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The Mayor of New York has officially launched his independent reelection campaign after progressive challenger Zohran Mamdani clinched the Democratic primary.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, two days ago Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and Queens Assemblymember, secured the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor in a stunning upset. He defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was widely considered the frontrunner. Mamdani’s victory has electrified progressives and grassroots organizers while drawing sharp criticism from some Democrats, moderates, conservatives, and pro-Israel groups. Supporters praise his equity-driven platform, which includes freezing rents on all rent-stabilized apartments, launching city-owned grocery stores, offering free public transportation and childcare, raising the minimum wage to $30/hour by 2030, and reallocating hundreds of millions from the NYPD to mental health services. Critics, however, have labeled his proposals unrealistic and divisive, with some accusing him of antisemitism due to his vocal support for Palestinian rights and controversial rhetoric on Israel.
Getting into it: In a notable development, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced his independent bid for reelection on the steps of City Hall, surrounded by supporters, union leaders, and business allies (while protesters across the park shouted accusations of corruption). During his announcement, the mayor highlighted what he said was his record of delivering results, pointing to historically low crime rates in the first five months of 2025, declining unemployment among minorities, and his push to reopen schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m going to continue to bring down crime, launch a citywide mental health initiative, advance workforce development and vocational education,” Adams said.
Framing himself as a working-class leader, he said, “This election is a choice between a candidate with a blue collar and one with a silver spoon. A choice between dirty fingernails and manicured nails.”
Adams also criticized Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, dismissing his proposals—like city-run grocery stores, rent freezes, and free childcare—as dangerous and unrealistic. “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,” he said, arguing that Mamdani’s agenda would hurt landlords, stifle growth, and undermine working-class values. He said, “They have a record of tweets, I have a record on these streets. You don’t lead this city from a soapbox. You lead it with action, not rhetoric.”
Despite his confident tone, Adams faces significant headwinds in his reelection bid. His approval rating dropped to just 20% earlier this year, and though federal corruption charges were ultimately dropped, his coziness with Donald Trump and the DOJ has drawn ongoing scrutiny. Other challengers in the race include Republican Curtis Sliwa, independent Jim Walden, and possibly Andrew Cuomo, who is considering an independent run after losing the Democratic primary.
