New York City Mayor Eric Adams has officially launched his reelection campaign—not as a Democrat, but as an independent. The announcement came just days after progressive State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani stunned observers by defeating both former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Adams in the Democratic primary.Adams, speaking on the steps of New York City Hall, didn’t mention Mamdani by name but clearly aimed his remarks at his new opponent. “This election is a choice between a candidate with a blue collar and one with a silver spoon,” Adams said, touting his record on crime reduction, job creation, and housing. Mamdani responded, telling CNN that Adams was attempting to “distract from his own record,” citing rent increases for over two million New Yorkers. With his Democratic support fractured and his reputation scarred by federal corruption allegations—later dropped by the US Department of Justice under President Trump—Adams is now betting on a citywide independent appeal.A journey from poverty and police abuse to public serviceBorn in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Eric Adams was the fourth of six children. Raised in poverty and frequently facing eviction, Adams later moved with his family to South Jamaica, Queens. At age 14, he joined a gang and was arrested for criminal trespassing. In police custody, he was allegedly beaten by NYPD officers—an experience that, as Adams has said in multiple interviews, left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and motivated him to join law enforcement to change it from within.Encouraged by community leaders like Reverend Herbert Daughtry, Adams turned his life around. He graduated from Bayside High School in Queens and went on to earn an associate degree from New York City College of Technology, a bachelor’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a Master of Public Administration from Marist College. He credits a dyslexia diagnosis in college with transforming his academic performance and becoming a strong advocate for early screening in public schools.NYPD career shaped Adams’s approach to crime and communityAdams joined the New York City Transit Police in 1984 and later the NYPD, serving 22 years and retiring as a captain. He became an outspoken advocate for police reform, co-founding 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care and frequently criticizing racial profiling practices. He gained attention for publicly challenging department policies and was eventually investigated by Internal Affairs for speaking out in uniform, leading to his retirement.Despite early controversies—including appearing with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan—Adams cultivated a reputation as a reformer. He served as a state senator from 2007 to 2013, where he supported marriage equality, gun control, and police accountability.Political career from state senate to Brooklyn Borough Hall and City HallAdams was elected Brooklyn Borough President in 2013 and re-elected in 2017, where he advocated for affordable housing, public health initiatives like plant-based diets, and education access through free community college. He also faced criticism for launching the nonprofit One Brooklyn Fund, which prompted investigations into donor influence.In 2021, Adams won the New York City mayoral election as a moderate Democrat. His platform emphasized public safety, economic recovery, and reform—not defunding—of the police. After his indictment on corruption charges in 2024, later dropped in 2025, Adams announced his independent candidacy, seeking to retain office against Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and fellow independent Jim Walden.As reported by Fox News, Adams dismissed Mamdani as a “snake oil salesman.” Trump called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” on social media, while billionaire Bill Ackman pledged financial support for an Adams challenger.Now, with his back against the wall and no party label to lean on, Adams’s bid for reelection could be the defining chapter in a life shaped by adversity, transformation, and controversy.
