Eric Adams became mayor of the largest city in the United States in 2022 on the Democratic Party ticket.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Sunday that he is withdrawing his candidacy for a second term just months before the vote, which is closely watched by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Adams, who faced corruption allegations that were dropped earlier this year, said in a video posted on X, “Despite all we have achieved, I cannot continue my campaign” for a second term.

He added: “Ongoing media speculation about my future and the campaign finance board’s decision to freeze millions of dollars have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for any serious campaign.”

Adams, who became mayor of the largest U.S. city in 2022 on the Democratic ticket, has become a divisive figure due to his legal troubles and cooperation with Trump.

In April, he said he would run as an independent candidate, which spared him from the fiercely contested Democratic primary won by Zehran Mamdani.

In his statement, Adams implicitly criticized Mamdani by saying, “Big change is welcome and necessary, but caution must be exercised with those who believe the answer lies in dismantling the system we have built together over generations. This is not change, this is chaos.”

Mamdani promised to address the cost of living crisis through rent control, free bus rides, and daycare.

Rumors circulated for weeks about Adams possibly withdrawing to make way for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Reports indicated that the Trump administration was considering appointing Adams to a position if he withdrew from the election to improve Cuomo’s chances against Mamdani.

Adams, a former police officer from a modest background, initially enjoyed great popularity, but his star began to fade due to corruption suspicions, the cost of living crisis, and other challenges. He is the second Black American to serve as mayor of New York City.