Mayor Eric Adams Drops Out of NYC Mayoral Race, Boosting Cuomo but Not Enough to Change the Lead

Mayor Eric Adams’s recent decision to withdraw from his reelection campaign offers some support to Andrew Cuomo in the race for New York City’s top position, yet it falls short of challenging front-runner Zohran Mamdani, according to political analysts.

Prior to his announcement, Adams held about 9% support, positioning him well behind Mamdani, Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Experts suggest his exit is unlikely to significantly alter the race dynamics, as there are too few Adams voters to transfer elsewhere effectively.

“It gives Cuomo a slight advantage — but it’s not enough,” commented Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. Evan Roth Smith of Slingshot Strategies echoed this, noting that Adams’s supporters are unlikely to change their vote in a meaningful way, limiting Cuomo’s potential gains. Recent polls show Mamdani leading Cuomo by approximately 20 percentage points, so Cuomo needs a substantial shift to catch up.

Many believe Cuomo will continue to split anti-Mamdani votes with Sliwa, complicating the race. “Cuomo needs Sliwa’s votes,” said Miringoff, highlighting the importance of strategic voting among Republican supporters. Trump’s recent criticisms of Sliwa might influence some votes, potentially boosting Cuomo’s share.

The departure of Adams, who has high disapproval ratings, is viewed by some as a missed opportunity to shake up the field. Still, others believe Adams’s exit consolidates the Democratic race, leading to a clearer head-to-head contest between Cuomo and Mamdani.

Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton suggested Adams’s withdrawal could make the race more competitive than initially expected, moving from a predictable contest to a closely fought battle. Meanwhile, Mamdani remains confident, asserting that his campaign’s grassroots enthusiasm will carry him through.

Overall, political strategists agree that Adams’s exit marks a shift but is unlikely to dramatically change the outcome, with Mamdani maintaining a strong lead as the Democratic nominee.