New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Comptroller Brad Lander engaged in a heated exchange on Tuesday, marking the beginning of what is expected to be a contentious 2025 mayoral election.
Lander, who announced his candidacy for mayor earlier in the day, was quickly criticized by Adams during a press conference. Adams suggested that Lander’s decision to run for mayor was a distraction from the more important goal of electing Vice President Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States.
Adams claimed that he was focused on supporting Harris’s presidential bid and implied that Lander should join him in that effort. However, Lander’s campaign quickly fired back, pointing out that Adams had initially declined to endorse Harris after President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race.
Lander’s senior adviser, Rebecca Rodriguez, took to social media to highlight Adams’s earlier criticism of Harris and his delayed endorsement. She noted that Lander had supported Harris’s candidacy from the beginning and was a proud member of the “Dads for Kamala” movement.
Lander’s decision to challenge Adams from the left is seen as a serious threat to the incumbent mayor’s reelection bid. Adams has struggled with low approval ratings, currently standing at just 28%, and has faced criticism for his handling of the city’s migrant crisis.
In a campaign launch video, Lander emphasized the need for new leadership in the city, saying that while New York City is irreplaceable, its leader can be. He promised to focus on the basics of good governance, including honesty, public safety, and education.
Adams is expected to face a tough challenge from Lander, as well as Democratic state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, in the November 2025 election.
