New York City’s political stage was rocked on September 28, 2025, when Mayor Eric Adams announced he would suspend his campaign for re-election, just weeks before the city’s hotly anticipated November 4 mayoral vote. The decision, delivered in a somber video posted on X, capped months of swirling controversies, legal drama, and intense speculation about the embattled mayor’s future. As the city braces for a new era, the race now pivots to a fierce contest between Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo—running as an independent—and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Adams, who has served as mayor since 2022, had been polling far behind his rivals. According to ABC News and Reuters, the once-Democratic mayor was running as an independent this cycle, but faced mounting pressure from all sides. His campaign was dogged by a federal indictment on five counts—including wire fraud, conspiracy, bribery, and solicitation of illegal campaign contributions—stemming from alleged long-standing conspiracies and improper benefits. While Adams consistently denied any wrongdoing, the charges, brought in September 2024, cast a long shadow over his administration and campaign.
In April 2025, the U.S. Justice Department dropped all charges against Adams, a move that sparked immediate backlash and accusations of a political bargain. Critics alleged the dismissal was a quid pro quo with the Trump administration, pointing to Adams’ perceived cooperation on immigration policy and reports of backchannel offers for high-profile government positions. Both Adams and Justice Department officials denied any such arrangement. As Reuters reported, the decision to drop the case triggered a wave of resignations within the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department itself, underscoring the depth of unease the move provoked among career prosecutors.
Meanwhile, Adams’ campaign faced a major financial blow. Just days before his withdrawal, a Manhattan federal judge allowed New York City’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB) to join the now-dismissed corruption case as an interested party. The CFB, citing unresolved questions over the source of more than 200 campaign contributions, withheld millions in public matching funds—a devastating hit for a campaign already struggling to raise money. “The constant media speculation about my future and the campaign finance board’s decision to withhold millions of dollars have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign,” Adams explained in his announcement, as reported by ABC News and Reuters.
Adams’ video statement was both reflective and defiant. “When I was elected to serve as your mayor, I said these words: This campaign was never about me. It was about the people of this city—from every neighborhood and background—who had been left behind and believed they would never catch up. This campaign was for the underserved, the marginalized, the abandoned and betrayed by government,” he said. He added: “Although this is the end of my reelection campaign, it is not the end of my public service. I will continue to fight for this city—as I have for 40 years, since the day I joined the NYPD to make our streets safer and our systems fairer.”
Despite the drama, Adams made it clear he would serve out the remainder of his term as mayor, but he pointedly declined to endorse any other candidate. “Major change is welcome and necessary, but beware of those who claim the answer is to destroy the very system we built over generations. That is not change, that is chaos,” Adams warned, a not-so-subtle jab at his chief rival, Zohran Mamdani.
The mayor’s exit from the race instantly reshaped the city’s political calculus. His name, however, will remain on the ballot—it’s simply too late to remove it. That quirk of timing leaves open the possibility of protest votes or confusion at the polls, even as the real contest sharpens between Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa.
Reactions from the remaining candidates and national figures were swift and telling. Mamdani, a Democratic socialist and state Assemblymember who stunned observers by defeating Cuomo in the June Democratic primary, wasted no time in framing the moment as a rejection of establishment politics. “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. 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,” Mamdani declared in a statement, according to ABC News.
Cuomo, for his part, struck a more conciliatory tone. “Mayor Adams has much to be proud of in his accomplishments. 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,” Cuomo said, while warning of “destructive extremist forces” threatening New York’s future.
Republican Curtis Sliwa, meanwhile, positioned himself as the only viable alternative to 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,” a Sliwa spokesperson told ABC News.
National politics have loomed large over the race, with President Donald Trump reportedly taking a keen interest in the outcome. Trump has publicly disparaged Mamdani as “a 100% Communist Lunatic” and has, according to The New York Times and Politico, privately debated how best to limit his chances in the general election. Reports surfaced that Trump’s advisers attempted to persuade Adams—and even Sliwa—to step aside in favor of Cuomo, aiming to consolidate the anti-Mamdani vote. Both Adams and Trump denied any direct discussions, though Adams later said, “I will always listen if called to serve our country.”
Adams’ relationship with Trump has been a persistent source of controversy. Allegations of backroom deals and job offers—including a possible ambassadorship to Saudi Arabia or a role in the Department of Housing and Urban Development—swirled in the weeks leading up to Adams’ withdrawal. Trump, for his part, welcomed Adams’ exit, telling Reuters he expected Adams’ supporters to swing toward Cuomo.
As the dust settles, the city’s political future remains uncertain. Mamdani has built his campaign around sweeping promises: regulated rents, free bus travel, and universal daycare, aiming to address the city’s sky-high cost of living. Cuomo, a seasoned political operator, is pitching himself as a stabilizing force against what he calls “extremist” threats. Sliwa, a perennial candidate and radio personality, is betting on a law-and-order message to win over voters anxious about safety and affordability.
For now, City Hall staffers and New Yorkers alike are left to ponder what comes next. Adams, who insists he has no job lined up after leaving office, will continue to serve the city until his term expires. As the mayoral race barrels toward its November climax, one thing is certain: the city’s political landscape has been upended, and the stakes have rarely felt higher.
