Adams’ Reelection Campaign Faces Uphill Battle with Dismal Fundraising
NEW YORK — In a disheartening display of dwindling support, New York City Mayor Eric Adams managed to scrape together a mere $36,121 from just 37 donors during the first two months of the year. This underwhelming fundraising effort starkly highlights the increasingly narrow path to victory that lies ahead of him.
The situation is exacerbated by a storm of challenges threatening Adams’ political future, including the denial of $4.3 million in public matching funds. This denial stems from alleged bookkeeping irregularities and campaign finance violations tied to his ongoing federal criminal investigation. Unfortunately for Adams, Tuesday’s filing did little to help him regain lost ground.
Despite these setbacks as he approaches the June Democratic primary, it’s worth noting that Adams has accumulated $4.4 million for his 2025 campaign—more than double what any of his opponents have raised, some of whom are still vying for matching funds.
Campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro asserted that Adams qualifies for matching funds, claiming that he does not require further financial support. “The Eric Adams campaign is proud to have raised the maximum allowable amount for this election cycle months ago — well in advance of any other candidate in the race for Mayor of New York City,” he stated. “This achievement reflects the strong, broad-based support for Mayor Adams’ leadership and vision for the future of our city.”
Shapiro added that the campaign is in discussions with the city Campaign Finance Board to restore the denied funds.
The latest financial disclosure, covering the period from January 12 to March 13, paints a bleak picture of Adams’ support base. Notable contributions include $500 from the Amalgamated Transit Union’s political action committee, $400 from lobbyist Ed Wallace of Greenberg Traurig, and a maximum donation of $2,100 from professional poker player Jason Xia.
In a surprising twist, Adams returned $3,700 in donations from cryptocurrency billionaire Brock Pierce, who had already maxed out his contribution in the previous year. Over the last two months, the campaign refunded a total of $21,450, resulting in a net gain of just $18,967 during this period—far less than any of his rivals.
Adams’ campaign has been characterized as virtually nonexistent, with a skeletal staff merely ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Since mid-January, the operation has paid $20,000 to Brianna Suggs, whose role as head fundraiser was reportedly downgraded following a federal raid on her home in November 2023.
However, Tuesday’s filing did reveal some signs of movement: alongside multiple payments for fundraising events, the mayor allocated $67,000 to political consulting firm My Brnd Inc. to secure the signatures necessary for ballot access ahead of the April 3 petitioning deadline.
As expenditures have significantly slowed, Adams currently holds $3 million in his campaign account. To run a competitive citywide primary, he would need to raise approximately double that amount, underscoring the critical importance of matching funds. The recent filing indicates that he has been unable to leverage the advantages typically associated with incumbency.
Adams’ financial troubles are further entangled with a series of political missteps. His perceived closeness to former President Donald Trump, particularly highlighted by attempts from the White House to mitigate his indictment, has sparked calls for his resignation and prompted fellow Democrats to seek ways to limit his powers. Currently, Adams is polling at historic lows, and some of his allies have defected to former Governor Andrew Cuomo, a prominent contender in the primary. Additionally, a wave of corruption investigations has severely impacted the upper echelons of his administration.
In a striking display of uncertainty regarding his political future, the mayor recently dodged multiple questions about his affiliation, failing to confirm whether he would run as a Democrat.
