New York , 29 September (H.S.): New York City Mayor Eric Adams has ended his re-election campaign just weeks before voters cast their ballots, citing relentless media scrutiny and a loss of critical campaign funding.In a video message posted on Sunday, Adams said his bid had become untenable after the city’s campaign finance board denied him millions of dollars in matching funds. He also blamed an atmosphere of speculation that, he argued, crippled his ability to raise money.

“I cannot continue my re-election campaign,” Adams said, warning that “insidious forces” in city politics were driving “divisive agendas.”The decision reshapes the race, now centering on Democrat Zohran Mamdani, former governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Adams offered no endorsement, but his parting remarks appeared aimed at Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and frontrunner, describing radical change as “chaos” rather than progress.

Adams’s once-promising political trajectory has been overshadowed by corruption allegations, mounting frustrations over the rising cost of living, and his frequent clashes with fellow Democrats over immigration policy. His indictment last year for allegedly accepting gifts worth over $100,000 from Turkish citizens was dismissed in April, but the fallout severely weakened his re-election chances.

Adams, elected in 2022 as a Democrat, declared earlier this year that he would run as an independent after losing support within his party. He will continue to serve as mayor until January 1, 2026, although his name will remain on the ballot since the withdrawal deadline has passed.

—————

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar