Eric Adams Makes Announcement After Case Being Dismissed
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has confirmed he will not seek reelection on the Democratic line, instead opting to run as an independent in what he admits is a desperate and uphill battle to salvage his political future. His announcement marks a dramatic turn in a mayoralty already plagued by plummeting approval, abandoned allies, and a federal investigation that, while dropped, left lasting reputational damage.
Speaking to POLITICO, Adams painted his pivot as a personal and political liberation, calling his tenure thus far like being a “racehorse... held back.” That metaphor now faces the reality of a general election where 3.3 million registered Democrats outnumber 1.1 million independents and just over half a million Republicans. Adams' approval rating hovers at 20 percent, and his decision effectively surrenders the Democratic primary to frontrunner Andrew Cuomo, who is now poised for a return.
Adams plans to run on a public safety-focused ballot line, banking on support from outer-borough, working-class, and minority voters — the same coalition that carried him in 2021. But even that base may be fraying.
His campaign, now operating without several key consultants from 2021, will lack access to more than $4 million in public matching funds after a ruling from the city’s Campaign Finance Board. Adams has vowed to challenge that decision in court.
He also stands alone politically. Adams’ criticisms of his own party — particularly President Biden and progressive Democrats — have left him estranged from the very machine that once elevated him as the “face of the new Democratic Party.” Now, his praise for Trump policies, his consideration of suing the Biden administration over migrant costs, and his endorsement of MAGA-adjacent literature raise questions about who, exactly, this independent candidacy is meant to attract.
In defending his stance, Adams holds up Government Gangsters, a book by Trump ally Kash Patel, as a lens through which to understand his legal ordeal — echoing language about a “deep state” that plays well in Trump circles, but lands poorly in a city that voted 68–30 against Trump in 2020.
Adams and his remaining inner circle — notably adviser Frank Carone — point to crime reduction, job growth, and increased housing starts as evidence of progress since he took office in January 2022. They argue his unorthodox political approach is rooted in pragmatism, not ideology. Still, his administration remains haunted by instability, with at least six top aides implicated in various scandals, and his own corruption probe dominating headlines.
Amid a backlash over cuts to public services, his mayoralty is defined more by chaos than consistency. That backdrop sets the stage for an independent run that looks more like a survival bid than a strategic move.
The likely Democratic nominee, Andrew Cuomo, presents a formidable obstacle. While tarnished by his 2021 resignation over misconduct allegations, Cuomo has been reclaiming political ground and polling well. Adams, meanwhile, attacked Cuomo directly in the interview, blaming him for criminal justice policies he says exacerbated crime and accusing him of surrendering to left-wing forces.
But Adams’ critiques come with their own vulnerabilities. He’s refused to resign in the face of his own scandals, and while he accuses others of playing politics, he himself has embraced right-leaning rhetoric and aligned with positions that alienate the city’s progressive base.
Ultimately, Adams is betting on a fractured Democratic vote, a narrow Republican path, and an independent surge that cuts across party lines — a scenario with little historical precedent in New York City. He will campaign on identity, grit, and survival: “If I’m able to come back... no citizen in this city will ever give up,” he said.