Two days after Zohran Mamdani’s stunning upset victory over former Governor and super PAC favorite Andrew Cuomo in the New York Democratic mayoral primary, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, now running as an independent following the controversial dismissal of a federal corruption case, officially launched his re-election campaign Thursday on the steps of City Hall.
Flanked by hundreds of supporters from diverse ethnic communities, Adams made a direct appeal to voters, drawing sharp contrasts between himself and Mamdani. “This election is a choice between a candidate with a blue collar and one with a silver spoon,” Adams said. “A choice between dirty fingernails and manicured nails.”
Cheers of “Four more years!” and “Eric Adams!” echoed through the crowd as Adams approached the podium, smiling and shaking hands with attendees. Outside the entrance of City Hall, long lines of supporters waited to pass through security to join the event.
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But not all voices were ones of support. One person shouted, “Eric Adams is a f—ing criminal!” Adams grinned and responded calmly: “We utilize the letter ‘F’ for faith… You can call me all the names you want, but I’m going to answer to only one: Mayor Adams.”
Also Read: ‘We Have Done It’: Zohran Mamdani Celebrates Historic Win at Party in Long Island City
Leaders from Asian, Black, and Hispanic communities as well as faith leaders from Jewish and Muslim communities, took turns endorsing Adams, whose approval rating dropped to a historic low this March. Dr. Migal Bitton, a Jewish faith leader and immigrant from Argentina, warned against Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform. “My family has lived what happens when socialist promises collapse economies and destroy lives,” she said. Adams nodded, laughing, “Say that again.”
Sheikh Musa Drammeh, a Bronx-based Muslim leader, said Adams will transition from being known as a blue-collar mayor to a moral clarity mayor in his second term. He described the frustration felt by various community members following Mamdani’s victory. “In the last 48 hours, we’ve seen the Jewish community, wealthy New Yorkers, corporations — all disappointed. That should never happen with Mayor Eric Adams. You will never, ever question his moral clarity,” said Drammeh.
Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform is already galvanizing opposition from real estate and business elites eager to support an Adams comeback. Building on this momentum, Adams sharpened his message and took aim at Mamdani’s socialist policies.
“This is not a city of socialism,” he said. “This is not a city where you use idealism to state you’re giving everything to everyone for free. There’s no dignity in someone giving you everything for free. There’s dignity in giving you a job so you can provide for your family and the opportunities that you deserve. So this is not a city of handouts. This is a city of hands up.”
He also touted his administration’s record: a reduction in crime to historic lows, the creation of 500,000 new jobs, and the development of record levels of affordable housing. If re-elected, he said, he would continue focusing on mental health services, education, and economic growth.
AAPI Support, Despite Controversy
Dozens of Chinese supporters wore light blue T-shirts reading “AAPI for Mayor Adams,” many of which were handed out by Winnie Greco, the former Mayor’s Director of Asian Affairs who is currently under investigation for allegedly misusing her government role, who attended the rally. Brianna Suggs, Adams’ chief fundraiser whose home was raided by the FBI last year as part of a federal probe into his 2021 campaign, was also seen at the rally.
When asked who organized the AAPI group, Greco replied to Documented, “I don’t know,” and denied any involvement in fundraising for the re-election campaign.
Despite ongoing controversies, some members of the Chinese community expressed unwavering support for Adams.
Victor Deng, a Chinese lawyer, said he believed the federal charges against Adams were politically motivated. “Since Trump pardoned Adams, it cleared his name,” Deng said in Mandarin. “The Chinese community wants safety and anti-discrimination policies. That aligns with Adams’ platform. I don’t know much about Mamdani, so I prefer someone familiar.” (Note: Trump said he was open to pardoning Adams last December, ultimately didn’t need to, as the judge later dismissed the case).
Justin Yu, district leader in Manhattan’s Chinatown, described himself as a moderate Democrat who feels more aligned with Adams’ political stance. “Cuomo’s momentum has faded after the primary,” he said. “Many of his supporters will turn to Adams. Mr. Mamdani is not an experienced politician, he’s an artist. He can paint beautiful pictures [to constituents]. If we need housing, he paints a big house…If we need food, he paints a big cake. But to govern New York City, we don’t need an artist. We need someone who gets things done.”
Others cited Adams’ long-standing ties to the Chinese community as a reason for their support.
“He always shows up for our events, even if only for a few minutes. He really cares,” said D.M., a Flushing resident who asked we only use their initials. Tongxin Li, an artist from Bayside, agreed: “Adams has been the most sincere mayor to the Chinese community. He came to support us in person during the pandemic.”
Some also expressed concerns about immigration and homelessness. “I hope he leans more Republican, as they align in some areas. I don’t want the city to support illegal immigrants too much,” said Eddie Zhu, a Queens resident.
