New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Thursday that he would bypass the Democratic primary for mayor in June and run as an independent candidate in the general election. This decision follows the dismissal of the federal corruption indictment against Adams, which was dismissed this week, following the Trump administration’s motion to discard the charges in February.

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

Adams, who currently holds a record-low approval rating as mayor, also shared a video explaining his decision to voters, stating, “There isn’t a liberal or conservative way to fix New York. There is a right way and a wrong way, and true leaders don’t just know the right path, they have the guts to take it.”

Running as an independent, Adams will face competition from the Democratic candidate pool, which includes Adrienne Adams, Andrew Cuomo, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and potentially others.

However, Adams faces a significant challenge due to his low approval rating and lackluster campaign polling. According to Quinnipiac’s early March poll, Adams has a 20% approval rating with a majority of voters calling for his resignation from office. In late March, data from Data for Progress showed Adams trailing Cuomo, Mamdani, and Lander, holding only 7% of the vote in the first round.

Regarding his legal battles, Adams addressed the accusations in his video post, acknowledging that he trusted individuals he shouldn’t have and expressing regret. He emphasized that the issues he faces are nothing compared to the concerns facing constituents, such as rising costs, public safety concerns, and concerns about the future.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/03/eric-adams-mayor-election-independent