New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that he will not seek the Democratic nomination for re-election, instead launching an independent bid. The decision comes just a day after a federal court officially dismissed the corruption case that had cast a long shadow over his administration.
“More than 25,000 New Yorkers signed my Democratic primary petition, but the dismissal of the bogus case against me dragged on too long, making it impossible to mount a primary campaign while these false accusations were held over me,” Adams said in a video statement.
“But I’m not a quitter. I’m a New Yorker,” he continued. “And that is why today, although I am still a Democrat, I am announcing that I will forgo the Democratic primary for mayor and appeal directly to all New Yorkers as an independent candidate in the general election.”
Adams, the city’s second Black mayor, framed his move as a rejection of partisan constraints. “I firmly believe that this city is better served by truly independent leadership, not leaders pulled at by the extremists on the far left or the far right, but instead those rooted in the common middle, the place where the vast majority of New Yorkers are firmly planted,” Adams said.
For weeks, Adams had been weighing whether to break away from the Democratic primary as the corruption investigation, which alleged illicit foreign donations, effectively froze his campaign.
“I know that the accusations leveled against me may have shaken your confidence in me and that you may rightly have questions about my conduct,” he said. “And let me be clear, although the charges against me were false, I trusted people I should not have and I regret that. But the issues I face are nothing compared to yours.”
His re-election prospects, however, remain highly uncertain. Adams’ first term has been marred by controversies, and his approval ratings have plummeted. Some political observers believe he can stage a comeback, while others see his independent run as a long shot. To qualify for the November 4 ballot, he now must collect at least 3,750 signatures by May 27. Fundraising could also pose a challenge—his campaign had just $3 million on hand as of March after lackluster donor support.
Adams’ announcement came less than 24 hours after U.S. District Judge Dale Ho dismissed the corruption case with prejudice, preventing prosecutors from refiling charges. The ruling dealt a blow to the Justice Department, which, under the Trump administration, had pushed to drop the charges while leaving the door open to reopen the investigation in the future.
