Jeffries Praises Adams Following Reelection Withdrawal

House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries commended New York City Mayor Eric Adams for his courageous decision after Adams announced the end of his reelection campaign on Sunday.

In a statement shared by various media outlets, Jeffries noted, “Eric Adams has shown courage and has genuinely served for decades as a member of the NYPD, a New York State Senator in Brooklyn, and as Mayor of the 110th.”

He continued by pointing out that during Adams’s tenure, there has been a notable drop in violent crime, an increase in affordable housing construction, and overall recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Adams, who had been running as an independent since April, finished his campaign a month before early voting was set to start on October 25th. His reelection bid came amid allegations of bribery, campaign finance violations, and conspiracy, which a federal judge dismissed in April at the request of the Department of Justice.

Earlier this month, Adams met with White House envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss his involvement in the administration, even while he had promised to remain in the race.

Jeffries acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly the high cost of living, but emphasized that significant progress has been achieved in various critical areas during Adams’s leadership. “We appreciate your service to our city,” he added.

Both Jeffries and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer have yet to endorse anyone in the mayoral race and have consistently avoided overwhelming Mamdani, the Democratic nominee who triumphed over numerous candidates.

The 33-year-old state legislator and democratic socialist defeated several prominent figures in the primary.

In his statement, Jeffries mentioned he would focus on the race prior to the early voting that will occur next month.

Recent polling from Suffolk University Cityview indicated that 45% of respondents supported Mamdani, with 25% backing Cuomo and 9% for Back Sliwa. Adams garnered 8% support in that survey.