Mayor Adams, who was indicted on federal corruption charges last month and is facing low approval ratings, raked in about $190,000 for his reelection campaign in the past three months — the lowest fundraising quarter he has seen since taking office.
The haul between July 12 and Oct. 7, confirmed by Adams campaign lawyer Vito Pitta on Tuesday, also meant that the span marked the first time the mayor has been outpaced in the fundraising race by several of his challengers.
City Comptroller Brad Lander’s latest fundraising filings released Friday show he pulled in $330,115 in the latest reporting window for his 2025 mayoral campaign. Former Comptroller Scott Stringer, who’s challenging Adams in next June’s Democratic mayoral primary as well, also edged out the incumbent, drawing about $193,000 in the most recent stretch.
Adams’ full fundraising filing was expected to be released later Tuesday by the city Campaign Finance Board. Also later Tuesday, Adams’ legal defense trust, the vehicle he has used to cover his legal bills amid various corruption investigations into his administration, will disclose how much money it pulled in between July 1 and Sept. 30.
Pitta argued the mayor’s most recent campaign fundraising haul is better than it seems. Once estimated public matching funds are factored in, Pitta said the mayor has as of now drawn in about $8.2 million — exceeding the $7.9 million cap on spending for primary elections.
“Mayor Adams’ strong support from New Yorkers continues — and the campaign has now raised the maximum amount it can spend in the primary with anticipated matching funds for reelection far ahead of schedule,” Pitta said in a statement.
But there could be a catch. The Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office alleges in Adams’ criminal indictment that he solicited and accepted illegal straw donations for both his 2021 and 2025 campaigns from Turkish government operatives in exchange for political favors. The Campaign Finance Board has said it will consider those allegations before they award 2025 candidates their first public matching fund payments in mid-December.
The board — which has as part of an ongoing audit also accused Adams’ 2021 campaign of improperly documenting $2.3 million in spending — can as one of its most serious penalties withhold public matching funds from candidates. If it opts to do so in Adams’ case, the mayor could face a serious cash crunch as compared to his challengers, including Lander, who said that with estimated public matching funds he has amassed about $4 million for his war chest to date.
Pitta wouldn’t say whether Adams’ 2025 campaign will continue raising money, given the possibility it won’t be allocated matching funds.
Still, even without matching funds Adams holds a major advantage in the cash battle, having raised money for his reelection since taking office in January 2022.
According to Pitta, Adams has drawn $4.1 million to date for his reelection bid, and as of the last reporting window, he had $3.1 million in his campaign account. By comparison, Lander reported $279,338 in cash on hand after the latest reporting window and Stringer reported $285,133.
The release of the latest fundraising numbers come as Adams is facing poor polling numbers amid his legal troubles.
A recent survey conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion found 69% of New York City residents, including 71% of registered Democrats, believe Adams should resign. Only 26% of New Yorkers polled by Marist said they approve of Adams’ performance as mayor.