New York Mayor Eric Adams Withdraws from Re-election Race, Shifting Political Landscape

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced his decision to drop out of the re-election race, a move long urged by his opponents within the Democratic Party, particularly supporters of Zoran Mamdani, to unite the opposition against him.

He announced the decision on Sunday in a video address posted on X.

This move adds a new twist to the extremely unusual city campaign: Mamdani, a democratic socialist, recently defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the June Democratic primary, who is now running an independent campaign.

Cuomo’s allies had long urged Adams to drop out to give themselves a better chance against Mamdani in November. Also, one of Trump’s top aides, Steve Witkoff, met with Adams about possible positions in a future administration.

Context and Impact on the Campaign

Given the mayor’s unpopularity, it’s unclear how many votes might go to Cuomo after Adams drops out. Polls show Adams usually placing fourth behind Mamdani, Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, and Trump’s interference in his hometown politics strengthens Mamdani’s position.

In this context, Democratic leaders at the state and national level are increasingly rallying around Mamdani: Governor Kathy Hochul and former Vice President Kamala Harris have expressed support.

Adams’s campaign ended less than four years after his election as New York’s second African American mayor, who saw in himself the “future of the Democratic Party” and promised to lead the city through recovery after the pandemic.

The former NYPD captain and the former Brooklyn Borough President was elected in 2021 with a focus on public safety and the city’s economic recovery after COVID-19. He framed himself as a working-class mayor, close to city residents and their concerns, but his campaign was also dogged by corruption shadows and internal scandals.

“Perhaps the city will have a communist mayor because it is divided,” – Trump said at the White House ahead of Adams’s decision. “If people came together and elected one candidate, I think they would have a fairly good chance.”

Prospects and the Democratic Party’s Reaction

Since Adams’s announcement, focus on his policies has waned and interest in Mamdani has grown, with more Democratic officials and activists backing him, particularly through Trump’s efforts to tilt the race toward his own candidate.

Although some Democratic Party leaders have yet to express full support for Mamdani, he has already mobilized substantial support among young people and segments of the Democratic elite nationwide, strengthening his position in the fight for November.

The Adams campaign itself remains the subject of debate: his supporters insist that he will continue working on the city’s priorities, but scandals surrounding his inner circle and previously raised accusations affect overall voter trust.