Republicans might focus on indicted Eric Adams — except for indicted Donald Trump
GOP candidates are associating the widely disliked NYC mayor with issues related to migrants, crime, and pervasive corruption.
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — New York House Republicans have an obvious target in the criminally indicted Eric Adams, yet the presence of convicted Donald Trump complicates their strategy.
The GOP has merged its messaging on the New York City mayor’s federal fraud and bribery charges with broader allegations against Democrats, aiming to portray a systemic pattern of corruption within the party. However, these attacks have been infrequent, as Republicans concentrate on six New York battleground seats that could sway control of the House.
Following his indictment on September 26, Adams' favorability drastically dropped to an average of 9 percent in pivotal districts, according to internal polling from the National Republican Congressional Committee obtained by PMG. While Republicans intend to continue using Adams as a face of crime and unchecked immigration, the limited advertisements, emails, and texts addressing his legal issues indicate that they do not view him as a powerful tool in House races.
“Once you start getting to the charges against him and whether they disqualify him for office, the next logical question would be whether Trump should leave the race because of his charges,” noted a Republican congressional campaign aide who wished to remain anonymous to discuss strategy openly.
Further complicating matters, Adams has embraced Trump’s acknowledgment of their shared plight as targets of politically driven prosecutions. The first-term mayor of the nation’s largest city has long been unpredictable politically. National Democrats began distancing themselves from him after he clashed with President Joe Biden over the lack of federal aid for migrants seeking shelter in the city.
Despite the shocking news of the mayor facing bribery charges from Turkish officials, Republicans are not aggressively campaigning against his indictment. Instead, they argue that New York is struggling under Democratic leadership—an assertion they made prior to Adams' unpopular legal troubles. Potential new or additional indictments hinted at by federal prosecutors might intensify calls for the mayor's resignation and bolster the Republicans’ narrative of “Dems in disarray.”
Adams’ low approval ratings suggest he could still serve as a symbol for the GOP's arguments about border security and public safety issues, potentially swaying voters in critical districts. GOP campaigns plan to continue portraying him alongside Biden, Governor Kathy Hochul, and other Democrats in advertisements focused on these themes.
Incorporating him into what House Republican Conference chair Elise Stefanik described as a “cult of corruption” is also part of their strategy.
Recently, Republican Rep. Brandon Williams from a competitive district sent out a fundraising message featuring images of Adams alongside former Governor Andrew Cuomo and his Democratic opponent, John Mannion. “New York politicians — from Albany to New York City — have always been known for scandal and corruption,” the email stated.
Since Adams' indictment, Republicans increasingly view him as part of a larger strategy to critique Democrats citywide and statewide, according to a GOP strategist who spoke anonymously about the party’s approach. They have been meeting frequently to strategize on how to capitalize on Adams' scandals and emphasize Democratic infighting regarding his future.
However, Adams has not yet become the central figure in this narrative. Democrats contend that there is a reason for this. “If this was a winning message, then you’d see the swing-seat Republicans actually making this a thing. They’re not, because they know they’re all supporting a convicted felon for the presidency,” remarked a Democratic House campaign aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Republicans are on the ballot with Trump. Democrats aren’t on the ballot with Adams.”
John Avlon, challenging Rep. Nick LaLota on Long Island, was the first swing-district Democrat to call for Adams to resign. “We need to put our country and principles over parties and partisanship,” Avlon stated. “But Republicans refuse to do that and instead are backing someone at the top of the ticket who has already been found guilty of crimes and has been indicted dozens of times.”
Some New York Republicans without competitive House races have been more willing to criticize Adams. New York City’s only Republican House member, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, rejected parallels between Adams’ and Trump’s indictments. “Trump was a clear weaponization. They created a crime,” she asserted in an interview. “This is the federal government going after Eric Adams for a federal crime.”
A recent fundraising email from Stefanik sought to differentiate Democrats from Republicans. “Corruption is running rampant,” it stated. “We, as good-hearted Republicans, simply cannot let this continue. … The latest instance? Eric Adams is a proof that we’re not mistaken in our fight.”
Democratic leadership has remained largely silent regarding Adams’ indictment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rarely comments on the subject, but did express that he believes Adams should not step down. “I support the mayor’s due process rights,” Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York shared with PMG. “I believe a man is innocent until proven guilty. I have questions, but I’m focused on winning the elections on November the fifth, and then I’ll start focusing on other things.”
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has yet to release a statement about Adams, while the NRCC referenced issues of crime, corruption, and migration in a statement, declaring that “Adams’ enablers who are running for Congress in New York will own his failures in November.”
Notably, the minimal ads and emails from Republicans mentioning Adams do not address that their own nominee is embroiled in multiple criminal cases, including alleged federal election interference and improper retention of classified documents. Trump, having been convicted of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments, deems these investigations a “witch hunt.”
This context helps explain why Adams’ indictment has not evolved into a major focus for Republicans in Long Island and the Hudson Valley. An advisor to Adams, who requested anonymity, pointed out the mayor's more centrist political stance. “The irony of this is Eric Adams is much more similar to Democrats on Long Island than he is to Democrats on the Upper West Side and brownstone Brooklyn,” the advisor noted.
Neither an Adams spokesperson commented, nor did a representative from Trump's camp respond to a request for comment.
While calling for the mayor’s resignation, GOP leaders in New York City are also apprehensive about the progressive Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who may become Adams’ interim successor. “My district is concerned about these indictments. They want the mayor to resign,” Malliotakis shared. “They are concerned about Jumaane Williams taking his place, because it could be worse.”
