Adams had next to no chance of winning. His languishing independent bid was marred by middling poll numbers, lackluster fundraising, and an often-present air of controversy.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an anti-climactic end to what once seemed to be a promising political story that began in 2021 as the then\u2013Brooklyn borough president Adams\u00a0defeated his party rivals handily<\/a>\u00a0in the mayoral primary, later declaring himself the \u201cthe face of the Democratic Party.\u201d When he was sworn in on New Year\u2019s Day in 2022, Adams became only the second Black mayor in the city\u2019s history.<\/p>\n But Adams\u2019s sole term in office was marked by a seemingly endless stream of controversies, including federal raids on some of his top aides and appointees and a\u00a0revolving door of resignations<\/a>\u00a0that saw the mayor name four police commissioners in the span of two years. The turmoil in City Hall reached a fever pitch last year when federal prosecutors unveiled an indictment against Adams, accusing the mayor of intentionally soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations and luxury travel benefits in exchange for favors in a scheme that extended back to Adams\u2019s tenure as Brooklyn borough president in 2014. Adams long denied the allegations against him and resisted calls to resign from his seat.<\/p>\n Adams\u2019s exit from the race helps to thin the general-election field in a likely boon to former governor\u00a0Andrew Cuomo<\/a>,\u00a0who is eyeing a rematch with Democratic nominee\u00a0Zohran Mamdani<\/a>,\u00a0who defeated him in the primary in June. Also in the race is Republican Party nominee and Guardian Angels founder\u00a0Curtis Sliwa<\/a>,\u00a0who has said he intends to stay in the race, even if offered another role.<\/p>\n