New York City Mayor Eric Adams has largely laid low amid controversy surrounding his criminal indictment, which the Trump administration has sought to throw out, but that doesn’t mean he has dropped his political ambitions.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week launched his bid to be New York City’s next mayor, spearheading his campaign on the notion that crime is overtaking the city thanks to “the lack of intelligent action by many of our political leaders.”
But Adams, at least publicly, isn’t sweating over Cuomo’s campaign. He revealed that he’s been trying to stay away from the news, relying on second-hand reports from his staffers.
“I sleep so much better,” Adams said. “I just feel so much at ease. I didn’t realize it’s almost like if you eat junk food every day, you’re going to get physical obesity. I was going through mental obesity. … Three months from now, I’m going to read and hear all that y’all said about me. But right now, [Cuomo] can’t get under my skin, because I don’t even know what he’s saying.”
A recent survey from the Quinnipiac University Poll found that 56% of New York City voters think Adams should resign. The mayor holds a disapproval rating of 67%, with only 20% of voters saying they approve of his job as mayor. Adams was indicted last September on federal corruption charges for allegedly providing favors for Turkish leaders in exchange for money and gifts.
But the Department of Justice ordered federal prosecutors to drop the charges against Adams, which comes as the Democratic mayor signaled he’d work with the Trump administration in implementing its immigration policies.
Mary Snow, the assistant director of the poll, shared in her findings that even before Adams was indicted, he was struggling with low approval ratings.
“Unpopular even before an indictment on federal corruption charges, voters’ confidence in Mayor Adams sinks to a new low now that his legal case has become a national controversy,” Snow wrote.
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When Cuomo and Adams are polled together in the mayoral race, Cuomo garners 31% of voters’ support, whereas Adams sees just 11%.
Whoever wins the June 24 primary will more than likely win the general election in November, given the city’s blue leaning.
