At a recent closed door meeting of the Democratic congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., the moderate Democratic candidate for New York City mayor Eric Adams was reprimanded and admonished on the importance of unity by the far left Representatives Nydia Velazquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after the New York Post reported that Adams viewed the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as his opposition. What the DSA unit fails to see is that Adams won in one of the nation’s most liberal and diverse cities precisely because he has unified a very diverse coalition of voters with his centrist positions. It’s important to note that Adams represents mainstream Democrats in a way that the DSA does not. It’s equally as important to acknowledge that over 60 percent of first choice votes in the recent mayoral Democratic primary went to centrist candidates.
Eric Adams’ victory in the New York City mayoral Democratic primary offers an important sign that American voters respond well to pluralism and centrism. Adams won in one of the nation’s most liberal cities with a centrist message focused on public safety and kitchen-table issues, and in doing so, built a formidable coalition of voters across racial, socioeconomic and cultural lines. His approach marks a significant departure from our tribal and fragmented state of political affairs. It further shows how to better orient the Democratic Party with policies that appeal to the majority of Americans, who are weary of the far left trying to divide us and not representing the interests of the majority of our party.
How did Adams win against candidates with better name recognition, funding, support from national progressives and Wall Street bonafides? Because of his genuine (and skillfully communicated) belief that a well-run, safe and economically vibrant city helps the greatest number of its citizens—rather than grandstanding on nouveau policies like defunding the police or Universal Basic Income.
Adams made centrist policies a “fighting faith” to rally around, and in doing so, forged a new coalition of Black people, Latinos, moderate white people, unions and Asians who all want the same things: safe and clean streets, a good quality of life, employment opportunities and good educational resources for their children.
During the campaign, I volunteered at numerous rallies and press conferences throughout the five boroughs. Regardless of the neighborhood we were in—Dyckman Heights, the Rockaways, the South Bronx, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Flushing or Lower Manhattan—the questions and comments for Adams were always the same regardless of income level, race or culture. People asked about subway safety, improving schools and garbage on the streets—not critical race theory, President Joe Biden, or even climate change.
During the campaign, Adams’ far left opponents sought to exacerbate differences. On homelessness, many of the city’s current leaders and more progressive candidates sought to sharply divide New Yorkers into one of two camps—either compassion for those experiencing homelessness or racism for focusing on law and order. Adams correctly ascertained that most New Yorkers believe we can be both compassionate for the homeless and have safe streets.
The campaign volunteers reflected this diverse coalition. Among my fellow volunteers were a formerly homeless man who now runs a nonprofit for at-risk young men, a Black imam from the South Bronx who helps extricate youth from gangs, a Jewish man who started a nonprofit to foster relationships between different religious and community groups, an educational reformer from Queens, as well as Russian emigres from Brighton Beach, Chinese immigrants from Flushing, Black church leaders, wealthy white college students and members of the city’s various unions.
Adams cemented the centrist group he built by offering all stakeholders a seat at the table, to address the pressing and daunting issues facing New York City. At almost every event I attended, he clearly and intentionally told the audience “We need you to be a part of the solution.” Adams’ policies affirm his version of “ordered liberty,” embodying progressive, liberal and conservative values. He actively seeks common sense solutions that will make the city thrive, regardless of their source. And while he plans to reform the NYPD to limit protection for officers who have a history of abuse, he does not want to cut funding to the police. He believes they play an important role in keeping communities safe, and in ensuring the return of business and tourism.
Adams’ electoral success marks a departure from political extremes and fragmentation. Other states have begun to echo Adams’ message. On Aug. 3, an Ocasio-Cortez backed Bernie Sanders ally was beaten by a centrist in the deep blue Ohio House primary, and in the previous week on the GOP side, a Donald Trump backed candidate Susan Wright lost the congressional race to the moderate Jake Ellzey.
New Yorkers took a stance against divisive politicians, and Democrats outside of New York City should realize the potential of Adams’ approach to supersede divisiveness and help our country unite and prosper.
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman is the co-founder and president of Acrocorinth, Inc., a 501(c)3 that focuses on educational equity, foreign policy initiatives and fiscally responsible government policies. In 2014, she was elected Democratic judicial delegate for the 75th Assembly District in New York City. She serves on the board of Teach for America – NY and the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. Kristen resides in New York City.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
