Published on: September 29, 2025, at 11:01h.
Updated on: September 29, 2025, at 11:01h.
- Eric Adams has decided against running for reelection as New York City’s mayor
- This development enhances Andrew Cuomo’s prospects slightly
- Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani remains the frontrunner
With Eric Adams stepping out of the race, the odds for the New York City mayoral election have shifted in Andrew Cuomo’s direction.
On Sunday, Mayor Adams, who has struggled in popularity, officially withdrew from the race for a second four-year term, acknowledging his low chances against frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist and current state lawmaker from Queens.
“It has been a privilege to serve as your mayor,” Adams stated in a video highlighting his self-proclaimed accomplishments, such as crime reduction and economic recovery. “Despite our achievements, I cannot pursue my reelection campaign.”
In recent weeks, fundraising proved difficult for Adams as polls indicated he would unlikely surpass the initial frontrunner Mamdani.
While political betting is not allowed at regulated US sportsbooks, informal prediction markets showed an uptick in support for Cuomo following Adams’ exit, with his implied odds increasing by approximately 5-10% across various online platforms.
Nevertheless, Mamdani is still viewed as the leading candidate, boasting an implied chance of over 80% to win in November.
Connections to Trump
Last week, Casino.org reported on purported increasing engagement between Adams and the White House.
Real estate entrepreneur Steve Witkoff, previously the owner of a now-closed Las Vegas Strip property, is consulting for Bally’s Corp on their New York casino proposal for the Bronx. In July, Adams controversially vetoed a land-use zoning decision by the City Council that would have blocked the Bally’s Bronx initiative.
Rumors suggest that Adams’ veto correlates with his attempts to align with the Trump administration—possibly eyeing a position such as a US ambassadorship after his term ends. Witkoff acts as a special envoy to the Middle East for Trump.
Mamdani asserted that Adams’ exit from the mayoral contest was a strategy aimed at bolstering Cuomo’s chances to appease Trump’s interests.
“While Donald Trump and his wealthy backers may influence the actions of Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo, they cannot dictate the outcome of this election,” Mamdani proclaimed.
Adams’ Downfall
Adams served as Brooklyn Borough president from 2013 until he won the mayoralty in 2021. His term has been marred by controversy, starting with his attempt to exempt himself from a Conflicts of Interest rule to hire his brother at $210K annually for security duties.
In the initial days of his mayorship, crime surged, including the fatalities of two NYPD officers. A leaked video from early 2022 revealed that Adams had previously indicated he could be a more effective officer than his colleagues, using an offensive term.
More recently in 2023, Adams faced federal charges related to alleged influence from Turkish government officials, including bribery and conspiracy. However, the case was ultimately dismissed upon Trump’s ascendance to the presidency.