NYC Mayor Eric Adams ends re-election campaign, leaving race to Mamdani and Cuomo

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Sunday that he is dropping his bid for reelection, effectively clearing the path for Democrat Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, to contend for the city’s top office.

In a video shared on social media, Adams highlighted achievements during his tenure, including a reduction in violent crime, but cited “constant media speculation” and a decision by the city’s campaign finance board to withhold public funding as key reasons for ending his campaign. “Despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign,” Adams said.

Adams' warning against Mamdani’s agenda

Adams bowed out of the mayoral race on Sunday, taking a swipe at Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani and fueling speculation about the role of former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming contest.

In his statement, Adams offered a veiled critique of Mamdani, who has campaigned on promises to regulate rents, introduce free bus travel, and expand access to daycare to address the city’s soaring cost of living. “Major change is welcome and necessary, but beware of those who claim the answer is to destroy the very system we built together over generations. That is not change, that is chaos,” Adams said.

Public opinion polls showed Adams trailing far behind Mamdani, who holds a significant lead, and Cuomo. Adams also struggled to raise campaign funds and faced challenges stemming from a now-dismissed federal bribery case.

Adams’ exit leaves the November 4 election likely to be a showdown between Mamdani and Cuomo.

At 33, Mamdani could become New York City’s youngest and most progressive mayor in decades. He secured a decisive victory over Cuomo in the Democratic primary, running on a platform focused on reducing the cost of living in one of the world’s priciest cities.

Republican Curtis Sliwa remains in the race, but his campaign has faced setbacks within his own party, with Trump recently describing him as “not exactly prime time.”

Trump says Cuomo stands to benefit

President Donald Trump welcomed Eric Adams’ decision to end his reelection bid, predicting that the move will strengthen Andrew Cuomo’s chances in the upcoming mayoral contest. In remarks following Adams’ announcement, Trump said he believed many of the votes that might have gone to Adams would now shift to Cuomo, the former New York governor running as an independent.

Polls show tighter race after Adams’ exit; Sliwa vows to stay in

New polling suggests the New York City mayoral race could tighten significantly following Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to withdraw.

A Quinnipiac poll indicated that Adams’ exit could narrow the gap between Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent. A separate Times/Siena survey found that Mamdani’s lead could shrink further if both Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa dropped out of the contest.

Sliwa, however, has rejected any suggestion of stepping aside.

Mamdani blasts Cuomo as Adams’ exit

The battle to succeed New York City Mayor Eric Adams escalated as Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo traded sharp statements following Adams’ withdrawal from the race.

Mamdani, who has campaigned on lowering the cost of living, accused Cuomo of representing the old guard of New York politics. “New York deserves better than trading in one disgraced, corrupt politician for another. On November 4th, we are going to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas and deliver a government every New Yorker can be proud of,” he said.

Cuomo, running as an independent, responded with praise for Adams’ decision to step aside, calling it an act of putting “the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition.” Without naming Mamdani, he echoed Adams’ caution about “extremist forces,” warning, “We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them.”