Adams’ Campaign Disappears for Fifth Day as Insiders Question NYC Mayoral Bid

Eric Adams’ campaign for a second term in New York City is on its fifth day of a conspicuous absence from the campaign trail, fueling whispers that the mayor may be quiet quitting the race. The Democratic incumbent, who is running as an independent, has not held a formal campaign event in five days as polls place him behind the field in the early post-Labor Day period. A New York Post review of recent polls and internal data shows Adams trailing Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who has surged to the lead, with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the next positions in a crowded field less than a month from the November election.

Inside sources say Adams’s schedule is barebones, with campaign staff and longtime backers left in the dark about his next moves. He has kept up with official duties as mayor and even used a moment during United Nations Week to meet with Bart De Wever, described by one ally as the prime minister of Belgium and a figure with influence in Europe’s economy. In a joking aside, a source close to the campaign quipped that Adams is ahead in a hypothetical four-way mayoral race in Brussels, underscoring how unusual the state of his campaign has become. The mayor has also shown flashes of activity outside a traditional campaign trail, an arrangement that has raised eyebrows among political observers.

This week he has made a few eye-catching non-campaign appearances: a dinner at Rao’s with “Shark Tank” mogul Kevin O’Leary, and a photo op with an Albanian television host amid the United Nations gathering. He also drew social-media attention for wearing a Star of David-spangled robe to a Rosh Hashanah event in Brooklyn, prompting mockery from some online observers. When pressed about the lack of campaign events, Adams’s spokesman, Todd Shapiro, responded, “The mayor is busy with his official business and focused on United Nations Week.”

Image: Adams at a sanitation event

Donor activity has cratered as well. Just one $4,000 contribution flowed into a pro-Adams super PAC this month, according to people familiar with fundraising, and Empower NYC—the pro-Adams PAC—posted its last video ad and text blast on Sept. 9. By contrast, PACs backing Cuomo and Mamdani have released 23 campaign ads or texts in the weeks since the Adams group’s last outreach to voters. The erosion of outside support comes as Adams faces a political environment in which donors and some party figures have signaled they would like him to exit or pivot toward a two-way race against Mamdani.

A Democratic source described the fundraising and scheduling dynamics this way: “I’m told donors are getting frustrated, and there’s talk that he’s not handling this gracefully.” Another Democratic source added, “He’s doing what he wants to do, I guess.” GOP and Democratic confidants alike have tried to sound the alarm about the brand and strategy of a candidate who once positioned himself as a steady hand in a divergent political moment.

Adams’ continued tenure as mayor—while his campaign recedes from the public eye—adds another layer of complexity to a race already steeped in unconventional dynamics. He remains the incumbent in a city that votes in November, while running in a field that includes Cuomo, Mamdani, and Sliwa. The former governor’s campaign ads have crowded the airwaves in recent weeks, while Adams’ own message has gone quiet. The dynamic has led to questions about whether Adams can re-enter the race with enough time and resources to mount a credible bid against a field led by a candidate who has built substantial support among progressive voters.

Image: Zohran Mamdani attends event

Adams’ situation is set against the broader backdrop of New York City politics, where the mayor’s party affiliation has become a strategic footnote in a contest that pits a diverse coalition against an unconventional field. The race has attracted national interest, with observers noting the unusual alignment of independent positioning, Democratic opponent strength, and a Republican challenger who has refused to bow out. While Adams continues to fulfill his duties as mayor, his campaign’s empty calendar has become the focal point of conversations about whether a late pivot could salvage a campaign that has become the subject of intense scrutiny in political circles.

The November election looms large, and the city’s voters will decide between a candidate who has been center-stage for years and others who have surged to the forefront with different messaging and priorities. The campaign’s current course remains a topic of debate among insiders, political commentators, and voters who have watched a once-visible bid recede into the background. As Adams navigates his official responsibilities and a shifting political landscape, the outcome of the mayoral race remains uncertain, with analysts cautioning that timing, fundraising, and public perception could still alter the trajectory ahead of Election Day.