Jeffries praises Eric Adams for "courageously" serving NYC
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks to reporters following a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 25. Photo: Craig Hudson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) lavished praise on New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday, saying the outgoing mayor has "served courageously and authentically for decades."
Why it matters: Adams, whose mayoralty has been engulfed in scandal and legal issues, shook up the New York City mayoral race Sunday by dropping his bid for a second term.
- Adams' decision is a reversal of his public refusal to drop out of the race several weeks earlier in response to reports that he was receiving job offers from the Trump administration.
- The incumbent mayor faced an uphill battle for reelection, generally polling third or fourth behind Democrat Zohran Mamdani, independent Andrew Cuomo and, at times, Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Driving the news: Jeffries released a statement saying Adams has "served courageously and authentically for decades" as a New York City police officer, state senator, Brooklyn Borough president and mayor.
- "It is clear that meaningful progress has been made in several important areas during the term of Mayor Adams," he continued, citing crime, affordable housing and COVID-19 as areas of accomplishment.
- "Thank you for your service to our city," Jeffries said.
Zoom out: Jeffries said in February he was "very concerned" that Adams was cooperating with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement after the Justice Department dropped its prosecution of the mayor on bribery and fraud charges.
- The House Democratic leader said at the time it was a "very disturbing" situation and that Adams had a "responsibility to convince the people of New York City that ... he's not simply taking orders from a Trump administration."
- Jeffries was largely circumspect last September when Adams was first indicted, calling it a "serious and sober moment for New York City" and saying Adams was "entitled to the presumption of innocence."
What's next: The House Democratic leader said in his statement that he will "publicly weigh in with respect to the remaining candidates in the Mayor's race well before the start of early voting."
- Early voting begins on Oct. 25.
- It's the clearest timeline that Jeffries has offered to date on when he will make his position on the race publicly known. He has been telling reporters he would have an announcement "sooner rather than later."
State of play: Jeffries has met with Mamdani several times since June but has declined to endorse him.
- Privately, members believe Jeffries is being held back both by substantive policy disagreements with Mamdani and political concerns around protecting his swing-district members, as Axios previously reported.
- But Jeffries also risks alienating his left flank if he spurns Mamdani, with progressive members growing increasingly agitated and offended by his lack of an endorsement for the Democratic nominee.
