Adams weighs launching independent run for mayor should he lose Democratic primary

Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News on Mar 17, 2025

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NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams on Monday didn’t rule out running as an independent in November’s general election should he lose this summer’s Democratic primary — and sources say such a move is indeed gaining serious traction inside the Adams camp.

“When I’m ready to roll out my official reannouncement and my plan, I will do so, and I’m going to make sure all of you are invited to it,” Adams told reporters at City Hall when asked at his weekly press conference if he is looking to mount an independent bid for reelection should he fall short in June’s Democratic primary.

“You can stand in the back with me if you want and just be part of my support group, like others who support,” he continued, “but when that comes I will do so.”

The mayor’s comments came as sources confirmed to the Daily News that he has seriously entertained the possibility of running as an independent in November as his prospects in the June 24 Democratic primary are looking increasingly bleak. The New York Post first reported last week that such conversations have taken place.

It’s hard to predict how the political chips would fall should Adams lose the primary and run in November as an independent. Asked at Monday’s press conference whether he’s concerned such a move could stand to boost a left-leaning mayoral candidate, Adams said, “New Yorkers be careful what you ask for.”

Polls have for months shown Adams reeling from record low approval ratings and trailing ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo by a significant margin in the mayoral primary.

His most serious political obstacle is perhaps the dilemma President Trump’s Department of Justice put him in by seeking to drop his indictment with the justification that a dismissal would enable him to help accommodate Trump’s push to target undocumented New Yorkers for “mass deportations.” The dismissal request, which is pending approval from a federal judge, has prompted accusations from both critics and allies of the mayor that he’s beholden to Trump. The mayor has said there’s no quid pro quo with the Trump administration.

Amid the political headwinds, several of Adams’ challengers now have more money in their campaign coffers than he does and the Campaign Finance Board has denied him public matching funds due to his federal corruption indictment.

And some of his most loyal supporters have defected from his camp to back other candidates. Over the weekend, Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the head of the Brooklyn Democratic Party who has for years been one of Adams’ strongest political allies, announced she’s endorsing Cuomo’s mayoral bid in a major blow to the incumbent.

At Monday’s press conference, Adams insisted he’s not hurt by the Brooklyn Democratic Party boss’ decision.

“None of this personal, she’s one of my dearest friends, and she was extremely supportive of me for these last 15 months,” he said. “I couldn’t even tell you just how supportive she has been, reaching out to me, care about my well-being, asking how my son’s doing. My relationship with Rodneyse is not political, it’s personal, and she is among one of my dearest friends, and so when she makes decisions it doesn’t bother me.”