Political strategists say Big Apple Mayor Eric Adams' corruption scandal could derail Democratic efforts to win back suburban seats critical to control of the House.
The Adams scandal reminded voters of what they dislike about Democratic-controlled New York City, including its “chaos,” one political consultant said.
“That's not good for Democrats. Part of the suburban red wave is driven by what they saw in New York City: homelessness, immigrant crime, chaos. That's why they voted Republican. “There is,” said a Democratic strategist who has worked for congressional candidates and former Democratic President Bill Clinton.
“Long Island doesn’t want to become New York City,” he said.
At stake in November is control of the House of Representatives, where Republicans only have a narrow lead. There are currently six House elections held in New York suburbs or exurbs that are rated competitive by the Cook Political Report, four held by Republicans and two held by Democrats.
Importantly, these districts are part of New York City's media market, and the Adams scandal is likely to dominate the airwaves in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 5 election.
Mike Ripetri, a Republican candidate for Congress in Long Island, has slammed incumbent Democratic state Rep. Tom Suozzi, who was once considering Adams as vice mayor.
“Tom Suozzi made millions of dollars trading stocks in Congress and violated stock laws.” [governing financial disclosures] He did that 300 times, and now his old friend Eric Adams is being ousted in an alleged bribery scandal,'' LiPetri told the Post.
“No wonder they wanted to work together at City Hall,” he said of Suozzi and Adams.
“We deserve a better place than these career politicians who are only looking out for themselves. It's time for a new start,” he said, from Long Island's Nassau County North Shore to Queens. said Lipetri, who is running for District 3, which extends to the district.
Mr. Suozzi declined to comment on Mr. Ripetri's broadside, but issued a statement that stopped short of calling on Mr. Adams to resign.
“It's unfortunate that another public official has been indicted. People are losing faith, but I have confidence in our justice system and that following long-established processes will ultimately bring justice to justice.” “We know that this will be fulfilled,” Suozzi said.
Republican Rep. Mark Molinaro, who is running for a rematch against Democrat Josh Riley in the Hudson Valley's battleground 19th District, said the Adams scandal was definitely a campaign issue.
“In a state that has been run by one political party for so long, we need people to fight back against this culture of incompetence and corruption,” Molinaro said.
Republican pollster John McLaughlin argued that Adams' indictment could encourage black voters, who typically support Democrats, to vote for Donald Trump for president.
McLaughlin said Black voters may believe Adams is being steered toward the Harris-Biden administration's Justice Department after Adams criticized the White House's handling of the border crisis. said.
Some of the allegations against Mr. Adams date back to when Mr. Adams was mayor of Brooklyn and before the city's current immigration crisis, and despite some of the allegations, there is no possibility of political payback. He claimed that there was.
Four local Democratic House candidates, sensing that their Republican opponents might try to hang the scandal over their heads, called on Mr. Adams to resign.
Mr. Molinaro's Democratic rival, Josh Riley, immediately threw Mr. Adams overboard.
“Upstate New York faces serious problems, and the last thing we want is politicians in lower states to become even more corrupt, compounding the problem, exporting chaos, and undermining the public,” Riley said in a statement. It's an abuse of trust.” “Eric Adams should resign immediately.”
Democrat Laura Guillen, who is running against first-term Republican U.S. Rep. Anthony D'Esposito in southern Nassau County's 4th District, also followed suit.
“If you abuse your power, you have to resign,” she said. “Let’s clean house in New York City and Washington, D.C., and elect ethical leaders who are focused on their constituents, not themselves.”
“It's a sad day for New Yorkers and the American people to see the mayor of New York indicted,” said left-handed Texas Rep. Mondaire Jones, who is running against first-term Rep. Mike Lawler in the Hudson Valley's 17th District. he said. Eric Adams should resign. ”
“I believe in principle over partisan politics,” said John Avron, a Democrat who is running against freshman Republican Rep. Nick Larota in the 1st District of Suffolk County, Long Island. The master is just as bad as the Republican crooks.
“Everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence before being judged by a jury, but in the interest of all New Yorkers, Mayor Adams should step down and a special election should be held,” Avlon said. Ta.