Jason Beeferman contributed to this report.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
The GOP has merged its messaging on the New York City mayor’s federal fraud and bribery charges with broader allegations against Democrats, aiming to portray a systemic pattern of corruption within the party. However, these attacks have been infrequent, as Republicans concentrate on six New York battleground seats that could sway control of the House.
Following his indictment on September 26, Adams' favorability drastically dropped to an average of 9 percent in pivotal districts, according to internal polling from the National Republican Congressional Committee obtained by PMG. While Republicans intend to continue using Adams as a face of crime and unchecked immigration, the limited advertisements, emails, and texts addressing his legal issues indicate that they do not view him as a powerful tool in House races.
“Once you start getting to the charges against him and whether they disqualify him for office, the next logical question would be whether Trump should leave the race because of his charges,” noted a Republican congressional campaign aide who wished to remain anonymous to discuss strategy openly.
Further complicating matters, Adams has embraced Trump’s acknowledgment of their shared plight as targets of politically driven prosecutions. The first-term mayor of the nation’s largest city has long been unpredictable politically. National Democrats began distancing themselves from him after he clashed with President Joe Biden over the lack of federal aid for migrants seeking shelter in the city.
Despite the shocking news of the mayor facing bribery charges from Turkish officials, Republicans are not aggressively campaigning against his indictment. Instead, they argue that New York is struggling under Democratic leadership—an assertion they made prior to Adams' unpopular legal troubles. Potential new or additional indictments hinted at by federal prosecutors might intensify calls for the mayor's resignation and bolster the Republicans’ narrative of “Dems in disarray.”
Adams’ low approval ratings suggest he could still serve as a symbol for the GOP's arguments about border security and public safety issues, potentially swaying voters in critical districts. GOP campaigns plan to continue portraying him alongside Biden, Governor Kathy Hochul, and other Democrats in advertisements focused on these themes.
Incorporating him into what House Republican Conference chair Elise Stefanik described as a “cult of corruption” is also part of their strategy.
Recently, Republican Rep. Brandon Williams from a competitive district sent out a fundraising message featuring images of Adams alongside former Governor Andrew Cuomo and his Democratic opponent, John Mannion. “New York politicians — from Albany to New York City — have always been known for scandal and corruption,” the email stated.
Since Adams' indictment, Republicans increasingly view him as part of a larger strategy to critique Democrats citywide and statewide, according to a GOP strategist who spoke anonymously about the party’s approach. They have been meeting frequently to strategize on how to capitalize on Adams' scandals and emphasize Democratic infighting regarding his future.
However, Adams has not yet become the central figure in this narrative. Democrats contend that there is a reason for this. “If this was a winning message, then you’d see the swing-seat Republicans actually making this a thing. They’re not, because they know they’re all supporting a convicted felon for the presidency,” remarked a Democratic House campaign aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Republicans are on the ballot with Trump. Democrats aren’t on the ballot with Adams.”
John Avlon, challenging Rep. Nick LaLota on Long Island, was the first swing-district Democrat to call for Adams to resign. “We need to put our country and principles over parties and partisanship,” Avlon stated. “But Republicans refuse to do that and instead are backing someone at the top of the ticket who has already been found guilty of crimes and has been indicted dozens of times.”
Some New York Republicans without competitive House races have been more willing to criticize Adams. New York City’s only Republican House member, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, rejected parallels between Adams’ and Trump’s indictments. “Trump was a clear weaponization. They created a crime,” she asserted in an interview. “This is the federal government going after Eric Adams for a federal crime.”
A recent fundraising email from Stefanik sought to differentiate Democrats from Republicans. “Corruption is running rampant,” it stated. “We, as good-hearted Republicans, simply cannot let this continue. … The latest instance? Eric Adams is a proof that we’re not mistaken in our fight.”
Democratic leadership has remained largely silent regarding Adams’ indictment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rarely comments on the subject, but did express that he believes Adams should not step down. “I support the mayor’s due process rights,” Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York shared with PMG. “I believe a man is innocent until proven guilty. I have questions, but I’m focused on winning the elections on November the fifth, and then I’ll start focusing on other things.”
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has yet to release a statement about Adams, while the NRCC referenced issues of crime, corruption, and migration in a statement, declaring that “Adams’ enablers who are running for Congress in New York will own his failures in November.”
Notably, the minimal ads and emails from Republicans mentioning Adams do not address that their own nominee is embroiled in multiple criminal cases, including alleged federal election interference and improper retention of classified documents. Trump, having been convicted of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments, deems these investigations a “witch hunt.”
This context helps explain why Adams’ indictment has not evolved into a major focus for Republicans in Long Island and the Hudson Valley. An advisor to Adams, who requested anonymity, pointed out the mayor's more centrist political stance. “The irony of this is Eric Adams is much more similar to Democrats on Long Island than he is to Democrats on the Upper West Side and brownstone Brooklyn,” the advisor noted.
Neither an Adams spokesperson commented, nor did a representative from Trump's camp respond to a request for comment.
While calling for the mayor’s resignation, GOP leaders in New York City are also apprehensive about the progressive Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who may become Adams’ interim successor. “My district is concerned about these indictments. They want the mayor to resign,” Malliotakis shared. “They are concerned about Jumaane Williams taking his place, because it could be worse.”
Jason Beeferman contributed to this report.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
