{"id":9318,"date":"2025-01-17T06:45:35","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T11:45:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/?p=9318"},"modified":"2025-01-17T06:45:35","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T11:45:35","slug":"eric-adams-re-election-campaign-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/2025\/01\/17\/eric-adams-re-election-campaign-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Eric Adams’ Re-Election Campaign Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Being Mayor Is Eric Adams\u2019 Re-Election Campaign Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Short-Staffed<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adams’ campaign staff is tiny. Lawyer Vito Pitta confirmed, after a week of texts, that he was working on the campaign, but rarely answers other inquiries from THE CITY. Adams’ 2021 campaign spokesperson, Evan Thies, did not respond to multiple text messages sent by THE CITY asking if he is resuming that role this year \u2014 and has repeatedly denied he’s working on the campaign. But, Thies, a co-founder of Pythia Public Affairs, still communicates often with reporters on the Adams’ campaign’s behalf. Meanwhile, former Adams chief of staff Frank Carone \u2014 who now has a lobbying and public affairs firm, Oaktree Solutions \u2014 answered "of course" when asked if he was working on the 2025 campaign, but wouldn’t say in what capacity.<\/p>\n

Raising Money<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adams is also raising money for his legal defense fund, which pays for lawyers and other expenses tied to his federal corruption trial. But he brought in just $2,200 from two donors over the last three months, even as his expenses increase as he prepares for his trial, set to begin in April. One of the listed donors is Tzvi Odzer, who gave $2,000 and was pardoned by outgoing President Donald Trump on his last day in office in 2021.<\/p>\n

Re-Election Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adams is running his campaign effort instead through his day job at City Hall. He has no known campaign office or website, and few if any staff. He may not qualify for any city-funded matching-funds to help his campaign. In fact, he might have to give $10 million back to the Campaign Finance Board, with his 2021 fundraising under scrutiny by city and federal investigators. <\/p>\n

State of the City Speech<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adams’ State of the City speech last week was a feel-good rundown of his administration’s wins while he promised to make New York more affordable for families to raise kids in. And he acknowledged the past year \u2014 in which multiple staffers were raided by federal authorities and he was indicted on corruption charges \u2014 with a show of defiance that wasn’t in his prepared remarks.<\/p>\n

Interviews and Public Appearances<\/strong><\/p>\n

At a press conference this week, Adams answered questions about challengers \u2014 including potential contender Andrew Cuomo, the disgraced former governor who polls show would be a frontrunner if he jumped in. "I’m going to connect with people the way I do. No one is going to outwork me. I am so committed authentically to New Yorkers. They connect with me," Adams said.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adams’ re-election campaign strategy seems to be a unique approach, focusing on his day job at City Hall and relying on his existing network to get the message out. With a tiny campaign staff and limited fundraising efforts, it will be interesting to see how this approach plays out in the upcoming election.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/strong><\/p>\n