New York City Mayor Eric Adams is polling at only a 9 percent approval rating across a panoply of Empire State swing districts, compared with a 64 percent disapproval rating, weeks after federal authorities charged him with selling his influence to foreign nationals. Even before Adams’s indictment, polling conducted by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) found that Adams did not break 30 percent approval in any competitive House race in New York.
Across all battleground districts in New York, Adams’s average approval rating had been 24 percent, compared with 52 percent disapproval. Given the primacy that New York is poised to have in the battle for the House majority, these numbers could spell doom for Democrats — if Republicans succeed in tying Adams to down ticket candidates.
Both Democratic incumbents and challengers are tied to the mayor to varying degrees, and Republicans have taken every opportunity possible to remind voters of Adams’s deep connections to other New York Democrats.
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R., N.Y.) put it simply to the Washington Reporter: “The Democrats suck,” she said. “I cannot believe how phony and manipulative they are.”
The Democrat most closely tied to Adams is Rep. Tom Suozzi (D., N.Y.), who was a pivotal pre-primary endorser for Adams in 2021. During a debate this week, Suozzi reiterated his opposition Adams’s possible resignation until an investigation concludes.
Another Democratic incumbent, Rep. Pat Ryan, benefitted from “behind-the-scenes assistance” from Adams in his first win, which came “at the request” of Ryan, Politico reported.
It’s not just Democratic incumbents who are tied to Adams in one way or another. A trio of Democratic Party challengers also have varying degrees of ties to Adams, including Laura Gillen, who is running against Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R., N.Y.). For years, Gillen served on the board of the League of Conservation Voters, which has been one of Adams’s staunchest backers.
Savannah Viar, an NRCC spokeswoman, told the Reporter that “Gillen and Adams are cut from the same cloth,” adding that “the New York Democrats’ culture of corruption spans from Albany, to NYC to Long Island.” Democrat John Avlon, who is consistently trailing in polls to Rep. Nick LaLota (R., N.Y.) is also under fire for praising Adams shortly after Adams’s primary win in 2021.
Finally, former Rep. Mondaire Jones, who is aiming for a comeback against Rep. Mike Lawler (R., N.Y.) is taking heat for supporting some of Adams’s unpopular policies, like a congestion pricing plan.
In the home stretch, the NRCC and New York Republicans are putting their money where their mouths are, running ads featuring Adams against Jones, and Democrats Josh Riley and John Mannion.