January 18th 2024.
Scott Stringer, who served as New York City Comptroller and is now a 2021 mayoral candidate, announced on Thursday that he is taking the first steps towards challenging Mayor Eric Adams. According to The New York Times, Stringer will be the first Democrat to officially consider running against Adams for re-election. If he decides to move forward with his candidacy, he will be facing a difficult task, as it has been over three decades since an incumbent mayor in New York City has been defeated by a challenger. The last time this happened was in 1989 when David Dinkins was able to defeat Ed Koch.
Adams, who is only the second Black mayor in New York City's history after Dinkins, has faced challenges during his first term in office. As a former NYPD officer, he has received criticism for his handling of the migrant crisis, budget cuts to schools and libraries, and an ongoing FBI investigation into his ties with Turkey. Currently, Adams has an approval rating of only 28%, which is the lowest in the city's history.
Stringer's decision to consider running against Adams could potentially lead to more challengers entering the race. In the 2021 Democratic primary, Adams faced off against several other candidates, including Stringer, former Citi executive Ray McGuire, former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia, former Bill de Blasio aide Maya Wiley, and former HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.
Stringer believes that New Yorkers are facing a crisis of confidence in their city's leadership and are concerned about the government's ability to handle the budget and the migrant crisis. He sees himself as an experienced alternative who can lead the city in a different direction by increasing affordable housing construction and turning around the declining revenue and budget cuts. Speaking to the Times, Stringer took a dig at Adams' campaign slogan, saying, "Let's be blunt: Stuff ain't getting done. I know how to lead. I know how to manage. And I know the finances of the city like the back of my hand."
Despite his confidence, Stringer has his own challenges to overcome. In 2021, an associate accused him of sexual misconduct and sued him for defamation. Although Stringer denied all allegations and countersued the accuser, the claims have damaged his reputation and hindered his chances of becoming mayor.
Stringer has already begun planning listening sessions and fund-raising events across the city in the coming days as he weighs his decision to run for mayor. Other potential challengers to Adams include State Senator Jessica Ramos, former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, who resigned amidst sexual harassment allegations, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Garcia, who is currently the New York State operations director and finished second in the 2021 Democratic primary.
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