New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced that he has quit the Democratic Party and will not participate in the Democrat primary for the mayoral election.
Mayor Adams confirmed he will run his re-election campaign as an independent after dumping the Democrats.
Adams told Politico on Monday that he wants to “mount a real independent campaign.”
The mayor said that the federal bribery charges, which have been dismissed, “handcuffed him.”
The NYC mayor said he’d be “uninhibited” while campaigning.
“I’m in the race to the end,” Adams said.
“I’m not running on the Democratic line.
“It’s just not realistic to turn around my numbers and to run a good campaign (from) where we are right now.
“It hurts like hell.”
Adams faces an uphill battle in his re-election campaign.
Disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on March 1 that he’d be running against Adams for NYC mayor.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho dismissed federal charges against Adams.
The charges, led by former President Joe Biden’s Justice Department, alleged that Adams used his position to receive luxury travel and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish foreign nationals.
A Quinnipac University survey that was conducted just before and just after Cuomo announced his run for mayor found the former governor enjoying 31% support among New York City Democrats.
Meanwhile, Adams garnered just 11%.
The same survey found that Adams had a 20% approval rating.
During the interview, the incumbent New York City mayor slammed Cuomo for signing bail reform measures into law.
Adams says the measures led to a rise in crime during the pandemic.
“Look at bail reform — that’s Andrew,” Adams said.
“He can’t say, ‘I’m going to save the city from the far left’ when he surrendered to the far Left.”
Reflecting on the now-dismissed federal charges, Adams said he’s “been held back.”
“I have been this racehorse that has been held back,” Adams said.
“This is so unnatural for me.”
Adams told the outlet that he would submit the required 3,750 signatures on May 27.
The submission would put Adams on the ballot for November’s election.
“Now I need this runway until November to redefine and remind people: This is why you elected me in the first place,” Adams said.
