On Sunday, Eric Adams, the newly elected mayor of New York City, dropped a big one. He will not seek re-election. Adams first announced his departure via a slick, high-energy social media video. Accompanied by the sounds of “My Way,” he reminisced about his time in office and the hurdles he overcame during his administration.
Over the past weeks, Adams had been insistent on powering through with his campaign, trying to survive an avalanche of criticism and closely-held scrutiny. Only three weeks prior, he had released a scathing report condemning former governor Andrew Cuomo. He painted Cuomo as “a snake and a liar.” Adams has now chosen to drop out in light of recent corruption accusations. These accusations have clouded his administration and have resulted in the loss of faith from many constituents.
He indicated that his withdrawal was influenced by “constant media speculation about my future” and the New York City campaign finance board’s decision to withhold millions of dollars in matching funds due to suspicious donations connected to his campaign. Adams was elected as a Democrat, but he is running as an independent now. This move follows his indictment on federal corruption charges, that the Trump administration subsequently dropped in exchange for his cooperation on nationwide immigration raids.
Adams stated, “I was wrongfully charged because I fought for this city, and if I had to do it again, I would fight for New York again.” He is unapologetic about his legacy and everything he did while in office. This conviction continues, despite legal and political challenges to the program.
Though Adams has withdrawn from the race, he is not yet vacating his seat. He will be serving until his term runs out on New Year’s Eve. Johnson’s name will remain on the ballot for this year’s planned November general election. Removal must happen prior to payment, but the April 2022 removal deadline has already passed.
The mayor’s recent scandals went beyond accusations of receiving illegal campaign donations and high priced travel on the dime of foreign nationals. These accusations have been tremendously damaging to his standing and campaign’s morale. Adams acknowledged that he has lost some trust among New Yorkers since the allegations surfaced but maintained that they were unjust.
It is a time of extraordinary political change in New York City. Adams leaves after a turbulent tenure marked by extreme scrutiny and controversy surrounding his actions. We wish him all the best as he remains committed to addressing what’s coming down the pike for the city. This commitment lives on even as he exits the race.