House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) praised New York City Mayor Eric Adams for serving “courageously” after Adams ended his reelection campaign on Sunday.
“Eric Adams has served courageously and authentically for decades as a Member of the N.Y.P.D., the New York State Senate, in Brooklyn Borough Hall and as our 110th Mayor,” Jeffries said in a statement reported by multiple media outlets.
“During his time in office, violent crime is down, the building of affordable housing units is up and New York City has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
Adams, New York City’s mayor since 2022, exited the race less than a month before early voting begins on Oct. 25. His departure sets up a three-way race between Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who is running as an independent.
The incumbent mayor had been running for reelection as an independent since April. In September 2024, he was indicted on bribery, campaign finance and conspiracy charges. The case was dismissed by a federal judge in April at the Justice Department’s request.
Adams reportedly met with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this month to discuss a role in the administration, though at the time vowed to stay in the race.
“As is the case in any major City, there are challenges that remain, particularly as it relates to lowering the high cost of living,” Jeffries said in his statement Sunday. “Yet, it is clear that meaningful progress has made been made in several important areas during the term of Mayor Adams. Thank you for your service to our City.”
Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have yet to endorse in the mayoral race, and have repeatedly declined to directly weigh in after Mamdani won the Democratic nomination this summer.
The 33-year-old state assemblyman and democratic socialist defeated Cuomo and a host of candidates in the primary.
In his statement, Jeffries added that he will weigh in on the race “well before the start of early voting” next month.
According to the latest Suffolk University CityView poll released last week, 45 percent of respondents back Mamdani, while 25 percent support Cuomo and 9 percent back Sliwa. That poll included Adams, who garnered 8 percent support.
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