Mayor Eric Adams of New York City announced on Thursday that he would be stepping back from the city’s Democratic primary race. Instead, he revealed his decision to pursue reelection as an independent candidate. Adams cited his federal bribery charges as the reason behind this shift, stating that they had hindered his ability to effectively engage in a primary campaign.
In a video message, Adams, whose criminal case was recently dismissed, expressed his reluctance to participate in the Democratic primary scheduled for June. He highlighted the prolonged duration of his legal proceedings and the burden of facing what he referred to as “false accusations.”
Adams emphasized his belief in the necessity of independent leadership for the city. He voiced his perspective that New York would be better served by leaders who are not swayed by extreme ideologies on either end of the political spectrum. Instead, he advocated for leaders who are grounded in the center, aligning with the majority of New Yorkers.
The decision came after intense speculation over whether Adams would remain in the Democratic primary, which has attracted a several serious opponents, including former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Adams’ announcement was first reported by Politico.
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