Mayor Eric Adams insisted Friday that he’s remaining a candidate for reelection, amid rumors that the Trump administration is wooing him to drop out in exchange for a federal appointment.
“I am in this race, and I’m the only one that can beat Mamdani,” Adams said in an afternoon news conference. “I’m running for reelection.”Â
Still, in just two weeks, Adams has gone from “hell no” would he ever withdraw, to a statement earlier Friday that “I will always listen if called to serve our country.”
Adams’ statement, which comes as the deadline nears for him to be dropped from the ballot, comes as Trump is reportedly considering appointing Adams to a presidential post to help narrow the mayoral election to a two-man race between State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and Cuomo, the former governor.
“Serving New Yorkers as their mayor is the only job I’ve ever wanted. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made lowering crime, improving schools, building housing, and cutting costs for working families — and I remain the best person to lead this city forward,” said the Adams statement, issued by Todd Shapiro. “While I will always listen if called to serve our country, no formal offers have been made. I am still running for reelection, and my full focus is on the safety and quality of life of every New Yorker.”
Among the jobs Trump, who calls Mamdani a “communist,” is reportedly considering for Adams: a post with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the ambassadorship to Saudi Arabia.
Among Adams’ campaign slogans, plastered on signs, T-shirts and placards, is “NEVER QUITS.”
So close to the election, there are only a handful of ways under the law a candidate can be dropped from the ballot, including dying or moving out of state.
The clock is ticking.
Sept. 11 — on Thursday — is when the ballot, and which candidates are to be on the ballot, will be certified per election law, according to Vinny Ignizio, deputy executive director of the city Board of Elections. Ballots will start being mailed Sept. 19, he said.
Polls show Adams, the incumbent who has faced a raft of scandal, polling in third behind Mamdani, the front-runner, and Cuomo. Only by narrowing the race does Cuomo appear to have a chance, polls show.
In June, Mamdani stunned the political establishment by trouncing Cuomo in the primary.
Last month, Adams, who withdrew from the primary and is running as an independent, balked when asked if he’d quit the race.
“When you were calling around to my staff saying ‘is the announcement today that Eric is stepping down?’ Hell no,” Adams said. “I’m never going to quit on the City of New York, we worked too hard to get here.”
The Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa, insists that nothing will drive him from the race.
lican nominee, Curtis Sliwa, insists that nothing will drive him from the race.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.