According to recent polls, nearly 70% of New York City residents are calling for Mayor Eric Adams to resign amidst federal corruption charges. Additionally, about two-thirds of respondents believe that Governor Kathy Hochul should take action to remove him from office. This surge in public sentiment follows Adams’ public appearance on September 30 in Queens, which was recently highlighted in a photo released by the Mayor’s Office.

The Marist College polls, conducted on September 30 and October 1—shortly after Adams’ indictment—focused on individuals aged 18 and older residing in New York City. The results revealed that 69% of participants feel Adams should step down, while only 30% believe he should serve out his term.

The data also indicates that 65% of respondents suspect Adams of engaging in illegal activities, with this figure rising to 68% among Democratic voters. Meanwhile, just 8% consider him innocent, and 24% view his actions as immoral but not necessarily illegal. Moreover, a significant 72% of New Yorkers are closely tracking developments in Adams’ legal case.

In addition, over 80% of those surveyed indicated that they do not want Adams to seek re-election. His approval rating has hit a new low, dropping to just 26%, down from 37% in November of the previous year, with nearly half of the population expressing strong dissatisfaction with his performance as mayor. The discontent spans across Democrats, Republicans, and independent voters alike.

This decline in support isn’t entirely new. Back in November, his approval rating had already fallen by 17 percentage points, and a December Quinnipiac University poll showed his support had dwindled to 28%—the lowest for any New York City mayor in three decades. While Adams received crucial backing from African American voters during his 2021 campaign, only 38% currently express satisfaction with his leadership. It’s also worth noting that Adams is the second African American mayor in New York’s history.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has signaled his interest in running for mayor, but poll results indicate that 55% of the public do not want him to enter the race, while 44% support the idea.

Governor Hochul has the legal authority to remove Adams and has publicly stated she is carefully monitoring the situation. The prosecution is expected to file a written response regarding Adams’ case by Friday, October 18, with the defense required to submit additional materials by Friday, October 25. Court hearings for both parties are set for Friday, November 1.