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On Thursday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that he would run for reelection as an independent, rather than as a Democrat, as he did during his first successful mayoral campaign. This news came one day after a federal judge dismissed corruption charges against the former NYPD captain.
Adams’ decision means he will avoid a highly competitive Democratic primary in June, which includes nine candidates, such as former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. In a video posted on X, Adams emphasized his commitment to prioritizing New Yorkers over party politics, stating, “I have always put New York’s people before politics and party, and I always will. I will forgo the Democratic primary for mayor and appeal directly to all New Yorkers as an independent candidate.”
In February, the Justice Department had urged a federal judge to dismiss corruption charges against Adams, claiming that the case was hindering his ability to support Republican President Donald Trump’s efforts to increase deportations in a crackdown on illegal immigration. This request led to the resignation of eight federal prosecutors, who were concerned about political interference in prosecutorial decisions.
On Wednesday, a U.S. judge agreed to dismiss the charges, although he noted that the request seemed to suggest a deal between the Trump administration and Adams. The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be reinstated, even if Adams does not fully cooperate on deportations.
In recent months, Adams had lagged in polls, with many voters expressing concerns about issues like crime on the subway and the city’s affordability. Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 following sexual harassment allegations he denies, is polling well, benefiting from strong name recognition and positioning in the same center-left political space as Adams.
The winner of the Democratic primary is expected to have a strong chance in the general election in November, as New York City leans heavily to the left.
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