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Poll: Most NYC Democrats want Adams to resign — James, Cuomo most popular replacements
By
Michelle Bocanegra
Published Oct 26, 2024
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By
Michelle Bocanegra
Published Oct 26, 2024
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A majority of registered voters in New York City want Mayor Eric Adams to resign, according to a new poll from The New York Times and Siena College — with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Tish James considered the most popular politicians to replace him.
Fifty-three percent of registered voters said they would like to see Adams resign, according to findings released Saturday morning. Fifty-two percent believe Adams did something illegal in light of his indictment on federal bribery and fraud charges, and just over a quarter — 26% — approve of the job he has done as mayor.
Polls showed Adams was already unpopular among city voters even before multiple criminal inquiries spread through his administration and his police department. But the latest numbers add to the increasing sense among Democrats that the mayor’s path to re-election grows more daunting by the day: Only 12% of registered Democrats in New York City say they’d vote for Adams, compared to 22% for Cuomo and 19% for James.
More troubling for Adams: Only 15% of Black Democrats said they’d vote to re-elect the second Black mayor in New York City history; Cuomo gets 23% of Black Democratic voters and James gets 21%.
The survey was conducted over several days in late October, and represents a hefty sample size of 853 voters. The margin of error is just shy of 4 percentage points.
It’s the second poll in recent weeks with troubling signs for the mayor’s political future. An earlier Marist College poll conducted in the more immediate aftermath of the mayor’s indictment put the share of adult residents demanding his resignation at 69%.
Adams has remained steadfast in his pledge to stay in office — and his insistence that he can continue to helm a functioning city government, despite an exodus of top aides and questions about his ability to focus while facing criminal charges..
“I've lived my life as a member of the law enforcement community, and I've always held myself to a high standard,” Adams said on News 12’s Ask the Mayor this week. “And there's going to be an opportunity for me to answer the inquiries that I'm faced with, and I'm looking forward to doing that.”
A spokesperson for Adams did not immediately comment on the Times/Siena poll.
The split among demographic groups appears to illustrate a more cautious approach from Black Democrats, 41% of whom said they would like Adams to resign, a. White voters overwhelmingly called for his resignation, at 61%, with Hispanic voters close behind at 54%.
Asked on News 12 whether he would resign if a jury found him guilty during his pending trial, Adams said he was “not going to speculate.”
“I want New Yorkers to know this is hurtful for me, hurts a lot, but I am dedicated and committed to carrying out the job I was elected to do, just like many of you are doing every day,” he said.
Adams has in recent weeks turned to members of the Black religious clergy and prominent community leaders like NAACP New York State Conference president Hazel Dukes to speak in his defense, including the late September morning of his indictment, when federal prosecutors unsealed charges against him.
According to the poll, 52% of Black voters would like to see Adams serve out the remainder of his term — though a significant share, 41%, would like to see him resign.
Neither James nor Cuomo have officially declared a run and they’re handily beating the mayor in the polls, specifically among Black voters — a crucial base for any citywide candidate. Cuomo — who resigned in 2021 amid allegations of sexual misconduct which he has denied — gets 26% support among likely Black voters. James, whose office authored the bombshell report on Cuomo’s alleged misdeeds, gets 21% of that demographic.
Though the majority of the city’s voters would like to see Adams resign, less than half — 47% — would like to see him removed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, according to the poll.
The 2025 campaigns have yet to really ramp up, but no other Democrat considering a run to replace the mayor has gained noticeable momentum. Only 6% of registered Democrats said they’d vote for Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who is reportedly considering a run; 4% for City Comptroller Brad Lander, 2% each for State Sen. Jessica Ramos and former Comptroller Scott Stringer, and less than half a percentage point for State Sen. Zellnor Myrie.
Tagged
Adams investigations
andrew cuomo
tish james
polls
new york city
Mayor Eric Adams
Politics
Michelle Bocanegra
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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