By Vaughn Golden, Aneeta Bhole and Craig McCarthy | New York Post
Mayor Eric Adams already has several Democratic challengers in the 2025 race — and more contenders may seize his bombshell indictment as an opportunity to throw their hat in the ring.
Adams vowed to keep leading the Big Apple once news of the indictment broke Wednesday night, but whether he drops his reelection bid remains to be seen.
Many of Adams’ political foes, including already announced candidates for the 2025 mayoral race, were among the first to call for him to step down.
And several others exploring bids for mayor also joined the resignation chorus.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander – an unabashed Adams critic already in the race – was quick to call on Hizzoner to call it quits.
“The hardworking people of New York City deserve a city government and leadership they can trust. Right now, they don’t have it,’ Lander wrote in a statement.
He was joined by fellow liberal, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, who at this point is just “exploring” a run after a failed bid for mayor in 2021.
“While the mayor focuses on proving his innocence, the rest of us need to focus on the business of the city,” Stringer said.
The former city comptroller recently revived a defamation lawsuit against a woman who accused him of sexual assault.
Several current state lawmakers have also already announced their mayoral candidacies and were quick to add their names to the list of pols calling on Adams to step down now.
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn), in calling for Adams’ resignation, called the news of the indictment “especially painful for so many Black New Yorkers who put our hope and faith in this Mayor.”
Myrie was first elected to his central Brooklyn seat in 2018.
Democratic Socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is also exploring a bid and joined the resignation calls Wednesday night.
One of Adams’ already announced challengers who held their powder following the news of his indictment was state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens).
The progressive state Senator released a statement critical of the Adams administration ending with “a new day for our city is long overdue.”
Ramos told The Post that she was “not interested in dancing on anyone’s grave tonight.”
One of the more intriguing questions presented by Adams’ indictment is whether it may open the door for ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo to see an opening to try to make a long-rumored political comeback.
Cuomo’s spokesperson didn’t respond to The Post Wednesday evening, but political sources have told The Post for months that the former governor saw charges against Adams as a greenlight to get into the race.
Cuomo resigned from his third term as Governor in 2021 after a barrage of sexual harassment accusations and other scandals including his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Another pol who may potentially enter the fray is City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island).
Borelli told The Post as the news of the indictment broke Wednesday night that he would consider running, but only if Adams stepped down voluntarily.
Adams can still serve his position while under federal indictment.
The only person who can replace Adams is Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to take the extraordinary action to remove him from office before his term is up.
