New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced his decision to withdraw from the re-election campaign this past Sunday. In a video shared on social media, Mayor Adams highlighted his administration’s accomplishments, including a significant reduction in violent crime.
However, he explained that persistent media speculation surrounding his political future, coupled with the city’s campaign finance board’s decision to withhold public funding for his re-election efforts, made it impossible to continue his race. “Despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign,” Adams stated.
This move marks a notable shift, especially after the one-term Democrat had consistently vowed to remain in the contest, emphasizing that New Yorkers do not ‘surrender.’ Speculation about his potential exit had been prevalent for over a year, with his campaign facing challenges from a now-dismissed federal bribery case and criticism from liberals regarding his close ties with former President Donald Trump. Adams had opted to run as an independent, bypassing the Democratic primary.
In his announcement video, Adams refrained from endorsing any of the remaining candidates. Instead, he issued a cautionary message about the increasing presence of extremism in contemporary politics. “Major change is welcome and necessary, but beware of those who claim the answer is to destroy the very system we built over generations,” he warned. “That is not change, that is chaos. Instead, I urge leaders to choose leaders not by what they promise, but by what they have delivered.”
Adams’ withdrawal could potentially bolster the campaign of former Governor Andrew Cuomo, a fellow centrist who has positioned himself as the only viable candidate against the Democratic Party’s nominee, state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani.
However, it remains uncertain whether enough of Adams’ supporters will rally behind Cuomo to significantly impact the race. Mamdani, at 33, is a progressive candidate who could become the city’s youngest mayor in generations. He defeated Cuomo handily in the Democratic primary, campaigning on a platform focused on lowering the cost of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
Republican Curtis Sliwa is also still in the running, though his campaign has been undermined even by members of his own party, with former President Trump famously remarking in a recent interview that Sliwa was “not exactly prime time.”
Following the Mayor’s announcement, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who has endorsed Mamdani, released a statement praising Adams’ work over the past four years, asserting that he leaves the city in a better state than when he took office.