To the musical backdrop of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” and after weeks and months of speculation, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Sunday, Sept. 28, that he has dropped out of the New York City mayoral race, confirming his decision via a video announcement.

 

Seated on a stairway beside an enlarged photo of his mother, the mayor touted his accomplishments in office to date, saying that four years ago Gracie Mansion became his home. “Who would have thought that a kid from South Jamaica, Queens, growing up with learning disabilities, could one day become mayor of the greatest city in the world?” he said.

 

Turning to look at the photo of his mother, he went on to thank her for instilling in him the values he said she lived by. “I hope every parent can use my life as an example for their child during challenging moments,” he said. “Only in America can a story like this be told.”

 

He continued, “When I was elected to serve as your mayor, I said these words,  ‘This campaign was never about me.’ It was about the people of this city, from every neighborhood and background who have been left behind and who believed they could never catch up. This campaign was for the underserved, the marginalized, the abandoned and betrayed by government.”

 

Adams continued, “Since then, it has been my honor to be your mayor and I’m proud to say that we took that victory, four years ago, and turned it into action, making this city better for those who have been failed by government. I have felt immense pride serving you every day and look at what we accomplished together. We built more housing in one term than any administration before us, and removed barriers to build even more.”

 

He said crime was driven down so far that this year the administration is on track to have fewer shootings and murders than at any point in the City’s history. “We raised test scores and attendance through bold education reforms,” he said. “We made record investments that fueled our economy and drove employment to all-time highs.”

 

He added, “We lowered [inaudible / costs?] for working and low-income families, expanding funding for rental vouchers, childcare and household costs, while eliminating the income tax burden for more than a half a million New Yorkers.”

 

He said despite this, he knew that many New Yorkers had yet to feel the full impact of what he called such historical achievements. “I know many are still worried about affordability, their safety and a future here but trust me when I tell you what we started will continue to reach every community in this city,” he said.

 

The mayor went on to say that it was not always easy to see the impact of good policy in just three years. “I also know that some of you remain unsure of me after the unfortunate events surrounding my federal case.”

 

He continued, “I was wrongfully charged because I fought for this city and if I had to, I would do it again. I would fight for New York again.” It has been speculated that Adams butted heads with the Biden administration over the cost to New York City of accepting thousands of migrants in recent years, which the mayor allegedly felt unduly impacted upon his ability to pursue his own agenda.

 

In December 2023, Adams alleged the migrant crisis had cost New York City $7 billion in that fiscal year alone. “This was dropped in our lap,” he said at the time. “We’ve been asking for help for over a year now, and our voices are not being heard in Washington D.C.”

 

In August 2023, the mayor had laid out new projections estimating the cost of what was seen as an asylum seeker crisis to grow to at least $12 billion over three fiscal years between Fiscal Year 2023 and Fiscal Year 2025, if circumstances did not change. His opponents, meanwhile, had proposed taxing the rich to fund the shortfall. Since then, subsequent budgets have been agreed.

 

As reported, in April, Judge Dale E. Ho of the Federal District Court in Manhattan dismissed “with prejudice,” on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, the bribery and corruption charges brought against the mayor in September 2024, following a November 2023 federal probe into his campaign finances relating to his 2021 mayoral election campaign.

 

Following that announcement, the mayor announced he was dropping out of the June 2025 Democratic mayoral primary and began his run as an independent in the general election, as reported by Politico, campaigning in Norwood the following month.

 

The mayor had alluded that the federal charges brought against him were politically motivated due to his conflict over immigration policy with the Biden administration leading to subsequent speculation that he later struck a deal with the Trump administration in order to have those federal charges dropped in exchange for his loyalty to Trump.

 

Adams continued with his address on Sunday, saying, “Yet, despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign. The constant media speculation about my future and the campaign finance board’s decision to withhold millions of dollars have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign.”

 

He added, “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. I hope you will see that despite the headlines and innuendo, I always put you before me, always.”

 

He went on to say that he was proud of what he said was an historic leadership team, citing the first Dominican, Indian, and Filipino deputy mayors, the first woman to serve as fire commissioner and police commissioner, the first Korean commissioner ever for Small Business Services, the first Spanish speaker to lead the NYPD and DOT, and the first Jewish woman to head the NPYD intelligence division.

 

He said his administration built leadership that looked like New York City. He credited this approach to church teachings, community, and to how he was raised by his mother. “Those values, working class values never allowed me to betray my city,” he said. “They have always guided me to ask and answer one simple question: how do I help those who need it most?”

 

The mayor said whoever followed him as mayor must continue what he said was the work his administration had started, lowering the cost of living, investing in quality of life and staying laser-focused on reducing crime and disorder through investments in policing, mental health, substance abuse care, homelessness services and community-based initiatives.

