“The dismissal of the bogus case against me dragged on too long, making it impossible to mount a primary campaign while these false accusations were held over me,” Adams said.
CNN
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that he will seek a second term as an independent candidate, foregoing the Democratic primary. The decision marks a shift for Adams, who was previously a Republican before becoming a Democrat.
“Though I am still a Democrat, I am announcing that I will forego the Democratic primary for mayor and appeal directly to all New Yorkers as an Independent candidate in the general election,” Adams said in a campaign video.
The announcement comes just a day after a judge permanently dismissed a federal corruption case against Adams. The Justice Department’s acting deputy attorney general stated that the case, which was initially dropped during the early weeks of President Donald Trump’s second term, had hindered Adams’ ability to govern, particularly in cooperating with Trump’s immigration policies.
Several Democrats, including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, are vying for the party’s nomination in the June primary. Historically, the Democratic nominee is heavily favored in the general election due to the party’s dominance in New York City.
Adams has mostly avoided campaign events and forums but is expected to secure the 3,750 signatures required by May to appear on the November ballot. His campaign previously gathered 25,000 signatures for the Democratic ballot line but cited legal challenges as a major obstacle to a primary campaign.
“The dismissal of the bogus case against me dragged on too long, making it impossible to mount a primary campaign while these false accusations were held over me,” Adams said.
His decision sets the stage for a competitive and unpredictable general election battle in the nation’s largest city