Eric Adams ends reelection campaign after corruption case derails support

The second Black mayor of New York bows out, leaving Haitian and immigrant communities watching the race closely

By The Haitian Times Report
Haitian Times
https://haitianti

Overview:

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has abandoned his reelection campaign after months of scandal and waning support. His decision opens the door for Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa to battle for City Hall. The announcement carries weight in communities like Flatbush and Canarsie, where many Haitian immigrants live and vote.

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams ended his reelection campaign Sunday, closing a turbulent chapter defined by scandal, corruption allegations and political fallout.

In a video posted to social media, Adams said his dismissed federal corruption case left voters skeptical of him and made fundraising impossible.

“Despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign,” Adams said.

Adams, 65, became New York’s second Black mayor in 2022 after serving as a Brooklyn borough president and police captain. He had campaigned on cracking down on crime and helping the city recover from the coronavirus pandemic. For many in Brooklyn neighborhoods like Flatbush and Canarsie — home to one of the largest Haitian communities outside Haiti — Adams was seen as both a familiar figure and a mayor with a direct impact on issues like public safety and housing.

But his tenure was overshadowed by federal probes, the resignation of several top aides, and accusations that he accepted illegal campaign contributions in exchange for political favors. Federal prosecutors dropped the charges earlier this year after intervention from the Trump administration, fueling further controversy.

Adams’ departure leaves Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the race. Mamdani, 33, who decisively defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary, would be the city’s youngest and most progressive mayor in decades if elected.

“New York deserves better than trading in one disgraced, corrupt politician for another,” Mamdani said in a statement, calling on voters to turn the page from “big money and small ideas.”

Cuomo praised Adams for “putting the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition,” while Sliwa’s campaign insisted he remains the only candidate who can defeat Mamdani.

The mayor’s decision comes after months of speculation about his political future. Polls earlier this month showed Adams trailing far behind Mamdani and Cuomo, with many voters unconvinced he could recover from the damage caused by scandal.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has endorsed Mamdani, said she was proud to work with Adams and credited him with leaving the city “better than he inherited it.”

For Haitians in New York, Adams’ exit means renewed attention to how candidates will address issues like affordable housing, immigration, and community safety. Many are now weighing whether Mamdani or Cuomo — both of whom have made overtures to immigrant voters — can best represent their interests.