New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Sunday he is ending his reelection campaign, a move welcomed by rivals of Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani who have sought to consolidate opposition against him.
Adams announced his decision in a video posted on X, saying constant media speculation about his future and the city Campaign Finance Board’s decision to withhold millions of dollars in matching funds had undermined his ability to mount a viable campaign.
“Despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign,” Adams said. “This campaign was for the underserved, the marginalized, the abandoned and betrayed by government. Since then, it has been my honor to be your mayor, and I’m proud to say we took that victory four years ago and turned it into action.”
The announcement marks another dramatic turn in a mayoral race that has already defied recent precedent. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, won June’s Democratic primary in a surprise victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is now pursuing an independent run.
Cuomo allies have long pressed Adams to step aside to improve Cuomo’s chances against Mamdani in November. Former President Donald Trump also urged Adams to drop out, and one of Trump’s top aides, developer Steve Witkoff, met with the mayor to discuss possible roles in a second Trump administration.
It remains unclear how Adams’ exit will affect the race. He has been running fourth in most polls, trailing Mamdani, Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Trump’s involvement in the race has also proved divisive, as his unpopularity in heavily Democratic New York has bolstered Mamdani. Trump has suggested Sliwa should withdraw as well, though Sliwa has repeatedly rejected that idea.
Cuomo’s campaign hopes Adams’ departure could free up support among Black voters, potentially tightening the contest. Meanwhile, state and national Democrats have increasingly rallied behind Mamdani. Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Vice President Kamala Harris are among those who have endorsed him.
Adams, the city’s second Black mayor, has faced a series of corruption scandals involving close aides, along with his own federal bribery case last spring. Prosecutors accused him of soliciting donations from Turkish nationals and trading favors for wealthy donors. The charges were dismissed after the Trump Justice Department cited a need to work with Adams on immigration enforcement, but the allegations further damaged his political standing.
The Campaign Finance Board has repeatedly denied Adams public matching funds, saying his campaign failed to provide required donor information. The denials began shortly after his indictment. Adams has accused the media of undermining his campaign with negative coverage, saying it hampered his ability to raise money.
A retired NYPD captain and former Brooklyn borough president, Adams was elected in 2021 on a platform of public safety and economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. He positioned himself as a working-class mayor who could relate to the city’s blue-collar residents, winning broad support across all five boroughs.
But corruption controversies, strained relations with allies and slipping poll numbers left his campaign struggling to survive. Adams had already abandoned the Democratic primary to run as an independent in November, setting up what was expected to be a showdown with Cuomo.
Adams’ ties to Trump further complicated his reelection prospects. His meeting with Witkoff in Florida, initially described by his office as personal travel, fueled speculation about a potential ambassadorship or other role in a second Trump administration.
Adams insisted for months he would stay in the race, arguing New Yorkers would give him a second chance. On Sunday, he conceded otherwise.
