Adams says Jewish vote could deliver NYC mayoral upset, dismisses poll

In a wide-ranging Gracie Mansion interview, New York City Mayor Eric Adams argued that Jewish voters could be his secret weapon in his bid for re-election, even after a Marist University poll released Tuesday showed him with just 17% support from Jewish voters. He insisted the city’s political landscape remains fluid, and that the poll numbers do not define the race.

Adams said he plans to campaign through November 4 and pushed back on suggestions that President Donald Trump could help him. He said he has received no offer of federal support and does not want or need outside involvement to win re-election. “My desire right now is to run until November 4th,” he said, adding that public chatter and misperceptions about his intentions have distracted voters from his policy record. He also noted that polls tend to shift over time, pointing to past mayoral races as examples of volatility. "Polls change often," he said, framing the moment as part of a broader information environment.

The interview also touched on why Adams believes Jewish voters could tilt the race his way. He reminded listeners of his prior offices—state senator, Brooklyn borough president, and mayor—where he said Jewish voters backed him, and he asserted there is a growing turnout among Jews who have become more engaged in public life, including first-time voters in some Orthodox communities. He said he expects a large share of Jewish voters to turn out in November and emphasized that he has repeatedly engaged with the community on security and antisemitism concerns. He argued that the city has strengthened protections in this area through policy and enforcement, including actions by the NYPD’s hate crimes unit and a dedicated Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.

Adams used the interview to defend his broader record and to push back against attacks from political opponents. He acknowledged mistakes during his tenure but framed them as learning experiences and insisted he never violated his oath of office or the law. “We preserved, built, and zoned our city for more housing than 12 years of Bloomberg, eight years of de Blasio combined, in three-and-a-half years,” he said, highlighting housing production, crime reduction, and economic gains as core achievements.

The mayor also challenged his rival, Zohran Mamdani, whom he described as a phony who has “mastered the art of saying anything” to win votes. He criticized Mamdani’s past positions, including proposals his campaign has since backed away from, and argued that the socialist frontrunner’s rhetoric does not align with the practical realities of governing a large city. Adams argued that Mamdani’s promises would be difficult to deliver given the city’s current fiscal and operational constraints, noting that certain policies—such as free bus service or rent relief measures in NYCHA and Mitchell-Lama housing—are not feasible at the scales that Mamdani has suggested.

The discussion touched on several ongoing legal and political challenges affecting Adams’ administration. A once-dropped federal indictment related to his campaign and a separate civil suit filed by a former NYPD commissioner alleging the department was run like a “criminal enterprise” were acknowledged by Adams as distractions. He characterized the indictment as overly broad and the civil suit as politically motivated, while maintaining that he has continued to work for residents and has not violated the law. He argued that the city’s record speaks for itself in terms of crime reduction, social programs, and economic benefits, including substantial relief for low-income New Yorkers and a shift of resources toward new housing and job creation.

Adams highlighted a slate of policy wins he described as foundational to the city’s recovery. He cited universal after-school programs, 100,000 summer youth jobs, free high-speed broadband in public housing for telemedicine and remote learning, and tuition assistance for foster care youth as core accomplishments. He framed these efforts within a larger narrative of economic vitality, improved public safety, and improved quality of life for residents who were hardest hit by the pandemic and subsequent upheavals in the housing and labor markets.

Throughout the interview, Adams returned repeatedly to the idea that the 2025 mayoral race could produce the highest turnout in the city’s history, potentially reshaping the electorate in ways not yet captured by polling. He described potential first-time voters from Jewish communities as a growing segment that he believes will tilt the race in his favor, while arguing that his opponents face credibility gaps on issues such as rent relief, transit policies, and public safety funding.

Adams rejected the notion that the race is a foregone conclusion dominated by nationally oriented politics. He said the city’s outcome will depend on local issues, turnout, and voters’ assessments of credibility and competence. “New Yorkers will make the final determination,” he said, insisting that he has dedicated himself to delivering results.

The interview also revisited other policy questions facing the city. On congestion pricing, Adams said he would review the numbers and consider waivers for certain groups of New Yorkers while examining the program’s overall impact. On public health policy, he declined to endorse or oppose a proposed fluoride ban in the City Council and said he would rely on medical experts from the NYC Health Department for guidance. He also defended the Bronx casino plan he vetoed previously, arguing that the city should consider multiple sites rather than ceding any one neighborhood a single economic project without broader input.

As the race moves toward November, Adams said he would welcome debate and a clear airing of ideas, arguing that his governance record and policy portfolio demonstrate his ability to lead a city facing a range of challenges—from housing affordability and economic inequality to public safety and education outcomes. He asserted that his administration’s accomplishments, coupled with a steadfast focus on delivering for residents, position him to navigate a potentially decisive election season. He ended with a reminder of his own view: he considers the race to be a long arc toward securing another term, but ultimately leaves the decision to the voters who live in New York City.