Photo: Getty Images North America
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has ended his reelection bid.
On Sunday (September 28), Adams shared a lengthy video on X, formerly Twitter, announcing that he was dropping out of the New York City mayoral race just weeks before the November election.
“Despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my re-election campaign,” Adams said. “The constant media speculation about my future and the campaign finance board’s decision to withhold millions of dollars have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign.”
Adams was elected as a Democrat in 2021, but launched his bid for reelection as an independent earlier this year. The mayor's approval ratings dropped folowing his indictment on federal corruption charges. The charges were later dropped by the Trump administration.
“Despite the headlines and the innuendo, I always put you before me,” Adams said Sunday.
Adams' name will likely still appear on the November ballot due to the timing of his withdrawal, but he is no longer considered a major contender. Recent polls showed him in a distant fourth place behind Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Adams' exit is expected to benefit Cuomo's campaign, as it consolidates anti-Mamdani support after the progressive state legislator defeated the former governor in the June Democratic primary.
Trump said earlier this month he hoped candidates would drop out to strengthen opposition to Mamdani.
“I don’t like to see a communist become mayor,” Trump said, referring to Mamdani.
Days before Sunday's announcement, Adams insisted that he was "not going anywhere," despite media coverage and fundraising challenges.
Adams didn't endorse another candidate on Sunday but warned of rising political extremism.
“Beware of those who claim the answer is to destroy the very system we built together over generations. That is not change, that is chaos," he said.
The mayor urged his successor to “continue the work we started,” highlighting efforts on public safety, mental health, and quality-of-life improvements.
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