By SHANT SHAHRIGIAN
DAILY NEWS
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams came out on top in results of a poll about Democratic mayoral candidates released Monday, even as many New Yorkers remained undecided about the contest.
He led the pack with support from 18% of likely voters in the June 22 Democratic primary, according to the survey from Emerson College and PIX11.
Adams polled at 19% in a March poll, but now has the top spot thanks to a drop in numbers for businessman Andrew Yang.
A former police officer who speaks openly about being assaulted by police officers when he was a teenager, Adams has been almost singularly focused on the rise in gun violence across the city. Where Yang is looking to capture the mood of an electorate anxious for New York to rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic, Adams is positioning himself as the candidate vowing to tackle a steady spike in crime.
Meanwhile, city Comptroller Scott Stringer gained ground — in spite of bombshell allegations of sexual misconduct from a former campaign volunteer. Stringer, who has strongly denied the April accusations from Jean Kim — who said Stringer groped her and pressured her for sex when she volunteered for his unsuccessful 2001 run for public advocate — appear to be having limited impact on voters. Just 18% found them credible. But 28% said they have not heard enough about the allegations, while another 28% said they were not credible; 27% were unsure about the matter. Stringer was tied with Yang at 15%. He did best of the eight candidates polled among white voters, seizing 24 percent,
Undecided voters accounted for the largest group — 22.2% were yet to pick a candidate.
Yang had backing from 15% of likely voters, down from 32% in March.
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer's pictured during a press conference in 2020. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)Kathryn Garcia was the top pick for 8% of poll respondents, albeit the survey was held before the editorial boards of the Daily News and the New York Times gave her their respective endorsements.
She was trailed by former nonprofit executive Dianne Morales, who was chosen by 8% of respondents; former Obama big Shaun Donovan, 5%; and ex-Citigroup executive Ray McGuire and former de Blasio aide Maya Wiley, 4% each.
May 16, 2021: The News says: Garcia is best choice for next mayor. Kathryn Garcia has the knowledge of city government and the leadership skills needed to be the next mayor. Kathryn Garcia was the top pick for 8% of poll respondents, albeit the survey was held before the editorial boards of the Daily News and the New York Times gave her their respective endorsements. (New York Daily News)
Nearly four in 10 poll respondents said they were familiar with ranked-choice voting — the method in which voters list candidates in order of preference, instead of picking just one — which debuts in local elections this year.
An analysis of the way respondents listed candidates showed there would likely be numerous elimination rounds before a winner surfaces in the contest. Adams still came out on top in the poll.
Meanwhile, the city’s Campaign Finance Board announced Monday that the next mayoral debate will take place virtually — a repeat of the setting last week, in which candidates repeatedly yelled over one another and moderators strained to keep them in check.
A board spokesman blamed the decision on host WABC-TV, saying the decision was made “pursuant to health protocols in effect” at its studios. The health and safety of everyone involved in these complex productions, from the candidates to production staff to building workers, must come first. Our co-sponsors will follow the safety requirements in their studios,” spokesman Matt Sollars said in a statement.
The campaigns were not pleased.