In a bizarre turn of events, the New York City mayor’s race is not panning out as expected. Many anticipated Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who took the reins in 2021, to comfortably secure re-election without hustles. But, things took a wild turn when he was indicted federally in 2024 September. This prompted several other Democrats to sniff opportunity and throw their hats into the primary race against him.
Interestingly, Adams was exonerated from the indictment after President Donald Trump reassumed office. The Department of Justice decided to dismiss the corruption charges that Adams faced, effectively giving him a clean slate. However, in a surprising move, Adams opted out of the Democratic primary. He chose instead to campaign for re-election as an independent candidate.
This new-found state of affairs triggered a chaotic Democratic primary involving eleven candidates. Noteworthy amongst them was the former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Famed for his old-fashioned campaign style that won him support from the powerful elite within the city, Cuomo was predicted to win by virtually every poll. However, things didn’t pan out as expected for him.
In a somewhat stunning turn of events, Cuomo failed to clinch the Democratic nomination. Instead, a relatively young, 33-year-old democratic socialist known as Zohran Mamdani emerged victorious. Consequently, a rather unusual mayoral election is now on the cards, one that New York City has never seen before.
Eric Adams, now contesting as an independent, is in for a fierce battle. Although he faces an uphill struggle, his enthusiasm and conviction remain unwavered. He is firm on his belief that he’s predestined to be mayor. Meanwhile, the new Democratic nominee Mamdani now faces the glare of national attention, diligently adapting to this unexpected limelight.
In addition to these two, the mayoral race is further complicated by other candidates. There’s a fiercely determined Republican candidate who, despite pressure, refuses to surrender his campaign. Moreover, an independent lawyer with quite competitive fundraising figures is also part of the fray.
Things also remain uncertain with the former governor, Andrew Cuomo. Despite suffering a defeat in the primary, he is not entirely dismissing the possibility of an independent bid. This potential turn of events keeps adding more dimensions to an already complex mayoral race.
Standing out among independent runners, Eric Adams positions himself as a right-leaning, business-friendly Democrat. His candidacy has been marked by criticism of progressives over the Trump administration. So far, his campaign has amassed a substantial $4.8 million, with almost $3 million still in the reserves.
Adams has an ambitious vision for a ‘safer, more affordable city’. His key campaign propositions include shutting down unauthorized smoke shops and introducing comprehensive zoning reforms under the ‘City of Yes’ initiative, aimed at boosting housing. Yet, running as an independent candidate comes with challenges, and coupled with his low approval ratings, victory might not come easily.
Zohran Mamdani, representing the Democratic party, champions democratic socialist ideals. His campaign success draws strength from significant endorsements that include the likes of Working Families Party and labor unions as well as Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerry Nadler. With $8.8 million raised for his campaign, including matching funds, Mamdani boasts of $6.3 million in the bank.
Mamdani’s election promises revolve around core progressive principles. These include provision of affordable housing, free public transportation, as well as free child care among other things. Despite his idealistic approach, his campaign has faced pushback, especially from businesses, and attempts to label him as anti-semitic due to his support for Palestine.
Yet another independent runner, Jim Walden, is making his presence felt in the race. Known for his aggressive style, Walden has managed to rope in $3.4 million, including public matching funds and a self-loan of $500,000 for his campaign. His main campaign thrusts are rooting out corruption, job creation, and addressing housing issues via public-private partnerships.
Famed for creating the crime-fighting group Guardian Angels, Curtis Sliwa is a high-profile Republican contender. He centers his campaign around tackling crime, bolstering police forces, and opposition to migrant shelters and electronic bikes. While widely popular among conservative circles, Sliwa has yet to receive an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
Lastly, New York’s ex-governor Andrew Cuomo is contemplating an independent run. He has already gathered around $8.2 million for his campaign, which includes public matching funds. Cuomo seeks to present a moderate voice in the race, in an effort to prevent the Democratic Party from slipping too far to the left.