NYC Mayor Eric Adams indicted: Which candidates are looking to replace him

Four Democrats are trying to establish themselves as early contenders for the next mayor of New York, regardless of whether Eric Adams remains the city’s top executive following a federal indictment unsealed Thursday.

The declared field of candidates, or those formally exploring a run, for the 2025 mayoral race in New York includes 21 people, including Adams — but most of the candidates have yet to set up a campaign apparatus or raise money for the desired position.

The Democratic candidates to make clear their interests: New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, of Brooklyn; former New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, of Manhattan; state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, of Brooklyn; and state Sen. Jessica Ramos, of Queens.

Lander, Myrie and Stringer called for Adams’ resignation. Ramos avoided going that far.

Lander is part of a five-member committee, which, according to the city charter, can be convened to vote to remove the mayor. On Thursday at City Hall, he said "we should give the mayor a few days to consider the circumstances and think about whether he will resign."

Lander has led inquiries into the Adams’ administration’s uses of no-bid contracts and procurement methods. In doing so, he has added to the collection of questions around the current administration and bolstered his recognition with the electorate.

Myrie is a lawyer who has served in the state Senate since 2019. He serves as the chair of the Senate’s Committee on Elections and has been a key player in the state’s gun legislation. He noted the indictment is "especially painful for so many Black New Yorkers who put our hope and faith in this mayor."

"We need a leader who is fully focused, without distraction, on the enormous challenges we face — from housing affordability to public safety," Myrie said.

Ramos has served in the state Senate since 2019 and previously worked in City Hall and with labor unions. She chairs the Senate Committee on Labor. Ramos has been a leading force against a potential casino around the Mets' Citi Field.

"New Yorkers feel frustrated and abandoned," Ramos said. "This, above all else, is unforgivable. A new day for our city is long overdue."

Stringer served as New York City Comptroller from 2014 to 2021. Previously he was Manhattan Borough president and, before that, a longtime Assemblyman. His bid for mayor in 2021 was upended by a scandal.

"The mayor's entitled to the presumption of innocence, but we New Yorkers are entitled to the presumption of confidence and effectiveness in government," Stringer told Newsday. "He must focus on the indictment, but we New Yorkers have to meet the needs of the citizens, and it's gonna be very challenging for him to do that."

Other individuals could enter the fray, especially after the indictment of Adams.

Pollsters have queried New Yorkers on their favorability toward former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 under multiple scandals and a potential impeachment trial from the state Legislature. A spokesman for Cuomo did not respond to a request for comment.

With Matthew Chayes