What Happens If Adams Steps Down or Is Removed From Office?

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors unveiled their five-count indictment against Eric Adams, describing how foreign nationals plied the mayor with luxury international-travel accommodations as well as illegal campaign donations in exchange for political favors. Though Adams has made it clear that he has no intentions of heeding the mounting calls for his resignation, his ability to stay in City Hall appears in doubt as the details of his alleged conduct begin to circulate. While Adams’s future remains unknown, here’s a look at the possible next scenarios as established by city law.

Adams opts against resigning, and gets removed

From where things stand right now, Adams seems unlikely to resign. There would be two ways to remove him if that remains the case.

The city charter allows for the creation of a “inability committee,” a panel made up of the corporation counsel, the comptroller, the speaker of the council, a deputy mayor chosen by the mayor and the longest currently serving borough president. At this point in time, the longest-serving borough president is Donovan Richards, who represents Queens. As for the corp counsel, that position is currently vacant after Randy Masto, Adams’s pick to fill the empty seat, was forced to withdraw his nomination after a contentious hearing earlier this month. The committee would decide by two-thirds vote whether the mayor is “permanently unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of mayor.” When removed, the office would then cede to the next in the line of succession, likely Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.

Governor Kathy Hochul can oust Adams, as well. Under the charter, the governor has the power to remove Adams from the mayor’s office should she choose to exercise that right. Right now, it’s unclear if Hochul intends to take such dramatic action. During a press availability Wednesday, the governor said she intends to read the indictment closely and will speak further at a later time on her plans. “I will be deliberative, I’ll be thoughtful, and we’re going to come to the right resolution on what to do in this moment,” she said.

Adams resigns or is removed from office, and Jumaane Williams becomes acting mayor

In the event that Adams were to resign, he would then be replaced by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, per the city charter, New York City’s governing document. Comptroller Brad Lander, who has launched his own primary bid against Adams, would be next in line following Williams.

Williams, a consistent critic of Adams throughout his tenure, stopped short of calling for the mayor to resign, unlike many of his peers. “It is federal officials’ obligation to prove their case, it is the mayor’s obligation to prove to New Yorkers that there is a real plan and path to govern the city effectively and regain trust, and his time to show that plan is rapidly running out,” he said in a statement.

A special election (which could get pretty wild)

After being designated acting mayor, Williams (or Lander) would be required by law to schedule, within three days of the office becoming vacant, a special election to replace Adams. Per the charter, the election will take place within 80 days on the first Tuesday. The special election is expected to be ranked choice as established by law and will likely feature a crowded field of competitors. In a ranked-choice election, voters will be able to rank their top five choices for mayor, with the lowest-ranked candidates eliminated in subsequent rounds until a majority is reached.

Prior to the indictment, Adams already racked up a fair number of primary challengers including Lander, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, former comptroller Scott Stringer, and State Senator Jessica Ramos. There has also been speculation as to whether former governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned due to his own political controversies, might toss his hat in the ring if Adams bows out.

However, if Adams opts to stay in office now and later resigns within 90 days of the general-election cycle, a special election will not be held and the acting mayor will hold the role until a new mayor is elected.