New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing an increasingly uncertain future as he stares down both a criminal trial and a likely fierce reelection battle next year.

Adams was indicted in September on federal corruption charges over allegedly accepting bribes from wealthy businessmen and a Turkish government official. He has denied all wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty, but his popularity dropped even more after prosecutors unveiled the charges.

Now he faces significant hurdles, with both the trial and numerous experienced opponents lining up to challenge him in what is certain to be one of the most closely watched elections in 2025.

“His political prospects could not be dimmer,” said one New York Democratic strategist, “if you look at data, if you look at anecdotals, if you look at how one marshals together a reelection campaign, especially in a really tough environment.”

Adams, a former police captain who previously served as Brooklyn Borough president, ran a successful mayoral campaign in 2021 on a message running as a moderate with an appeal to the working class. He emerged from a crowded primary and easily won the general election to become the city’s second Black mayor.

But Adams’s tenure has been rocky, with criticism over issues like the availability and cost of housing, mixed statistics on crime levels and the influx of migrants over the past couple years, many sent from southern states with Republican governors.

His approval rating has dropped significantly since he........

© The Hill