"Full-Scale Effort to Block 'Radical Leftist' Mamdani... Eric Adams Drops Bid for New York Mayor Re-Election"

November Mayoral Election in New York Expected to Become a Two-Way Race Between Mamdani and Cuomo

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced that he will not seek re-election in the upcoming mayoral race scheduled for November 2025. As some political circles in the United States move to block the likely victory of the far-left Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, a New York State Assemblyman, the election landscape is expected to shift to a two-way race.

On September 28 (local time), Mayor Adams posted a video on the social networking service X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Despite all that we have achieved, I can no longer continue my re-election campaign."

He explained the reasons for his withdrawal, saying, "There have been relentless media speculations about my future," and, "It has become extremely difficult to secure the funds needed for the campaign due to the Election Finance Board's decision to withhold millions of dollars."

While Adams did not endorse any specific candidate in the video, he emphasized, "Extremism is growing in our politics," and, "We must choose our leaders based not on what they promise, but on what they have actually accomplished." He also warned New Yorkers to "beware of those who claim that destroying the system we have built together over generations is the answer," adding, "That is not change, but chaos." These remarks were effectively aimed at the far-left Mamdani.

Candidate Mamdani has been putting forward a series of strongly populist pledges, including a rent freeze, doubling the minimum wage, introducing a wealth tax, and providing free buses and childcare. Given that New York City is a stronghold for the Democratic Party, many believe his chances of winning are high.

This decision came immediately after reports that Mayor Adams had been offered a new position in either the Donald Trump administration or the private sector, on the condition that he resign early. As Mamdani took the lead ahead of the November mayoral election, former President Donald Trump, a native New Yorker, publicly stated, "I do not want to see a communist mayor elected in New York City," and has taken direct action to block Mamdani. Trump is reportedly pursuing a strategy to force both Adams, who ran as an independent despite being a Democrat, and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, to withdraw from the race, thereby setting up a head-to-head contest between Mamdani and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is currently in second place. Cuomo, also a former Democrat, is running as an independent in this election. With Adams' resignation, analysts say the likelihood of a direct two-way race has increased significantly.

Although Mamdani's approval rating remains high, some predict that the outcome will be uncertain if the race is restructured into a head-to-head contest with former Governor Cuomo. According to a recent Suffolk University poll, Mamdani recorded a 45% approval rating. Cuomo's approval rating stood at 25%, but when combined with Sliwa's 9% and Adams' 8%, the total reaches 42%.

Billionaire hedge fund investor Bill Ackman, chairman of Pershing Square Capital, welcomed Adams' decision to step down, saying, "He stepped aside at the right time."

Mayor Adams, the second Black mayor in New York City's 400-year history, took office in January 2022. A former police officer, he was recognized for lowering the city's crime rate and was once considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate. However, he suffered political damage after becoming embroiled in corruption allegations, including accusations of receiving improper support from foreign sources.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.