New York City Mayor Eric Adams has made it clear that he will not be leaving the mayoral race, even as new polling shows him trailing behind Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. Adams, who is running as an independent on the “Safe and Affordable” ballot line, insists he is the only candidate capable of defeating Mamdani in November.
Recent polls paint a challenging picture for the mayor. A New York Times/Siena College survey placed Mamdani at 46 percent among likely voters, followed by former governor Andrew Cuomo at 24 percent, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at 15 percent, and Adams at just 9 percent. These numbers have fueled speculation about whether Adams should step aside to avoid splitting the vote.
Reports also circulated that President Trump’s allies may have tried to persuade Adams to withdraw from the race by offering a federal role. Adams dismissed these rumors, firmly stating he had received no such offer and that his focus remains on the city’s future.
Adams has already faced setbacks in his campaign strategy. The New York City Board of Elections rejected his bid to create an “End Antisemitism” ballot line, though the phrase will still appear under his name on the ballot. Instead, his campaign is centered on the “Safe and Affordable” line, which he argues reflects his priorities on crime and housing.
Despite growing doubts about his chances, Adams says he will continue his fight to remain mayor. His decision adds another layer of drama to an already complex race that pits him against Mamdani’s progressive movement, Cuomo’s comeback effort, and Sliwa’s conservative base.
With the election weeks away, the mayor’s persistence shows that he is betting on a late surge of support. Whether that gamble pays off will soon be decided at the ballot box.