Adams’ approval rating falls to the lowest level for any New York mayor since 1996

Mayor Eric Adams, facing a federal investigation into his campaign fundraising and rampant criticism of his handling of the migrant crisis, has seen his approval rating drop to 28 percent, according to a report. Quinnipiac University Survey released on Wednesday.

The approval rating — the lowest for any New York City mayor in a Quinnipiac poll since it began surveying the city in 1996 — reveals the extent of the political damage Mr. Adams has suffered in recent weeks after the F.B.I. confiscated phones, a woman filed a legal claim in 1993 accusing him of sexual assault and he made unpopular cuts to the police, schools and libraries.

About 58 percent of New Yorkers disapproved of Mr. Adams’ job as mayor, and the dissatisfaction was felt almost across the board. A majority of respondents said the mayor did not have strong leadership skills, did not understand their problems and was not honest or trustworthy.

He also received some of his lowest ratings on his handling of homelessness and the city budget, with only 22 percent of voters supporting him on those issues.

“This is certainly a sobering snapshot for Mayor Adams, but also for the city,” said Mary Snow, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University survey. “Voters are concerned about some major issues affecting New York City right now, and they are not happy with the way things are going.”

The lowest approval rating ever for a New York mayor came in July 2003, when Michael R. Bloomberg fell to 31 percent during his first term, according to Quinnipiac University.

Mr. Adams, a Democrat who ran for mayor on a message of public safety, had seen his popularity dip this year as he struggled to manage the flow of migrants from the southern border. Then on November 2, the FBI raided the home of his top fundraiser, unveiling a wide-ranging public corruption investigation into whether his 2021 campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign donations.

Fabien Levy, Mr. Adams’ deputy mayor for communications, questioned the poll’s methodology and said Mr. Adams was improving the city.

“The real numbers cannot be disputed: Crime is down, jobs are up and we continue to put billions of dollars in the pockets of working people,” he said. “There will always be more work to do, but there is no doubt that this city is in a better place under Mayor Adams’ leadership.”

The mayor received his only positive rating from black voters, who approved of the job he was doing: 48 percent to 38 percent. His approval rating among Hispanic voters — a key part of his coalition outside Manhattan — was just 20 percent.

The poll surveyed nearly 1,300 registered voters in New York City between late November and early December. When asked about the federal investigation into his 2021 campaign, 22 percent of voters believe Adams did something illegal, and 30 percent believe he did something unethical but not illegal. About 20 percent say he did nothing wrong.

Mr. Adams recently announced he is cutting city agency budgets, blaming the cuts on the rising costs of the migrant crisis. The cuts include freezing police recruitment and closing libraries on Sundays.

The poll found that 65 percent of voters supported raising taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers to help close the city’s budget gap. Adrienne Adams, the council president, has supported increasing revenues to avoid cuts, but Mr. Adams has opposed the idea.

Ben Tulchin, a pollster for Mr. Adams, said in a statement that the mayor “understands that voters are frustrated,” and that he was working on issues such as affordable housing and “taking on MAGA Republicans in Washington and across the country who are destroying our city ​​fails.”

Christina Greer, a professor of political science and currently a fellow at the City College of New York, said it was still possible for Mr. Adams to recover from his low approval rating, as Mr. Bloomberg did when he served three terms as mayor.

“This will hopefully be a time for him to reflect and make changes, rather than doubling down and digging in his heels,” she said.