When Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on federal corruption charges in September, his political reputation may have taken a hit — but his campaign fundraising seemingly did not.
For the roughly three-month filing period beginning Oct. 8, Adams raised more than $270,000 for his reelection campaign, more than many of his rivals in the June Democratic primary.
What You Need To Know
- Mayor Adams raised more than $270,000 over three months following his federal indictment in September
- Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, led the field with more than $641,000 raised in the filing period
- Adams’ total fundraising to date is $4.4 million, but Comptroller Brad Lander says matching funds will soon put him at $5.4 million
“I’ve always, for the most part, led fundraising numbers,” he said at an unrelated news conference on Monday, ahead of the filing deadline. “People call me and say, ‘Eric, we haven’t heard anything from your fundraising. How do we help? How do we stay onboard?’ My core is still there.”
Some newer entrants in the race posted impressive numbers of their own. State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist who is the furthest left of any candidate, led the field with nearly $642,000 raised in the filing period, followed closely by attorney Jim Walden, who’s running as a third-party candidate and raised $630,000.
They were followed by former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson, who raised about $425,000, with Adams in fourth place and city Comptroller Brad Lander in fifth, having raised close to $222,000 over the three months.
The mayor’s campaign suffered a major blow last month when the city’s Campaign Finance Board denied him millions of dollars in pubic matching funds, citing his federal charges. Two of his opponents, Lander and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, have already unlocked millions in matching funds.
For now, Mayor Adams’ total fundraising to date still tops the field, at almost $4.4 million. But Lander, a close second, says the next round of matching funds — to be released next month — will put him ahead of the mayor with $5.4 million.
Stringer is third in total funds raised at about $2.9 million, with Walden fourth at $1.1 million — though his total includes a $500,000 loan made to himself. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie is fifth, with about $648,000 raised.
Myrie and Mamdani each say they now qualify for matching funds that will soon put them over $3 million in total money raised.
The mayor’s fundraising has dried up when it comes to his legal defense fund, which raised just $2,200 this filing period, leaving him with unpaid legal bills approaching $1 million.
The primary election for mayor and other city offices is June 24.