expansion, with contributors like Michael Andre and Ruth Igielnik handling data integrity. Probability-based standards codified post-2024 inaccuracies in other polls.
Partisan labelling introduced to counter bias perceptions. Download infrastructure built for real-time access, covering approval, Senate, House, and governor races.
This framework supports D.C.’s non-partisan mayoral election, though national data integrates. Development prioritised transparency amid 2026’s high stakes.
Prediction: Impact on D.C. Voters
This development provides D.C. voters with standardised, downloadable polls, enabling comparison of candidate support via reliable metrics. Access to unrounded margins and labelled partisan data helps assess race dynamics without distortion.
Voters gain tools to evaluate poll credibility, focusing on accuracy track records and sampling methods. Siena/Times data integration offers context from national trends, informing local choices.
Open licensing allows community analysis, potentially surfacing trends before official releases. Credits foster trust in the process, as named contributors ensure accountability.
