In a recent interview regarding the political landscape in New York City, former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Letitia James are being viewed as strong contenders to potentially replace Mayor Eric Adams, according to a new poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College. The poll, which surveyed 853 voters at the end of October and was released on October 26, reveals that a significant majority of New Yorkers believe it’s time for Adams to step down, with 53% in favor of his resignation.
Adding to the urgency, 52% of respondents expressed concerns about Adams facing federal bribery and fraud allegations. Only 26% of voters expressed satisfaction with his performance as mayor.
Adams’ unpopularity has been apparent for some time, but these latest findings intensify worries within the Democratic Party regarding his re-election prospects. The poll indicates that a mere 12% of Democratic voters support him, while Cuomo and James command 22% and 19% support, respectively.
As the second African American mayor in New York City’s history, Adams also struggles with support from African American voters, only 15% of whom say they would back him again.
In response to the calls for his resignation, Adams has firmly stated his intention to remain in office and promised to address the allegations against him. On October 23, during an appearance on News 12’s “Ask the Mayor,” he said, “I always adhere to legal standards and look forward to responding to the questions in the investigation.” When pressed about whether he would resign if convicted, Adams declined to answer, noting, “I work every day to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to me by the voters.”
This marks the second detrimental poll for Adams in recent weeks; a previous Marist Poll showed that following his indictment, 69% of New Yorkers supported his resignation. However, only 47% of voters wanted Governor Kathy Hochul to take steps to remove him from office.
While Cuomo and James have yet to formally announce their candidacies, their polling numbers significantly surpass Adams’, particularly among African American voters. Cuomo enjoys a 26% favorability within this demographic, while James follows closely with 21%.
In addition to the pressure from federal investigations, Adams faces an increasing number of challengers. Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani announced his candidacy for mayor on October 22, becoming the fifth Democratic challenger to Adams. Other declared candidates include City Comptroller Brad Lander, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, and State Assemblywoman Jessica Ramos.
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