The integrity of Eric Adams' campaign to run as an independent in the upcoming election has come into question after it was discovered that over 50 signatures on his petition were fraudulent. This revelation raises significant concerns about the verification processes and the overall legitimacy of the support being claimed.
More than 50 signatures on New York Mayor Eric Adams' petition to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming November election have been reported as fraudulent. A recent investigation revealed that 52 individuals claimed their signatures were forged, including those of three deceased persons. Additionally, some signatories stated they were misled into signing the petition.
Despite these allegations, the impact on Adams' campaign might be minimal since he has submitted nearly 50,000 signatures, far exceeding the 7,500 required to qualify as a candidate. However, this issue introduces additional challenges to an already complex race for leadership in America's largest city. Adams faces competition from the Democratic party nominee Zohran Mamdani, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, and former prosecutor Jim Walden, with Cuomo and Walden also running as independents.
The petition system's vulnerabilities are under scrutiny as candidates seek alternatives to the ranked-choice primary system. It is common for campaigns to employ external contractors to collect signatures, a practice that has led to discrepancies in Adams' petition efforts. Reports indicate that irregularities were linked to at least nine workers who collectively submitted over 5,000 signatures. Notably, one worker alone gathered more than 700 signatures in a single day, with several appearing in remarkably similar handwriting.
The Adams campaign has responded by stating their expectation for hired companies to comply with legal standards and has initiated a review of the collected signatures. Adams' attorney emphasized that the mayor did not instruct anyone to engage in unlawful activities and mentioned that the campaign is evaluating potential corrective measures.
Veteran election law attorney Jerry Goldfeder commented that it is not rare for campaigns to encounter invalid signatures. "Every now and then, someone attempts to cut corners, and they are usually caught. Occasionally, these cases are forwarded to legal authorities, leading to prosecutions," Goldfeder explained.
This report emerges during a period of increased tension in New York City following a tragic shooting in a midtown office building that resulted in four fatalities. In response, the Adams administration has encouraged residents to utilize mental health services to cope with the incident's aftermath. Meanwhile, Mamdani has revised his previous stance on police funding, affirming his commitment to adapt and lead without proposing cuts to the police budget.
The mayoral election is set for November 4, promising a fiercely contested battle for leadership in New York City.