Eric Adams Drops Out Of New York City Mayor's Race

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced the end of his mayoral election campaign.

Adams announced his decision Sunday in a video posted to X.

“Despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign,” Adams said in the video. “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.”

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.”

Adams’ move to end his third-party bid for reelection came after rumors surfaced about a job offer from the Trump administration if he drops out of the mayor’s race.

According to The New York Times, Trump has been in talks to nominate Adams for the role of ambassador to Saudi Arabia should he exit the race.

Adams previously denied the claims earlier this month, telling reporters, “I have a job. I’m running for my reelection. I am still doing that, and I’m looking forward to getting reelected.”

Adam was indicted in September 2024 on federal charges, including bribery and campaign finance violations. His exit means the New York Mayoral race is now a three-man competition between Democratic nominee and New York State Representative Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Eric Adams announced the end of his mayoral election campaign on Sunday.

Adam Gray via Getty Images

Adams’ withdrawal also comes amid widespread reporting that President Donald Trump wanted Adams out of the race to help consolidate support for Cuomo, who is running a third-party bid for mayor against Mamdani.

A recent poll showed Adams trailing fourth behind Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa in the New York Mayoral race.

After the news of Adams’ withdrawal, Sliwa wrote on X that he’s the “only candidate who can defeat Mamdani.”

“I am the only candidate who can defeat Mamdani,” Sliwa wrote. “Our team, our resources, and our supporters are unmatched. Most importantly, we have the best solutions to help working people afford to stay in New York City and feel safe.”

Meanwhile, Cuomo called Adams’ decision to back out of the race “not an easy one” in an X post Sunday.

“The choice @ericadamsfornyc 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,” he wrote. “We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them.”

Cuomo went on to call Adams’ story an “undeniably one of resilience, a testament to the spirit of this city.”

Earlier this month, Trump took aim at Mamdani, referring to him as a “communist.”

“It would seem to me that if [Adams] stays in, if you have more than one candidate running against [Mamdani], it can’t be won. If you have one candidate, if he’s the right candidate. I would say that Cuomo might have a chance of winning, if it was a one-on-one. If it’s not one-on-one, it’s going to be a hard race.”

Trump added: “And we’ll get used to a communist, and we’ll get used to a communist, and he’s going to have to go through the White House and get approvals for everything, and we’re going to make sure New York is not hurt. We want to make sure that New York is cherished and taken care of.”

On Sunday, Mamdani released a statement slamming Trump, Adams and Cuomo following Adams’ decision.

“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. “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,” he said.

Earlier this month, Adams said during a news conference at Gracie Mansion that he was committed to staying in the race, telling reporters, “I am the only one who can beat Mamdani.”