Apr 3, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Eric Adams ditches Democrats to run for NYC mayor as an independent

Ivana Saric

New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to the media in the Blue Room in City Hall on March 11 — New York City Mayor Eric Adams at City Hall on March 11. Photo: Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that he would exit the city's Democratic primary for mayoral candidates, and instead run for re-election as an independent.

Why it matters: Polls have shown Adams facing stiff competition in June's primary. The switch spares him from a potentially embarrassing loss — at least until November's general election.

Driving the news: Adams made the announcement in a video message posted to social media. In it, he touted his "pro-public safety, pro-worker, pro-quality of life" values.

Adams said he'd hoped to "fight" for those values in the Democratic primary, but that the legal battle over his recently-dismissed criminal corruption case "dragged on too long, making it impossible to mount a primary campaign."
The mayor noted that while he is still a Democrat, he would run as an independent.

State of play: Adams made the announcement just a day after a federal judge permanently dismissed the bribery and fraud charges against him.

The move came after the Department of Justice sought to get the case dismissed earlier this year, prompting top federal prosecutors to resign rather than withdraw the indictment.
Adams has since aligned himself politically with the Trump White House and pledged to aid its immigration crackdown.

Go deeper: Cuomo leads field in NYC mayor's race as New Yorkers sour on Adams: Poll

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Eric Adams ditches Democrats to run for NYC mayor as an independent

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