Eric Adams Drops Re‑Election Bid, Upending New York City Mayor’s Race

Overview

• Adams announced his withdrawal on Sunday in a video posted to X, five weeks before the Nov. 4 election.
• He cited constant media speculation and the city Campaign Finance Board’s withholding of public funds as decisive factors after months of weak polling and fundraising.
• Federal prosecutors, at the direction of the Justice Department earlier this year, dropped five corruption charges against him, yet the episode continued to damage his standing.
• He declined to endorse a successor and warned voters about what he called radical and divisive agendas in city politics.
• The race now centers on Democrat Zohran Mamdani and independent Andrew Cuomo, with recent surveys showing Mamdani holding a sizable lead, including 45% to 23% over Cuomo in a Quinnipiac poll.