New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ Approval Falls To Historic Low

New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ approval rating has hit a historically low 28%.

According to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ approval rating has hit a historically low 28%.

The New York Times reported the approval rating is the lowest for a New York City mayor in a Quinnipiac poll since it began polling in 1996. The approval rating also exposes how Adams’ legal issues and political decisions have hurt his standing as mayor.

In recent weeks, Adams had his phone and tablet seized by the FBI as part of an investigation into whether the Turkish government benefited from his 2021 mayoral campaign, including his top fundraiser. Last month, Adams was accused of sexual assault by a former co-worker. Adams has also announced steep and unpopular budget cuts to the NYPD, Education Department, and city libraries.

Additionally, City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is mulling a run for Adams’ seat, stripped the mayor of his emergency power to enter city contracts to house and support migrants, citing reporting about his dealings with a migrant services contractor, DocGo, whose $432 million no-bid contract has been rife with scandal.

“This is certainly a sobering snapshot for this moment in time for Mayor Adams, but also for the city,” Mary Snow, an assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll, told the Times. “Voters are worried about a number of big issues affecting New York City right now, and they’re not happy about the way things are going.”

The issues are among the reasons 58% of city residents disapprove of Adams’ tenure as mayor, and their dissatisfaction has hit several areas. Most of those polled believe Adams does not possess strong leadership qualities, does not understand the issues facing city residents, and is not honest or trustworthy.

Additionally, just 22% of voters approved of his handling of homelessness and the city budget.

Fabian Levy, the deputy mayor for communications under Adams, told the Times Adams allegedly questioned the poll, saying the numbers prove Adams is doing a solid job as mayor.

“The real numbers cannot be questioned: Crime is down, jobs are up, and we continue to deliver billions of dollars into the pockets of working people,” Levy said. “There will always be more work to do, but there is no question that this city is in a better place under Mayor Adams’s leadership.”

Adams’ approval rating is the lowest for a New York mayor since Michael Bloomberg received a 31% approval rating in July 2003.

Despite the low ratings among residents in general, Adams did receive positive reviews among Black residents, who gave him a 48% approval rating.