Eric Adams drops out of re-election campaign for New York City mayor

New York City Mayor Eric Adams suspended his campaign for re-election, citing "constant media speculation about my future and the campaign finance board's decision to withhold millions of dollars."

In a video message posted to X on Sunday, Adams said it had been his honor to serve as mayor of New York City.

"It's not always easy to see the impact of good policy in just three years," the mayor insisted. "I also know some remain unsure of me after the unfortunate events surrounding my federal case. I was wrongfully charged because I fought for this city."

"And yet, despite all we've achieved, I cannot continue my re-election campaign," he continued. "I hope you will see that despite the headlines and innuendo, I always put you before me, always. I'm proud of the historic leadership team we built."

Adams warned of growing extremism in politics.

"Our children are being radicalized to hate our city and our country," he claimed. "Political anger is turning into political violence. Too often, insidious forces use local government to advance divisive agendas with little regard for how it hurts everyday New Yorkers."

"Major change is welcome and necessary, but beware of those who claim the answer to destroy the very system we built together over generations," Adams remarked. "Instead, I urge New York is to choose leaders not by what they promise, but by what they have delivered."

"Although this is the end of my re-election 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 today I joined the NYPD to make our streets safer and our systems fairer."

Adams' exit from the mayoral race was expected to boost former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's independent campaign. Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D) held a 20-point lead over Cuomo in a Suffolk University CityView poll released last week.