New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whose tenure has been marked by both high-profile achievements and persistent controversy, announced on September 28, 2025, that he is ending his campaign for reelection. The decision, delivered in a somber video message from Gracie Mansion, brings to a close months of speculation about the mayor’s political future and reshapes the city’s mayoral race just weeks before Election Day.
Adams, the city’s second Black mayor and a former NYPD captain, cited “constant media speculation” and a critical decision by the city’s campaign finance board to withhold public funding as key reasons for his withdrawal. In his address, Adams expressed pride in his accomplishments, particularly a reduction in violent crime to pre-pandemic levels, but acknowledged the insurmountable challenges facing his campaign. “Despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign,” Adams said, according to The New York Times. He added, “I strongly encourage whoever takes over City Hall to continue what we’ve done.”
Adams’ exit follows a tumultuous first term, which began with high hopes but quickly became mired in scandal. Federal prosecutors charged him with fraud and bribery in September 2024, alleging he accepted illegal campaign contributions and travel perks in exchange for favors. Though the charges were ultimately dropped in February 2025 after a Justice Department intervention under President Donald Trump, the cloud of suspicion never fully dissipated. According to NYMag, the mayor’s administration also saw a revolving door of resignations, including his police commissioner, schools chancellor, and several deputy mayors, often in the wake of federal raids or fresh allegations of misconduct. None of Adams’ top aides have faced criminal charges, but the steady drumbeat of controversy eroded public trust and left the mayor polling in fourth place.
Adams’ relationship with Trump became a flashpoint for criticism from both liberals and progressives. Once a staunch Democrat, Adams began speaking warmly of Trump after the charges against him were dropped, urging his party to tone down its rhetoric and even meeting with the new administration’s border czar to pledge cooperation on immigration enforcement. This shift alienated many in his party and fueled speculation that he might be angling for a federal appointment—rumors that intensified after reports surfaced of backchannel offers from Trump allies, including a potential ambassadorship. As The New York Times reported, those talks ultimately fell apart, and Adams never received a formal offer.
Adams’ campaign was further hobbled by the city’s campaign finance board decision to withhold millions in matching funds, leaving him at a severe financial disadvantage against better-funded rivals. In his announcement, Adams did not endorse any of the remaining candidates but warned New Yorkers to “beware of those who claim the answer is to destroy the very system we built over generations. That is not change, that is chaos.” He urged voters to “choose leaders not by what they promise, but by what they have delivered.”
The mayor’s withdrawal comes too late to remove his name from the November ballot, meaning some New Yorkers may still vote for him despite his dropped bid. As NYMag noted, this leaves the door open for protest votes or confusion at the polls, though Adams has made clear he will not campaign further and plans to “take time to be with family and friends.” His spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, confirmed that the mayor will finish his term but will avoid one-on-one interviews in the coming weeks.
The political ramifications of Adams’ exit are already rippling through the city. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary to Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, stands to benefit the most—at least in theory. Frank Carone, Adams’ close adviser and campaign overseer, told The New York Times that Adams’ withdrawal “isn’t the end, but a pivot” to defeat Mamdani, and that he plans to work for Cuomo’s campaign or an aligned super PAC. Cuomo, in a statement, praised Adams’ decision and resilience, declaring, “The choice Mayor Adams made today was not an easy one, but I believe he is sincere in putting the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition.”
Yet Cuomo’s path is far from assured. His own administration was dogged by scandal, including the handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic and sexual harassment allegations that forced his resignation. While he enjoys some support among outer borough Black and Latino Democrats and Orthodox Jews, many key labor unions and Democratic leaders have thrown their weight behind Mamdani, who at 33 would be the city’s youngest and most progressive mayor in generations. According to The New York Times and Siena University polling from early September, Mamdani held a solid lead over Cuomo, with Republican Curtis Sliwa and Adams trailing further behind. The gap could narrow somewhat with Adams out, but as NYMag points out, it’s not clear that Adams’ supporters will automatically flock to Cuomo, especially given the former governor’s baggage and independent status.
Mamdani, for his part, wasted no time in linking Adams’ and Cuomo’s campaigns to Trump and his wealthy donors. “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 in a statement. “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.”
Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, remains in the race and insists he is the only candidate capable of defeating Mamdani. “Curtis Sliwa is the only candidate who can defeat Mamdani. 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,” said campaign spokesperson Daniel Kurzyna. Nevertheless, Sliwa’s campaign has been undercut by skepticism from within his own party and dismissive comments from Trump, who called him “not exactly prime time.”
The Democratic establishment is not entirely unified. While Governor Kathy Hochul has endorsed Mamdani and praised Adams for leaving the city “better than he inherited it,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has so far withheld an endorsement, saying only that he will “publicly weigh in with respect to the remaining candidates in the Mayor’s race well before the start of early voting.”
Adams’ campaign, once buoyed by his reputation as a reformer and crime-fighter, ultimately foundered on the rocks of scandal and shifting political alliances. His legacy, he hopes, will be judged more kindly in hindsight. “History is going to be kind to me when I’m out of the political spotlight 10, 15 years from now, and they look over and say: You know what? We got to give this guy his due,” Adams said recently, as reported by The New York Times. “That’s what I’m fighting for.”
With Adams’ dramatic exit, New Yorkers now face a pivotal choice in a mayoral race defined by generational and ideological divides, lingering questions about integrity, and the future direction of the nation’s largest city.
