The race to be the leader of America’s biggest city took another turn over the weekend. On Saturday, Mayor Eric Adams announced he was suspending his campaign for a second term, acknowledging that dismal polling numbers had left him with no viable path forward. Once seen as a steady incumbent, Adams had fallen to fourth place behind progressive Democrat Zohran Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa.
The decision, delivered in a prerecorded video, followed weeks of anxious debate within Democratic ranks over the risk of a divided field boosting Mamdani’s insurgent bid. “It’s been an honor to be your mayor,” Adams declared. “Although our successes… I know I cannot continue my campaign.”
Only in America. Only in New York.
Thank you for making my story a reality. pic.twitter.com/efHuyBnITJ— Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) September 28, 2025
His exit comes months after federal corruption allegations against him were dismissed by the Justice Department under President Trump. A five-count indictment issued last September had accused Adams of accepting over $100,000 in illicit contributions and luxury travel from foreign interests, including Turkish officials, in exchange for favors. “Many are skeptical of me after my historical indictment,” Adams conceded in his message.
Despite bowing out, Adams’ name will remain on the November 4 ballot due to deadlines that also leave fellow withdrawn candidate Jim Walden listed. Adams declined to endorse any of the remaining contenders, instead warning against the ideological drift of both Mamdani and Cuomo. He urged voters to avoid extremes, suggesting that inconsistency in leadership would jeopardize New York’s stability, noted The Daily Caller.
“I want to be clear, although this is the end of my campaign, this will not be the end of my public service,” Adams, a frequent critic of Biden’s open border policies, said. “I will keep fighting for our city no matter what because I am a New Yorker.”
Speculation now turns to Adams’ future. Reports suggest he has been in conversation with allies of President Trump about potential roles in the federal government, an unlikely second act for a mayor once mired in scandal, now positioning himself for relevance beyond City Hall.
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