Eric Adams drops out of the Democratic Primary, will run as an Independent

In a six-minute video released earlier today, Mayor Eric Adams announced that he is withdrawing from the Democratic primary and will instead seek re-election as an independent.

“I have always put New York’s people before politics and party—and I always will,” Adams wrote on Twitter. “I am running for mayor in the general election because our city needs independent leadership that understands working people.”

The timing of the announcement, which comes on the day of the signature collection deadline, has led to speculation that Adams may have struggled to meet the required number of signatures to stay in the race. However, Adams pushed back on that notion, stating that his campaign had gathered 25,000 signatures.

During his address, Adams reiterated his stance that “the charges against me were false,” while also expressing regret over the controversy that has surrounded his tenure. He emphasized his commitment to continuing his work for New Yorkers and challenged voters to compare his record against his opponents.

Adams also invoked the legacy of John Lindsay, the former mayor who successfully ran as an independent in 1969, framing his campaign as a similar fight for nonpartisan leadership.

His decision is likely to shake up the race, with political analysts suggesting that it could provide a boost to Andrew Cuomo. Many of Adams’ moderate supporters may now shift their support to Cuomo, a well-known figure who shares similar appeal among centrist voters.