ALBANY, New York — Mayor Eric Adams didn’t attend the annual caucus weekend in Albany, but his political fate took center stage as Democrats dialed up the pressure on him to step down. And his foes are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to consider removing him if he won’t bow out on his own.
Political Leaders Call for Action
Two top Democrats — state Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado — have called for Adams’ resignation.
“I just really feel there’s a lot of work that we need to get done and it may be time for him to step aside and deal with the things he’s facing,” Stewart-Cousins told POLITICO. Her posture was first reported by the New York Post, which noted the Senate leader suggested Hochul consider removing her fellow Democrat if he doesn’t step aside.
It’s meaningful — if not entirely surprising, given her cool relationship with Adams — as she is a high-ranking Black Democrat like the mayor.
Pressure Mounts on Adams
Delgado made his own call for Adams’ ouster Thursday, in a statement that touched off a sideshow battle between him and Hochul. The governor’s aide insisted her lieutenant does not speak for her.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, also no fan of Adams, didn’t call on him to resign but criticized him nonetheless.
“It’s never been in my history to suggest people should resign but this situation is very serious,” the Democratic conference leader said. “I don’t like the idea that the city could possibly be held hostage, according to what we read, so it’s a serious situation.”
Heastie was referring to news this week that President Donald Trump’s Justice Department ordered the corruption charges against the mayor dropped, reportedly in a deal demanding the mayor’s cooperation on the president’s deportation agenda.
Supporters Express Concern
Even the mayor’s allies in Albany recognize the gravity of the situation.
“I’m not calling for the mayor to step down, but, you know, certainly I’m concerned, and we’ll be monitoring how things move going forward,” said Brooklyn state. Sen. Kevin Parker.
On Monday, Parker told POLITICO he was happy the charges were being dropped.
“The circumstances changed,” Parker said, acknowledging the potential impact of ICE raids on his district, where thousands of Caribbean immigrants reside.
Uncertain Future for Adams
Democratic Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs — a stalwart supporter and friend of the mayor — said he’s been waiting to hear directly from Adams on his next move.
“I want to give him that opportunity as a good friend,” Gibbs said. “But things are happening, so he needs to say something soon, because we all left in limbo. We love him, but we don’t know what to say or do because we don’t know what he’s saying or doing.”
“When you got good friends who are behind you, you should give them a heads up,” he added. “A heads up on what he’s planning on doing in terms of the mayoral race, his seat, dealing with President Trump. He has to be transparent to the people who support him. We need to know. If not, then we start going other places.”
Political Turmoil in Albany
Adams’ political future was a leading topic of discussion at the annual political and legislation conference in Albany, where more than 8,500 political players gathered for the event. The Democratic mayoral primary — which includes three state lawmakers — is scheduled for June 24. If he loses, Adams will be the city’s second Black mayor to only serve one term.
The situation has led to a flurry of resignations in the Justice Department, and has bolstered a narrative among Democrats that the Democratic mayor is compromised, particularly since Trump could revisit charges against him.
Governor's Response and Potential Actions
Under state law and the City Charter, the governor can remove the mayor and other local leaders at her will.
Hochul’s monthslong resistance to removing the mayor has loosened in the span of days.
“This just happened; I need some time to process this and figure out the right approach,” she said on MSNBC, leaving the door ajar to action. Four days earlier, she’d called mayoral removal akin to “overturning an election” and said it “does not feel like something that’s very democratic.”
While Adams was absent from the 54th Annual Legislative Caucus Weekend hosted by the NYS Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators, his deputy mayors attended.
“The mayor has been clear, he’s not stepping down, he’s stepping up,” Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus said in a statement. “As he said yesterday, we must put this difficult episode behind us so that trust can be restored, New York can move forward, and we can continue delivering for the people of this city.”
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