Adams and delegation from New York present united front after candidate’s criticism of left

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After election day, they no longer campaigned, Adams told reporters after the meeting. | Mark Lennihan / AP Photo

Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams downplayed his recent criticism of left-wing parties and said that would not be an obstacle to working with members of the New York congressional delegation in a meeting with the group Wednesday in Washington, DC

After election day, they no longer campaigned, Adams told reporters after the meeting. I am in the countryside. I have to show the differences in philosophy between those I’m running against, and then January 1 when I’m governing it’s about making sure everyone is around the table.

Adams, a former police officer, won a tight primary in June largely on a message of increased public safety. He will face Republican Curtis Sliwa in November, but is expected to win due to the Democrats’ huge enrollment advantage in the city.

Adams visited the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee headquarters in Washington at the request of Rep. Jerry Nadler for a morning meeting with New York Democrats, including Senses Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

His comments on Wednesday came after The New York Post reported this week that Adams attended a Republican-hosted fundraiser and said he was running against a movement specifically referring to the Democratic Socialists of America.

I am no longer running against the candidates. I run against a movement. Across the country, DSA socialists are mobilizing to arrest Eric Adams, the Brooklyn Borough President has reportedly said.

Adams has not been shy about denouncing parts of the Progressive agenda that he says are unpopular and misguided, including the effort to fund police and end the use of prisons amid an upsurge in crime in New York and across the country. Adams also made supplications to the upper stratum of the city, a brutal departure from Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose political rhetoric was far more hostile to wealthier New Yorkers.

But he and other meeting attendees presented a united front as the city tries to emerge from the doldrums of the Covid era.

Rep Jamaal Bowman (DN.Y.), who toppled longtime Rep Eliot Engel last year, showing up on a shameless left platform, said it was a good first meeting with the democratic candidate. He said the focus was on their shared concern for the most vulnerable cities, rather than differences within the party among the diverse group of Democrats.

It’s not a question of ideology or party, all this nonsense. We’re not talking about that, Bowman said as he left the meeting alongside Reps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez.

Ocasio-Cortez, who is considered a standard bearer for Democratic Socialists, did not answer questions.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (DN.Y.), said Adams’s message was universally well received by other members and the candidate was honest about the need for support in Washington.

Were all professionals and kept their eyes on the endgame securing New York City’s resources, said Torres, one of Andrew Yang’s most prominent supporters during the mayor’s primary. Everything else is secondary ; everything else is background noise.

During the reunion, Adams shared how his mother’s passing caused him to reconnect with his sister and solidify that relationship, according to Rep. Gregory Meeks.

He said he wanted to start from scratch and all work together for the benefit of New York City, Meeks (DN.Y.) said. He said his success depends on our success and our collaboration in this regard.

In a statement after the meeting, Adams said: “We have discussed issues such as tackling gun violence with greater community funding and enhanced coordination of law enforcement, doubling the federal investment in NYCHA and expanding eligibility for affordable housing grants, providing family-quality child care and early childhood education and tackling climate change while employing New Yorkers with good green jobs . ”

Several participants said other policy areas included the repeal of the national and local tax deduction cap and the need for FEMA reimbursements for Covid-related expenses incurred by the city’s public hospitals.

Rep. Sean Maloney (DN.Y.), who like Adams is seen more as a centrist, indicated that the Brooklyn Borough President’s success in June could be translated for other Democrats who are facing crucial midterm elections next year.

Eric Adams has shown that he is a tremendous voice collector and a tremendous asset to the Democratic Party. Politically, Eric Adams is a rock I can build the church on, Maloney told reporters.

De Blasio tried, without success, to create a national platform for himself and for like-minded candidates. Adams himself recently said he should be a role model for Democrats nationwide.

He’s going to be a busy man, but I’ll take all the time he has, Maloney said of Adams.

Representative Nicole Malliotakis, the only Republican in the city’s congressional delegation, was not invited to the meeting.

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