Mayor Adams' reelection bid loses support of Brooklyn party leader

Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection campaign lost the support of the head of the Brooklyn Democratic Party on Sunday, marking the latest blow to his hope for a second term in City Hall.

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the Brooklyn party leader who represents Flatbush and Midwood, announced she was not just endorsing former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral bid, but would also serve as a political advisor on his campaign.

Bichotte Hermelyn was central to Adams’ election win in 2021. Her defection to Cuomo’s camp comes as the mayor has hardly launched a reelection campaign while a federal judge considers whether to allow the Trump administration to drop corruption charges against Adams.

A March poll by Quinnipiac University found that 20% of New York voters approved Adams’ handling of his job as mayor, the lowest of any mayor since they began polling. The poll found 56% of those surveyed wanted Adams to resign.

“We deserve a battle-tested and visionary Democrat to keep leading New York City through some of its most challenging times, and only Andrew Cuomo has the unique insights, real-world experience and proven leadership skills needed to navigate the complexities of our city’s continued recovery and growth,” Bichotte Hermelyn said in a statement Sunday.

Last week, Cumo’s campaign hired Bichotte Hermelyn’s husband to act as a political advisor, likely signaling Sunday’s move of support from the assemblymember.

A spokesperson for the Adams campaign did not respond to a request for comment.