The N.Y.C. Mayor’s Race Could Test the #MeToo Movement’s Staying Power

Roughly six years ago, as the #MeToo movement gathered steam, a credible allegation of sexual misconduct could end a political career.

Al Franken, a U.S. senator of Minnesota, was forced to resign. A Democratic colleague in the House, John Conyers of Michigan, was forced out days earlier. Three Republican congressmen also stepped down: Blake Farenthold of Texas, Trent Franks of Arizona, and Pat Meehan of Pennsylvania.

The potency of a #MeToo allegation remained as recently as 2021, when Andrew Cuomo resigned as governor of New York after he faced multiple accusations of sexual harassment.

But in New York, recent developments suggest that there may be a subtle re-evaluation of those accused of sexual harassment or abuse, and whether their political lives might be resuscitated.

The former city comptroller, Scott Stringer, announced on Thursday that he would raise funds to challenge Mayor Eric Adams in next year’s Democratic primary. Mr. Stringer’s bid for mayor in 2021 fell far short, in part because of a surprise accusation of sexual harassment that allegedly occurred some 20 years ago.

Mr. Adams himself was accused of sexually assaulting a woman three decades ago in a civil filing in November. Even Mr. Cuomo is contemplating a comeback and performed well in a recent poll.