Amidst a packed NYC mayoral race, a legislative leader contemplates a last-minute entry
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has established a campaign committee as she considers entering the race to challenge Mayor Eric Adams.
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, known for her comparatively low profile in the legislative arena and her public disagreements with Mayor Eric Adams, is taking significant steps towards potentially challenging the mayor’s reelection campaign.
The 64-year-old speaker has indicated that she is giving serious thought to a run, spurred on by increasing support from “more and more serious stakeholders.” She plans to make an announcement following her State of the City address on Tuesday and filed a fundraising committee the night before.
“The urgency of this moment and the need for dignified and steady leadership that puts New Yorkers first and fights for the soul of our city is something we need now more than ever,” Adams stated. “We are taking the steps to prepare a robust campaign should I decide to seek becoming the first woman to be mayor of New York City.”
Her potential candidacy is reportedly being encouraged by Attorney General Letitia James and several labor leaders, which could significantly shake up the already unpredictable race to unseat the indicted incumbent, who is not related to her. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is anticipated to enter the Democratic field on Sunday, positioning himself as an early frontrunner due to his high name recognition.
Some political leaders in New York are still on the lookout for a suitable candidate and are starting to show interest in Speaker Adams, who is a church-going grandmother representative of a high-turnout region in Queens and the first Black woman to lead the City Council.
Recently, Speaker Adams filed a mayoral committee with the New York City Campaign Finance Board, enabling her to begin fundraising in preparation for the June 24 Democratic primary. The New York Times and Gothamist were the first to report this development.
While the speaker's council term concludes on December 31, her earlier disinterest in pursuing a higher office stands in contrast to her predecessors. She faces significant challenges given the late timing of her potential campaign.
Currently, she has just over $211,000 in her campaign account, whereas leading mayoral candidates are boasting over $2 million. Even if she manages to raise funds swiftly, she would not qualify for the city’s 8-to-1 matching funds program until mid-April at the earliest. Additionally, if she does not meet the fundraising threshold within the next three weeks, she would have to wait until May 30, only weeks before the election, for another chance at matching funds critical for a competitive campaign.
The race is shaping up to be quite crowded, and the speaker has yet to establish a citywide profile despite her ongoing conflicts with the unpopular mayor.
Adams' consideration of a run may stem from concerns within the political sphere about a potential Cuomo resurgence, a figure known for his combative leadership style before his resignation in 2021 when the state attorney general’s report confirmed allegations of him sexually harassing 11 women, which he has vehemently denied.
Should Speaker Adams choose to run, she could create challenges for Cuomo's path to victory, particularly in predominantly Black neighborhoods where he historically garnered substantial support during his gubernatorial campaigns. The same voters were instrumental in securing Mayor Adams’ 2021 election, but his reelection prospects have diminished in light of his federal indictment, the denial of public matching funds, and his established ties with Republican President Donald Trump.
Historically, her predecessors in the council speaker role have struggled to transition to higher office, as managing legislation from 50 lawmakers can lead to considerable political baggage. Since she had not previously intended to seek a higher position, she has engaged less in the networking and relationship-building necessary for a citywide campaign.
This lack of engagement became apparent during a visit to Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where Senior Pastor Kevin Johnson told PMG that she could not speak because she had not previously met with him. In contrast, Cuomo had lunch with Johnson the week before.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
The 64-year-old speaker has indicated that she is giving serious thought to a run, spurred on by increasing support from “more and more serious stakeholders.” She plans to make an announcement following her State of the City address on Tuesday and filed a fundraising committee the night before.
“The urgency of this moment and the need for dignified and steady leadership that puts New Yorkers first and fights for the soul of our city is something we need now more than ever,” Adams stated. “We are taking the steps to prepare a robust campaign should I decide to seek becoming the first woman to be mayor of New York City.”
Her potential candidacy is reportedly being encouraged by Attorney General Letitia James and several labor leaders, which could significantly shake up the already unpredictable race to unseat the indicted incumbent, who is not related to her. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is anticipated to enter the Democratic field on Sunday, positioning himself as an early frontrunner due to his high name recognition.
Some political leaders in New York are still on the lookout for a suitable candidate and are starting to show interest in Speaker Adams, who is a church-going grandmother representative of a high-turnout region in Queens and the first Black woman to lead the City Council.
Recently, Speaker Adams filed a mayoral committee with the New York City Campaign Finance Board, enabling her to begin fundraising in preparation for the June 24 Democratic primary. The New York Times and Gothamist were the first to report this development.
While the speaker's council term concludes on December 31, her earlier disinterest in pursuing a higher office stands in contrast to her predecessors. She faces significant challenges given the late timing of her potential campaign.
Currently, she has just over $211,000 in her campaign account, whereas leading mayoral candidates are boasting over $2 million. Even if she manages to raise funds swiftly, she would not qualify for the city’s 8-to-1 matching funds program until mid-April at the earliest. Additionally, if she does not meet the fundraising threshold within the next three weeks, she would have to wait until May 30, only weeks before the election, for another chance at matching funds critical for a competitive campaign.
The race is shaping up to be quite crowded, and the speaker has yet to establish a citywide profile despite her ongoing conflicts with the unpopular mayor.
Adams' consideration of a run may stem from concerns within the political sphere about a potential Cuomo resurgence, a figure known for his combative leadership style before his resignation in 2021 when the state attorney general’s report confirmed allegations of him sexually harassing 11 women, which he has vehemently denied.
Should Speaker Adams choose to run, she could create challenges for Cuomo's path to victory, particularly in predominantly Black neighborhoods where he historically garnered substantial support during his gubernatorial campaigns. The same voters were instrumental in securing Mayor Adams’ 2021 election, but his reelection prospects have diminished in light of his federal indictment, the denial of public matching funds, and his established ties with Republican President Donald Trump.
Historically, her predecessors in the council speaker role have struggled to transition to higher office, as managing legislation from 50 lawmakers can lead to considerable political baggage. Since she had not previously intended to seek a higher position, she has engaged less in the networking and relationship-building necessary for a citywide campaign.
This lack of engagement became apparent during a visit to Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where Senior Pastor Kevin Johnson told PMG that she could not speak because she had not previously met with him. In contrast, Cuomo had lunch with Johnson the week before.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
