New York City Mayor Eric Adams has dropped out of the race for reelection, saying he can’t raise enough money to run a serious campaign. In a video message, Adams blamed constant media scrutiny and the city’s Campaign Finance Board for withholding millions in public funds.
Adams said his campaign was always for the “underserved and marginalized” and thanked New Yorkers for allowing him to serve. His decision immediately reshaped the mayoral race, which already featured big names and unusual twists.
Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is now the Democratic nominee after defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo in the primary. Cuomo is trying a comeback with an independent campaign. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa is also in the race, while Donald Trump has pressured candidates like Adams and Sliwa to step aside to consolidate opposition against Mamdani.
Adams had been polling fourth, weighed down by corruption scandals and denied campaign funds after a federal indictment last year. Although Trump’s Justice Department dismissed the charges, the controversy damaged his reputation.
With Adams out, Cuomo hopes to gain support from Black voters. Meanwhile, Mamdani says New Yorkers deserve better than “disgraced politicians trading places.”
