New York City Mayor Eric Adams remains defiant about his re-election bid despite a cascade of corruption investigations and criminal charges surrounding his administration that have left him polling in single digits. The embattled mayor declared “Yes, I’m staying in, no matter what” in a recent Bloomberg interview, even as his campaign faces unprecedented legal and political challenges.
A Campaign Under Siege
Adams, originally elected as a Democrat in 2021, dropped out of the Democratic primary to run as an independent after federal corruption charges were filed against him last year. While those charges were controversially dropped by the Trump Justice Department in April, investigations into his administration have continued to proliferate.
The latest blow came last week when seven associates were indicted on bribery and corruption charges by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, including Adams’ former chief adviser and close friend Ingrid Lewis-Martin. The same week, longtime adviser Winnie Greco was suspended from the campaign after reportedly handing cash-stuffed potato chips to a reporter, an incident she later attributed to cultural misunderstanding.
These scandals compound an already dire political situation. Multiple polls show Adams trailing badly in fourth place among five candidates, with one recent survey showing him at just 5% support. He lags behind Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo (running as an independent), and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Federal Charges and Political Fallout
Adams became the first sitting New York mayor in modern history to face federal criminal charges when prosecutors accused him of conspiracy, wire fraud, bribery, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign contributions. The indictment alleged he accepted at least $123,000 in flight upgrades and airline tickets from Turkish officials and businesspeople dating back to 2014.
The charges were dropped after Adams publicly supported President Trump’s immigration policies, leading to accusations of a quid pro quo arrangement. The episode prompted the resignation of acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon and several prosecutors who had opposed the dismissal, with Judge Dale Ho noting that “everything here smacks of a bargain.”
Administrative Chaos and Resignations
The legal troubles have created significant upheaval within City Hall. By last winter, federal investigations had led to the resignations of multiple high-ranking officials, including Schools Chancellor David Banks, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III, and Police Commissioner Edward Caban.
The administration has also been rocked by sexual misconduct allegations against Adams himself and former officials. A lawsuit filed last year accuses the mayor of sexual assault dating to 1993, which he strenuously denies. Former aide Timothy Pearson faced four sexual harassment lawsuits, while former top uniformed police officer Jeffrey Maddrey was accused of sexually abusing female officers.
Campaign Finance Challenges
Adding to Adams’ problems, the New York City Campaign Finance Board has repeatedly denied his campaign access to public matching funds, citing incomplete information about fund-raising efforts and interactions with Turkish business interests. The board’s latest denial described the campaign’s information as “incomplete and misleading.”
Policy Positions Amid Political Crisis
Despite the mounting scandals, Adams continues to advocate for his policy positions. He has pushed back against President Trump’s plans to deploy National Guard troops to New York City, saying “Our communications with the federal government is: We got this.”
On criminal justice, Adams supports targeted bail reform rather than wholesale elimination of cash bail. “I don’t believe if someone steals an apple that we should hold them in jail because they can’t afford to get out,” he said, while supporting detention for repeat offenders of serious crimes.
An Uphill Battle
Adams’ insistence on continuing his campaign reflects either remarkable determination or political miscalculation. With his approval ratings tanked and trailing far behind in polls, his path to victory appears increasingly narrow. The ongoing investigations ensure that legal troubles will continue to overshadow his policy message through Election Day.
His response to critics—”The only poll that matters is on Election Day”—echoes the defiance of politicians facing similar circumstances, though few have overcome such comprehensive legal and political challenges. Whether Adams can reverse his fortunes or will become a cautionary tale about the intersection of legal troubles and electoral politics remains to be seen in what promises to be one of New York’s most unusual mayoral races in recent memory.
