Eric Adams shocked everyone by deciding to withdraw from the Democrat Primary and instead run for re-election as mayor of New York City as an independent candidate. He criticized the extreme politics of the left while making this bold move.

Initially seen as a rising star within the Democratic Party, Adams once referred to himself as ‘the Biden of Brooklyn’ following his victory four years ago. However, he has become disillusioned with the direction of the party, particularly due to his recent dealings with Donald Trump on immigration policies.

In a video announcement, Adams, who was rumored to be considering a potential 2024 White House run, emphasized his dedication to sensible governance and denounced extremist political ideologies.

‘I firmly believe that this city is better served by truly independent leadership, not leaders pulled at by the extremists on the far left or the far right, but instead those rooted in the common middle, the place where the vast majority of New Yorkers are firmly planted,’ Adams, who skipped Kamala Harris’ coronation at the DNC in 2024, said. 

The decision happened just a day after a federal judge dismissed Adams´ corruption case, ending a legal saga that left the mayor severely damaged and raised questions about his political independence.  

It also comes as former Governor Andrew Cuomo continues his comeback, rising to become the heavy favorite by double digits.

The mayor was polling only as high as 8% in the primary, behind Cuomo, socialist Zohran Mamdani and Comptroller Brad Lander. 

At a Thursday afternoon forum held by the Rev. Al Sharpton´s National Action Network, Adams said the criminal case had ‘overshadowed’ his achievements and politically sidelined him. 

Eric Adams made a shock decision to quit the Democrat Primary and run for re-election as mayor of New York City as an independent candidate, decrying extremist politics of the left

Adams (pictured left) was once seen as a future leader in the party, declaring himself ‘the Biden of Brooklyn’ when he won four years ago but he has since drifted from the rudderless Democrats 

‘I wanted to run in a Democratic primary but I have to be realistic,’ he said. ‘I have to let New Yorkers know what I have done.’

Cuomo, now seen as the likely favorite to win the primary, avoided criticizing the mayor at that same event and instead staked out his own territory. 

‘I don’t think its about, Mayor Adams I believe makes his decisions, set his policy with his administration in place and I don’t wanna second guess that,’ Cuomo said. 

‘What my administration would be about is what my administration has always been about: diversity and getting things done.’ 

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Republican nominee and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa said it was an act of betrayal from the ex-governor.

‘I think it’s revenge against Andew Cuomo, who months before, publicly said we all need to support Eric Adams,’ he said. 

Sliwa, who lost to Adams in 2021, added: ‘So guess what? Eric Adams, the ides of March was upon you. Not Julius Caesar, it was you that Cuomo went after. It’s gonna be a political bloodbath and I’m gonna take the high road.’

He also believed that Adams’ exit now means it will be a four-way battle in the general election, saying New York’s Working Families Party is unlikely to ever endorse Cuomo, leaving himself, Adams, Cuomo and Mamdani in the race.

Adams skipped out Kamala Harris’ coronation at the DNC in 2024

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, now seen as the likely favorite to win the primary, avoided criticizing the mayor at that same event and instead staked out his own territory

Sliwa believes even a slight improvement on his 29% performance in 2021 could win him the race with the city’s ranked choice voting system. 

Mamdani, a state assemblyman who has been gaining momentum among leftists in the city with promises of free buses and city-owned supermarkets, was most vocally critical of Adams. 

‘Just one day after a slimy deal from Donald Trump got his corruption charges dropped, Eric Adams has officially left the Democratic party,’ he said in a statement to DailyMail.com 

‘The irony is, there is nothing ‘independent’ about Eric Adams, who is completely beholden to real estate moguls, billionaires, and the far-right. Regardless of what party Adams flees to, New Yorkers deserve better than a self-interested, disgraced mayor who has and always will put his needs before their own.’ 

A federal judge dismissed Adams´ corruption case on Wednesday, ending a legal saga that left the mayor severely damaged and raised questions about his political independence.

The charges, brought last year during President Joe Biden’s administration, accused Adams of accepting illegal campaign contributions and travel discounts from a Turkish official and others, in exchange for helping Turkey open a diplomatic building without passing fire inspections, among other things.

The mayor pleaded not guilty and was set for a trial in April, but the case was upended after Trump’s Justice Department moved to drop the charges so that Adams could assist with the president’s immigration agenda, while leaving open the possibility that the case could be revived.

The highly unusual move set off a firestorm of criticism and resignations and threw Adams’ mayoralty in doubt, with many people questioning whether he was beholden to the Trump administration.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Republican nominee and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa said it was an act of betrayal from the ex-governor

The Democrats remain desperate for young leaders to replace Nancy Pelosi (pictured)

Delegates hold signs as President Joe Biden speaks during the first day of Democratic National Convention in 2024

In an order dismissing the case, federal Judge Dale E. Ho denied prosecutors the option to refile the charges and wrote that allowing the case to be revived ‘would create the unavoidable perception that the mayor´s freedom depends on his ability to carry out the immigration enforcement priorities of the administration.’

In his video announcement, Adams maintained his innocence but acknowledged that the case had ‘shaken’ voters and said he put his trust in the wrong people.

‘I know that the accusations leveled against me may have shaken your confidence in me, and that you may rightly have questions about my conduct. And let me be clear, although the charges against me were false, I trusted people I should not have, and I regret that,’ he said.

Adams, a former police officer, has governed as a centrist Democrat and often done battle with the city’s progressives. 

He was a registered Republican in the 1990s but has spent his political career, which includes time as a state senator and Brooklyn borough president, as a Democrat.