In a sure sign he’s feeling good about his chances in next month’s general election, mayoral candidate Eric Adams is taking a rare step for a politician: He’s declining to accept a bundle of campaign cash.
The revelation came Thursday when the city’s Campaign Finance Board announced its latest disbursement of public matching funds. The program provides public money to candidates for city office, matching small-dollar donations at a rate of up to 8-to-1.
Up to this point in his mayoral run, Adams had received $9.8 million in private donations and $10 million in public funds. That includes $2.4 million in private dollars in the most recent reporting period, covering late August and most of September.
His campaign decided that was sufficient. In a statement, spokesman Evan Thies said: “Eric’s campaign has received overwhelming support from thousands of New Yorkers since the general election began, allowing the campaign to forego further public funds and save taxpayers millions of dollars.”
His Republican opponent, Curtis Sliwa, received almost $700,000 in public matching funds in the latest disbursement. Sliwa now has almost $2 million currently in his campaign war chest. Adams has close to $8 million in unspent cash.
While Adams is the undisputed and overwhelming favorite to win the race, elected officials from every part of the city and every level of government turned out for a rally Thursday, urging voters not to take anything for granted.
“Yes, in New York City we know the primaries are where we battle,” said state Senator Jamaal Bailey of the Bronx. “But it’s the fourth quarter. What are we going to do in the fourth quarter? We’re going to put the ball in his hands. But we’ve got to give him an assist.”
The rally took place in downtown Brooklyn, just steps away from Adams’ current workplace, Brooklyn Borough Hall.
Sliwa, meanwhile, held an event outside the Manhattan Republican Party headquarters in Midtown, unveiling his “Curtis Cares” van. He said the van will serve as a promotional vehicle, but could also deliver food and provide transportation to homeless New Yorkers, and be used for animal rescue.
He took a swipe when asked about Adam's show of support Thursday.
“Now he’s embracing the Democratic leadership,” he said. “They’re embracing him. So that means you vote for Eric Adams, it’s more of the same.”
At the rally, Adams highlighted his dual approach to policing: an emphasis on public safety, but also a promise of accountability for bad apples.
“I know we can hit reset with our police, and tell them, ‘We’ve got your backs,’” Adams said. “But darn it, if you don’t understand the nobility of public protection, you cannot wear that uniform, and I’m going to remove you from my department in an expeditious fashion."