 

“But I must also sound a warning,” he said. “Extremism is growing in our politics; our children are being radicalized to hate our city and our country. Political anger is turning into political violence. Too often, the City’s forces use local government to advance divisive agendas with little regard for how it hurts everyday New Yorkers. Major change is welcome and necessary, but beware of those who claim the answer is to destroy the very system we built together over generations.”

 

He continued, “That is not change. That is chaos. Instead, I urge New Yorkers to choose leaders not by what they promise but by what they have delivered. Although this is the end of my re-election campaign, it is not the end of my public service. I will continue to fight for this City, as I have for 40 years, since the day I joined the NYPD to make our streets safer and our systems fairer.”

He continued, “The quest for justice is far from over. Inequality persists, innocents still suffer, New Yorkers deserve better every single day and until the end of my term, I will fight for just that. We faced the fall out of COVID, a surge in crime, an unprecedented migrant crisis and economic devastation all at once, and together, we turned things around by listening to everyday people and providing solutions instead of speeches. That gives me hope. That gives us a roadmap to a better future.”

 

He concluded, “My fellow New Yorkers.  this is your city. Its leaders work for you. I am one of you. My story is your story. I lived the struggle but I never stopped loving this city. That is why I ran for mayor, to turn my pain into purpose and I will keep fighting for this city no matter what, from City Hall or beyond because I am a New Yorker, and fighting for New York is just what I do. Thank you and God bless New York.”

 

Reacting to the news, Democratic mayoral nominee Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (A.D. 36), the frontrunner in the race, said, “Donald Trump and his billionaire donors might be able to determine Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo’s actions but they will not dictate the results of this election.”

 

He added, “New York deserves better than trading in one disgraced, corrupt politician for another. On November 4th, we are going to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas and deliver a government every New Yorker can be proud of.”

 

For his part, independent candidate and former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, “The choice Mayor Adams made today was not an easy one, but I believe he is sincere in putting the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition. We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them.”

 

Cuomo added, “Mayor Adams has much to be proud of in his accomplishments. Only in New York can a child raised in a tenement in Bushwick, who once worked as a squeegee boy and a mailroom clerk, rise to become mayor. Whatever differences we may have, Eric Adams’ story is undeniably one of resilience, a testament to the spirit of this city.”

 

Meanwhile, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa said, “I am the only candidate who can defeat Mamdani. Our team, our resources, and our supporters are unmatched. Most importantly, we have the best solutions to help working people afford to stay in New York City and feel safe.” He included a link to his campaign website.

 

He later retweeted a post by Republican Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), which read, “Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) did the right thing for the city. It’s now time for others to do the same. We must defeat  @ZohranKMamdani in November and stop the socialist movement that is destroying New York. I’m proud to support @CurtisSliwa and encourage everyone to do so.”

 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who previously endorsed Mamdani for mayor, also released a statement, attached, giving her reaction to the mayor’s announcement.

 

New York Attorney General Tish James said, “I’m grateful to @ericadamsfornyc for his service to our city. As the next mayor of New York City, @ZohranKMamdani will work every day to build an affordable, safe city that New Yorkers will be proud to call home. Get out and vote on Election Day, New York.”

 

Meanwhile, Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square and a Jewish-American billionaire, gave his reaction to the announcement, saying, “Thank you @ericadamsfornyc for your service for our city and for stepping aside when the time was right! @CurtisSliwa, you should follow Eric’s lead for the good of NYC.” 

 

In June 2025, Ackman had tweeted, “Israel is incredibly fortunate that @netanyahu is leading the country at this critical time in history,” in reference to the bombing of Gaza following the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.

 

Meanwhile, Mamdani has famously said that if elected mayor and if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was actively sought for prosecution by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, he would adhere to international law (facilitating his arrest) if Netanyahu found himself in New York City at that time.

 

Wilfredo Hierrezuelo, a candidate for City Council in District 18 and founder of the Hug The Block Foundation, said, *”Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to drop out of the race for re-election is a reflection of what so many New Yorkers have already felt, that his leadership has failed to deliver for our communities. During his time in office, crime has continued to climb, homelessness has grown, and too many neighborhoods like ours in the Bronx have been left behind.”

He added, “This moment is not just about the end of one mayor’s campaign. It’s about the beginning of real accountability. Our city cannot afford more broken promises and reactive leadership. We need bold, community-centered solutions that prioritize prevention, public safety, and opportunity for working families. I am running for City Council because I refuse to accept the status quo. District 18 deserves leadership that shows up, listens, and delivers. It’s time to put the people, not politics, first.”