2025-09-28T18:08:18Z
Eric Adams dropped out of New York City’s mayoral race on Sunday.
The incumbent cited media speculation and lack of funding for his decision.
Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, holds a significant lead and is widely expected to win.
Eric Adams has dropped out of New York City’s mayoral race.
The incumbent mayor announced his departure in an eight-minute video shared to X on Sunday, saying his campaign was hindered by a lack of funding and media attention.
“Yet, despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign,” Adams said. “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.”
Factoring into his decision was also likely the sizable polling lead held by his main opponent, Zohran Mamdani, who is running as a Democratic Socialist. Mamdani is widely expected to win in November.
Mamdani has campaigned on freezing rents and raising taxes on the wealthy in New York City, roiling the financial capital of the world. He has also said he doesn’t believe billionaires should exist, which was an eyebrow-raising comment for a candidate running for mayor of a city that is home to the world’s largest number of billionaires.
In his video message, Adams appeared to take a parting shot a Mamdani.
“New Yorkers should be suspicious of any politician or political movement that claims we must wholesale destroy the systems we created together over generations in order to usher in a new, untested order led by self-styled saviors,” he said.
Three candidates now remain in New York City’s mayoral race: former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani, and Republican activist Curtis Sliwa. Election Day is November 4, but early voting begins on October 25.
Correction: September 28, 2025 — An earlier version of this story misstated Andrew Cuomo as a former mayor of New York City. He was the former governor.
