Mayor Eric Adams has ended his effort to win a second term, announcing Sunday that he is bowing out of the race to lead the nation’s largest city.
Eric Adams shared his decision in a video message posted to X, telling New Yorkers, “It has been my honor to be your mayor.” The surprise exit reshapes the November general election, clearing the way for a potential showdown between former Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, and state representative Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic socialist who upset Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary.
Elected in 2021 and sworn in the following year, Eric Adams’ administration was dogged by turmoil including multiple resignations, scandals, and corruption allegations. Federal prosecutors had once charged him with soliciting illegal gifts and donations from foreign governments, including Turkey. But earlier this year, President Donald Trump’s Justice Department dropped the case, calling it politically motivated.
Despite surviving the legal storm, Eric Adams faced unrelenting pressure to step aside. Washington insiders including Trump himself were said to favor a one-on-one contest between Cuomo and Mamdani. Speculation swirled earlier this month when reports suggested Adams was under consideration for a diplomatic post as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, though no formal offer materialized.
Once a police officer, state senator, and Brooklyn borough president, Eric Adams branded himself the “blue-collar mayor.” Though a lifelong Democrat, he ran as an independent after declining to enter the Democratic primary against Mamdani, Cuomo, and other challengers.
Mamdani, representing Queens in the state legislature, issued a blistering statement after Adams’ withdrawal.
“Donald Trump and his billionaire donors might be able to determine Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo’s actions but they will not dictate the results of this election,” Mamdani said. “New York deserves better than trading in one disgraced, corrupt politician for another.”
Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate and Guardian Angels founder, avoided mentioning Eric Adams altogether. His campaign spokesperson Daniel Kurzyna instead zeroed in on Mamdani, insisting Sliwa was best positioned to beat the democratic socialist. “Our team, our resources, and our funding are unmatched. Most importantly, we have the best solutions to help working people afford to stay in New York City and feel safe,” Kurzyna said.
Cuomo, who canceled a scheduled Sunday appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press in favor of addressing a Brooklyn congregation, struck a more conciliatory tone. He praised Eric Adams’ decision as an act of putting “the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition.”
“Mayor Adams has much to be proud of in his accomplishments,” Cuomo said in a statement. “Only in New York can a child raised in a tenement in Bushwick, who once worked as a squeegee boy and a mailroom clerk, rise to become mayor. Whatever differences we may have, Eric Adams’ story is undeniably one of resilience, a testament to the spirit of this city.”
With Eric Adams out the general election is expected to feature Cuomo, Mamdani, and Sliwa as the top contenders. Political observers say Eric Adams’ exit bolsters Cuomo’s chances of mounting a successful comeback, though Mamdani’s upset primary win signals a shifting political landscape in deep-blue New York.
The general election is scheduled for November 4, with voters now facing a stark choice between Cuomo’s seasoned establishment credentials, Mamdani’s progressive platform, and Sliwa’s law-and-order message.
Eric Adams’ departure meanwhile, marks an abrupt end to the once-promising career of a mayor who vowed to restore safety and stability to New York City but instead found his tenure consumed by controversy.