New York City Mayor Eric Adams ended his struggling reelection campaign on Sunday. His decision came after poor poll numbers and weak fundraising, but with only 37 days until Election Day, analysts say it may be too late to change the race.
Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, remains the frontrunner, leading by double digits in several polls. Adams had been trailing in fourth place behind Mamdani, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo may benefit slightly from Adams’ exit, but experts doubt it will close the gap. Even if all Adams supporters move to Cuomo, Mamdani’s strong lead still holds. “If this happened months ago, it would have been a real boost. Now, it’s too little, too late,” said strategist Evan Roth Smith.
Mamdani quickly responded with a video aimed at Cuomo, reminding him of the 13-point loss in the primary. Meanwhile, Sliwa insists he will stay in the race despite pressure to step aside.
Adams, 65, missed the deadline to remove his name from the ballot, so voters will still see him listed. His withdrawal could shift donor money toward Cuomo, but strategists warn Cuomo still faces high negatives and a tough climb against Mamdani.
