Mayor Eric Adams has decided to leave the Democratic Party and will run for reelection as an independent. This move marks a significant step away from the city’s dominant political party as he prepares for a challenging campaign.
Adams shared his decision during an interview with Politico. He explained that he plans to “run a real independent campaign” with a focus on building support outside Manhattan, particularly among ethnic minorities who helped him win four years ago. Reflecting on the federal bribery charges filed against him in September, which were dismissed in court on Wednesday, Adams said the charges “held him back” and vowed to campaign freely from now on. “I’ve been this racehorse that has been held back,” he said. “This is so unnatural for me.”
Adams’ decision sets the stage for a potentially messy race in the nation’s largest city, which has recently shifted slightly to the right. He faces the challenge of running against the winner of the Democratic primary, which is expected to be Andrew Cuomo.
To appear on the November ballot, Adams needs to collect 3,750 signatures by May 27, according to him and his staff. He also plans to release a campaign video on Thursday, where he’ll discuss his struggles, express regret for past mistakes, and criticize his opponents for being “soft on crime.”
Despite his low approval rating of 20%, financial challenges, and the tough competition in the Democratic primary — Adams said he’s is optimistic.
“I’m in the race to the end,” he said. “It hurts like hell” to leave the Democratic Party, but he believes it’s the best choice for his campaign.
By running as an independent, Adams hopes to recover from the fallout of the corruption charges and connect with the growing number of unaffiliated voters in New York City. He also plans to fight for the public matching funds that were denied to him, which are vital for running a successful campaign.
However, his path is uncertain. New Yorkers traditionally elect Democrats, and his chances of winning will depend on reaching voters who don’t typically support independents. Still, Adams has the advantage of being the incumbent, which brings media attention and public recognition.
New York City has 3.3 million registered Democrats, 1.1 million independents, and 558,778 Republicans. Adams hopes to appeal to voters who may not support the Democratic nominee in the primary, though this strategy is risky given his past support for parts of Trump’s agenda.
Adams and his team believe his best chance is to face off against Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani rather than moderate Andrew Cuomo. But no matter who wins the Democratic primary, Adams is aware that national politics will play a big role in the race.
While New Yorkers strongly rejected Donald Trump in the 2020 election, Adams has made it clear that he is more critical of the left wing of his own party than of Trump. He has even criticized President Biden’s handling of immigration issues. He pointed out the hypocrisy he sees in how some people criticize Trump’s legal battles but are silent about Biden’s actions.
Adams said he’s determined to make a comeback. “If I’m able to come back, with all that I went through,” he said, “people were celebrating my demise, and I’m able to come back and be elected again as mayor, no citizen in this city will ever give up.”
