In a significant political shift, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced he will run as an independent in the upcoming mayoral election.
Eric Adams, previously contesting within the Democratic party, will now gather signatures to stand as an independent candidate, following the dismissal of a federal corruption case against him, the New York Post reported.
The case against Mayor Eric Adams was closed with prejudice by a federal judge, meaning it cannot be reopened, liberating him from legal burdens that he claims affected his Democratic campaign. Mayor Adams emphasized that despite exiting the Democratic primary, his principles align with the party's core values.
Adopting a path similar to former Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2009, Adams is the first NYC mayoral candidate to make such a shift since Bloomberg also ran on a Republican line. Not since John Lindsay in 1969 has an independent candidate successfully won the NYC mayoral election, presenting Adams with both a challenge and an opportunity to make history. Mayor Adams must secure 3,750 valid signatures from registered voters in New York City by May 27 to qualify for the November election. His campaign will primarily focus on enhancing public safety, a continuing pivotal issue in his political agenda.
Previously a registered Republican during the tenure of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Adams has experienced fluctuating relationships within the Democratic Party. The decision to run independently also comes one day after plans to submit petitions for the election alongside former Governor Andrew Cuomo, among others.
With a campaign budget capped at $3 million and only $36,000 raised in the initial filing period, Adams's financial resources are modest in the context of New York City's expensive electoral campaigning. Despite this, his campaign website continued to label him as "Democrat Eric Adams" even on the date of his independence announcement.
Meanwhile, tension with the city council reveals varying fiscal priorities. The council, under the leadership of Speaker Adrienne Adams, has proposed a budget exceeding Adams's suggestion by hundreds of millions, arguing that the city could allocate more funds toward public needs. Discussions around budget allocations are ongoing, demonstrating the complex interplay of city governance and electoral politics as Adams navigates his new political trajectory.
Adrienne Adams criticized Mayor Adams's move, likening his strategy to aligning more closely with former President Donald Trump rather than distancing. Socialist State Assemblyman from Queens, Zohran Mamdani, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Adams’s decision followed undue influence from Trump-related pressures.
Another independent mayoral candidate, Jim Walden, dismissed Adams's decision as driven by desperation rather than principle. He disparaged Adams's approach to handling the political and judicial challenges he faces.
Mayor Eric Adams commented on his shift:
"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. But I’m not a quitter. I'm a New Yorker. 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."
Further defending his decision, Adams stated, "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."
In his pursuit of the mayoral seat through an independent run, Mayor Eric Adams faces both historical and contemporary challenges. His campaign will test the waters of NYC's political climate, gauging if an independent stance without robust party backing can indeed resonate with the electorate.
As the city looks forward to the November elections, all eyes will be on Adams’s efforts to redefine his political identity and his capability to connect with a broad spectrum of voters. His assertion that his focus remains on public safety and Democratic values will be a critical element in appealing to New Yorkers across the political divide.
Mayor Eric Adams remains hopeful about his chances in the November elections, emphasizing his commitment to the city and its people. His campaign’s success will largely depend on his ability to galvanize a diverse voter base, secure the required signatures, and clearly articulate his independent platform in the months to come.
