New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams officially entered the race for mayor on Thursday, March 6th, joining a growing field of candidates in the Democratic primary. Adams, who filed her paperwork last week, is expected to launch her campaign with a rally in Jamaica, Queens, on Sunday.
Adams, 64, cited concerns over the current state of City Hall as a driving force behind her decision. “New Yorkers can’t afford to live here, City Hall is in chaos, and Donald Trump is corrupting our city’s independence,” she said in a statement. “It’s time to stand up. I never planned to run for mayor, but I’m not giving up on New York City.”
First elected to the City Council in 2017 in a special election, Adams became the first Black speaker of the council in 2022. She has positioned herself as a leader focused on housing, public safety, and education. However, she has also faced criticism for policies that opponents argue undermine law enforcement and voter integrity.
In December 2021, Adams voted to allow non-citizens and individuals in New York City for 30 days to vote in municipal elections. A judge later ruled the measure illegal in 2022, but Adams has continued to support the policy and is currently appealing the decision in the state’s highest court.
Critics have also pointed to Adams’ record on public safety, arguing that her policies endanger families and children. She supported the How Many Stops Act, which requires NYPD officers to document more street stops, which opponents say burdens officers with paperwork and reduces time spent on policing. Additionally, Adams has backed efforts to defund the police, abolish the NYPD gang database, and remove School Safety Agents from public schools—policies that some argue could compromise the safety of communities.
Adams’ candidacy places her in direct competition with former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who remains the front-runner in the race to replace Mayor Eric Adams. Cuomo resigned in 2021 following a state attorney general’s report on allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied. Mayor Adams, meanwhile, is battling low approval ratings and legal troubles, including a federal corruption indictment last year.
According to a recent Quinnipiac poll, Mayor Adams’ approval rating has fallen to 20%. Cuomo leads the race with 31% support. Several other candidates have also entered the race, including City Comptroller Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, and state lawmakers Jessica Ramos, Zellnor Myrie, and Zohran Mamdani.
As the Democratic primary approaches, Adams is expected to campaign on her record in the City Council while facing scrutiny over past policies and her stance on law enforcement.
