New York City Mayor Eric Adams has abandoned his reelection bid in an announcement on Sunday.
“And yet, despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my re election campaign. 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 said.
He cited the federal case against him as the reason voters aren’t supporting him.
“I also know some remain unsure of me after the unfortunate events surrounding my federal case, I was wrongfully charged because I fought for this city, and if I had to do it again. I would fight for New York again,” he added.
Adams saw the five federal corruption charges against him dismissed by the Department of Justice. At the time, Adams was seeking to expedite the trial in order to focus on his reelection campaign. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) referred to the dismissal as an attempt from the Trump administration to “interfere in the operations of our city.”
These dismissed charges included one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals; one count of wire fraud; two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national; and one count of bribery.
He used his announcement video to tout achievements of his administration, including lowering crime numbers and increasing rental vouchers and childcare funding.
Gov. Kathy Hochul also celebrated his accomplishments in a post to X.
“For the last four years I’ve been proud to work with Mayor Adams to make New York City safer, stronger, and more affordable. During that time we have delivered much needed housing for New Yorkers, including the passage of the mayor’s visionary City of Yes plan,” Hochul wrote.
“We have connected more New Yorkers to mental health services and supportive housing. We’ve driven down crime in our subways and gotten illegal guns off the streets,” Hochul wrote. “I have been grateful for his partnership. He leaves New York City better than he inherited and that will always be central to his legacy as mayor.”
He did not endorse another candidate in the race. Instead, Adams suggested that voters “choose leaders not by what they promised, but by what they have delivered.” Two of his opponents are public servants: Zohran Mamdani is a New York City assemblyman, and Andrew Cuomo served as governor.
This announcement was offered by Adams while he was flanked by the photo of his late mother Dorothy, who died in 2021, just before he took office. Adams posted the video nearly three weeks after an early September poll from the New York Times and Siena University found Adams had just 9% of likely voters’ support.
Meanwhile, Mamdani received 46% support from likely voters, and Cuomo trailed behind with 24%. The Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa earned 15% of the vote. With Adams out of the race, the other candidates are likely to try to target Adams’s would-be voters.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R) praised Adams for doing “the right thing” by dropping out.
Cuomo, who was close with Adams, praised the mayor’s legacy in his response to the news.
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“The choice @ericadamsfornyc made today was not an easy one, but I believe he is sincere in putting the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition,” Cuomo wrote on X. “We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them.”
“Mayor Adams has much to be proud of in his accomplishments. Whatever differences we may have, Eric Adams’ story is undeniably one of resilience, a testament to the spirit of this city,” Cuomo added.
