NEW: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Announces Decision On Re-Election Campaign

After weeks of speculation and mounting pressure, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday that he will be suspending his re-election campaign. The move is likely to have a significant impact on the crowded race, that until now included Adams, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, perennial Republican candidate Carlos Sliwa and the pro-communist assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who is currently the frontrunner.

The bombshell decision comes after weeks of speculation over whether the one-term mayor would drop out of the race as Mamdani detractors seek to rally around Cuomo’s campaign. Adams — whose campaign has been marred by corruption allegations, which included an indictment that was ultimately dismissed by the Justice Department — had been polling in fourth place.

“It’s been an honor to be your mayor,” Adams said in a video statement. He went on to thank his supporters and touted accomplishments from his term in office, including a reduction in crime and dealing with the city’s illegal immigration crisis.

The mayor spoke out against the Biden Administration’s de facto open borders policies when red state governors began the process of bussing illegal aliens to the Big Apple, which has sanctuary city policies. Adams’ criticism of the Biden White House led to allegations of political targeting when he was indicted last September.

“Although our successes… I know I cannot continue my campaign,” he went on to say. “I strongly encourage who ever takes over City Hall to continue what we’ve done.”

Adams did not endorse a candidate, though he did take subtle jabs at Mamdani and Cuomo, stating that the mayor’s office should not be used to advance radical racial ideas. He also stated that voters should not back a candidate who has flip-flopped on several issues in what was interpreted as a shot at Cuomo.

“I want to be clear, although this is the end of my campaign, this will not be the end of my public service,” he said. “I will keep fighting for our city no matter what because I am a New Yorker.”

The White House had reportedly been pressing Adams, and Sliwa, to engage in backroom talks to exit the race in a last-ditch effort to stop Mamdani. Adams had been considered for a federal position, including an ambassadorship, though President Trump was only willing to authorize such a deal if Sliwa also dropped out, according to a report from the New York Post.

Sliwa has vowed to remain in the race despite the fact that his chances of winning are slim to none. The perennial Republican candidate and his supporters have argued that Cuomo, who is currently running as an independent, should be the one to step aside instead.

Polling has long shown that Cuomo has the best chance of topping Mamdani, though his chances are expected to be minimal so long as Sliwa remains in the race. Mamdani — the far-left candidate who has vowed to spend millions on fighting the Trump Administration’s deportation policies — has benefited from a devoted base of support and endorsements from some of the nation’s most high-profile progressive figures, including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT).