New York City Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of this year's mayoral race on Sept. 28, citing mounting pressure that makes it difficult to continue his campaign.
"The campaign finance board's decision to withhold millions of dollars [has] undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign," Adams said.
Adams’s announcement follows weeks of back-and-forth over whether he would drop out of the crowded race. He has been polling in fourth place behind Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani, Democratic former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
In the video, Adams said: “It’s been an honor to be your mayor.
“Despite all we've achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign. I hope that, over time, New Yorkers will see this city thrive under our leadership. ... The policies we put in place should be continued and expanded.”
Adams urged whoever wins the mayoral race to “continue the work” he started in lowering the cost of living, investing in quality of life, and “reducing crime and disorder through investments in policing mental health, substance abuse care, homelessness services, and community-based initiatives.”
Although Adams did not endorse any candidates in his remarks, he made references to political extremism radicalizing children to hate New York City and the United States and “insidious forces [who] use local government to advance divisive agendas with little regard for how it hurts everyday New Yorkers.”
The mayor said that although this marks the end of his reelection campaign, it is not the end of his public service.
“I will continue to fight for this city, as I have for 40 years since the day I joined the [New York City Police Department], to make our streets safer and our systems fairer,” Adams said. “Until the end of my term, I will fight for just that. We face the fallout of [COVID-19], the surge in crime, an unprecedented migrant crisis, and economic devastation all at once.”
At the time, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove said that continuing to prosecute Adams would prevent the mayor from helping the Trump administration combat illegal immigration and crime in New York City.
“Some remain unsure of me, after the unfortunate events surrounding my federal case,” Adams said. “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.”