NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday that he is ending his bid for re-election, a dramatic turn in a race already reshaped by legal battles and shifting political alliances.
Adams, who had been running as an independent after withdrawing from the Democratic primary earlier this year, said he no longer sees a viable path forward. His campaign has struggled with poor polling numbers, limited fundraising, and the lingering fallout from a federal bribery case that was dismissed earlier this year.
While Adams’ name will remain on the November ballot due to election rules, he confirmed that he will not actively campaign. He will continue serving as mayor until his current term expires on January 1, 2026.
The decision immediately redefines the mayoral contest. With Adams out, the race is expected to center on Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is also running as an independent. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa remains in the field but faces an uphill battle in heavily Democratic New York City.
Adams’ exit closes a turbulent chapter in his political career, leaving voters to choose among starkly different visions for the city’s future.–Reuters
