Experts say Eric Adams' withdrawal could be a major setback for Zohran Mamdani's mayoral bid

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Mayor Eric Adams is throwing in the towel. On Sunday, September 28, Adams shocked New Yorkers by announcing he’s abandoning his sputtering re-election campaign just five weeks before voters hit the polls. His decision has blown the race wide open for City Hall.

In a nearly nine-minute video set dramatically to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” Adams admitted that the odds were stacked too high.

“Despite my best efforts,” he conceded, “I could no longer see a path to re-election” and confirmed his tenure will wrap up at year’s end.

Pundits stack odds against Zohran Mamdani

The mayor’s exit immediately put the spotlight on Zohran Mamdani, the lefty front-runner who’s been surging in the polls. For some, Adams’ bow-out is an opportunity to build a united front against Mamdani.

“I commend Mayor Adams for putting the city first,” Staten Island GOP Rep Nicole Malliotakis declared.

“It’s important we try to consolidate support against Mamdani to stop his destructive and radical socialist takeover that will only make our city less safe, less affordable, and less livable.”

Frank Carone, one of Adams’s closest allies and campaign chair, insisted this was more strategy than surrender. He said the withdrawal “isn’t the end, but a pivot” to block Mamdani.

“I had no doubt that the Mayor would win and deserved another term. However, for many reasons outside of our control, that seemed unlikely at this point,” Carone said. “So, fully I support the mayor in his decision to suspend the campaign. This isn’t the end but a pivot.”

Carone, who also runs a major lobbying firm, even hinted he’s ready to help Andrew Cuomo either directly with the campaign or via a super PAC working on the ex-gov’s behalf.

Some say Eric Adams should’ve quit sooner

Of course, not everyone applauded Adams’ exit. Some blasted him for dragging it out too long.

“Once it became clear that Mayor Adams was not going to be the Democratic candidate, he should have stopped campaigning,” said Republican City Councilwoman Joann Ariola.

“Instead, we’ve had months of confusion thanks to him stubbornly trying to stay in the race despite everything screaming that he should withdraw,” she fumed. “I’m glad he’s finally come to his senses, but I just wish he’d done this months ago so his name wouldn’t be on the ballot at all.”

Veteran strategist Basil Smikle, who’s worked campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Mike Bloomberg, shrugged that Adams’ late-stage departure may not change much.

“At this late stage and given Adams’ poll numbers, it’s unclear how much this matters or helps the anti-Mamdani effort,” he said, “but it does clear the field for the head-to-head matchup that Cuomo wanted.”

Republican consultant Bill O’Reilly was even less optimistic. “It helps in the effort to stop Mamdani, but only marginally,” he told the New York Post. “Some of the Adams vote will go to Sliwa and some will go to Cuomo, but the numbers are small. To defeat Mamdani at this point probably requires a two-person race, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.”

Andrew Cuomo cheers, Zohran Mamdani fumes

Andrew Cuomo wasted no time tipping his hat to Adams while making clear he’s ready for a showdown with Mamdani.

“The choice Mayor Adams made today was not an easy one, but I believe he is sincere in putting the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition,” Cuomo said. Now, the disgraced former governor turned mayoral hopeful casts himself as Mamdani’s biggest obstacle.

“We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them,” he warned.

Mamdani, meanwhile, has blamed Adams’ exit not on poll numbers but on outside meddling.

“Donald Trump and his billionaire donors might be able to determine Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo’s actions, but they will not dictate the results of this election,” Mamdani shot back. “New York deserves better than trading in one disgraced, corrupt politician for another.”

The Democratic nominee is still the man to beat in November. “On November 4th, we are going to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas and deliver a government every New Yorker can be proud of," Mamdani declared.

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