Mayor Eric Adams of New York City revealed on Thursday his decision to bypass the Democratic primary and seek another term as an independent candidate.
The announcement was made one day later His government bribery case was overturned. by a judge.
Adams announced his 2025 campaign in a six-minute video. posted on social media .
While I remain a member of the Democratic Party, I am choosing not to participate in the Democratic primary for mayor and instead plan to run as an independent candidate in the general election, appealing directly to all New Yorkers," Adams stated, further noting, "Fixing New York doesn’t require a liberal or conservative approach; rather, there’s a correct method and one that is incorrect. Genuine leaders understand this proper course provided they possess the courage to follow through with it.
Adams will skip the packed Democratic primary, which including ex-Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo .
There is a history of success for independents.
In New York City, mayors have taken office as independents. For instance, John Lindsey secured his reelection as an independent mayor in 1965 following a loss in the Republican primary. Similarly, Michael Bloomberg managed to win a third term as an independent after initially campaigning under both Republican and Democratic affiliations.
Adams stated that he acknowledges the effort required to win back the public's confidence.
“I understand that the allegations made against me might have eroded your trust in me, and it’s understandable for you to question my actions. To be clear: Even though the charges were unfounded, I placed my faith in individuals who shouldn’t have had it, which I deeply regret. However, what I’m dealing with pales in comparison to your challenges — increasing expenses, worries over public safety, and profound apprehensions regarding our future,” Adams stated.
This is utter chaos.
A poll released last week Indicated Adams lagged behind Cuomo, State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, and City Comptroller Brad Lander in polls of Democratic primary voters. This positioned him slightly ahead of ex-Comptroller Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, State Senator Jessica Ramos, former Assemblyman Michael Blake, and activist Whitney Tilson.
Adams' choice left some of the candidates in the Democratic primary confused.
If you’re catching up with the news this morning whether by reading papers or watching TV, and finding yourself bewildered, muttering ‘What the heck is happening,’ know that you aren’t alone. I’m posing the same questions to myself. It’s nothing short of a total madhouse,” stated Myrie.
"Losing is inevitable for him regardless of which election he enters. Should he run in the Democratic primary, he would be defeated there. And should he contest the general election, he’d also fall short. He cannot withstand the scrutiny from the New Yorkers whom he betrayed," Lander stated.
"The individuals cast their votes for him as part of the Democratic party, yet he openly stated that he no longer cares about our well-being, which is extremely disheartening, though perhaps not unexpected," Blake commented.
Stringer stated that Eric Adams has not been a Democrat for quite some time.
"It’s ironic to hear the mayor portray himself as an independent when his track record clearly indicates otherwise," Mamdani stated.
Cuomo chose the moral high ground.
"They refer to it as democracy. Mayor Adams has the option to run as an independent if he wishes. Alternatively, he can choose to participate in the Democratic primary. The decision rests with Mayor Adams," Cuomo stated.
Maybe the most delighted with the mayor's change of heart is Republican front-runner Curtis Sliwa.
"I have no doubt that Eric Adams' independence benefits me," he stated.
On Thursday, when questioned about the theory, the mayor dismissed it.
He stood little opportunity to secure victory in the Democratic primary.
Political analysts indicate that Adams opted for a strategic move by steering clear of the inevitable attacks within the Democratic primary. This allows him to leverage his current position to communicate more effectively with the public.
"Threadin' this needle will be quite challenging. Though it won’t be simple, campaigns typically come in sets of three. He can highlight his track record and start planning for what’s next. Now, he gets to choose which issues he’ll focus on as the final push. While winning the Democratic primary was unlikely, navigating these challenges isn’t impossible," stated political consultant O'Brien Murray.
Now that Adams is not in the primaries anymore, Murray states that Cuomo is likely to face attacks from the remaining contenders. Should Cuomo manage to weather this onslaught effectively, it could lead to a potential clash with Adams during the November general election.
Even though Adams' approval ratings are low, Murray stated that competing as an independent increases the mayor's chances of retaining his position.
"The Democratic primary is about 80 days away, early voting and so forth. You have 80 days to remake your image and get the message out there after distractions of the court case. Now, you've got over 200 days to go between now and November. You also have to get away from the clutter of a very crowded field in a Democratic primary," Murray said.
Supporters of Adams believe he will recover and come back stronger.
Certainly, the mayor has his followers.
"Irrespective of his political affiliation, he has a strong likelihood of succeeding," stated Ishmael Sanchez from the Bronx.
"A significant amount of harm has occurred. This is unfortunate as he serves as the second African-American mayor, and it appears he was framed, yet I believe he will recover from this setback," stated Bishop Erick Salgado.
The mayor subsequently stated in a Fox News interview that his task is to restore confidence within a electorate that might feel “worn out” by politics.
"We’re all exhausted. Exhausted by the cost of living in our city. Tired of worrying about nurturing healthy kids. This exhaustion has left us weary beyond measure. But we will transform this weariness into the indomitable fighting spirit characteristic of New Yorkers,” Adams stated.
Judge Dismisses Federal Corruption Case Against Adams
Judge Dale Ho on Wednesday agreed to the The U.S. Department of Justice's petition to dismiss allegations Against Adams. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice, indicating that the accusations can't be refiled at a future date.
The charges against Eric Adams were unjust from the start and they have now been completely dismissed. Since day one, he has proclaimed his innocence, and today, justice for Eric Adams and the people of New York has been achieved, Attorney Alex Spiro, representing Adams, stated .
In 2024, Adams faced charges related to misusing his authority for nearly ten years. 57-page indictment alleged he received undisclosed presents -- such as extravagant trips -- valued at over $100,000 in exchange for political perks. It is claimed he sought unlawful campaign contributions from rich foreign entities and businesses, including an individual affiliated with the Turkish government.
When advocating for the dismissal of the case, Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyers argued that continuing it could hamper Adams' potential run for mayor in 2025 and limit his capacity to collaborate with the Trump administration’s efforts regarding immigration enforcement. The original motion to dismiss the charges specified that this decision did not stem from considerations about the robustness of the evidence or the underlying legal principles supporting the prosecution.
Adams denied all the accusations.