The 2025 New York City mayor’s race is unusually volatile and will have major consequences for the nation’s largest city.
As a Democratic incumbent seeking a second term, Mayor Eric Adams would not typically face a serious primary challenge and would be heavily favored in the general election.
But this year is different. Mr. Adams faces a large field of primary challengers who hope to seize on his perceived vulnerability.
The race has focused on several major themes, including public safety, affordability and potentially disqualifying behavior from multiple candidates, with the mayor’s five-count federal indictment on corruption charges front and center.
It seems likely that Mr. Adams will be spared a trial: The Justice Department has directed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to drop the charges against the mayor. Even so, his opponents have signaled that they still plan to attack Mr. Adams’s ethics, and will accuse him of running the city to serve his self-interests.
Here is an overview of the major candidates for mayor. The primary will be held June 24.
Running
Eric Adams Dem.
Incumbent
Mr. Adams ran for mayor in 2021 as a former police officer who vowed to bring down crime, and his message four years later is similar. But the mayor is facing many challenges. He was indicted on federal corruption charges; his administration has been plagued by investigations and high-profile resignations; his approval rating is at record lows.
He also wooed President Trump as an ally, bonding over their assertions that they were the victims of politically motivated prosecutions. The mayor’s closeness with Mr. Trump could hurt him with Democratic primary voters who oppose the president’s agenda.
Still, Mr. Adams has sought to get back on track, focusing on plans to support working-class families and highlighting his ties to two major unions.
Brad Lander Dem.
City comptroller
Mr. Lander is a progressive leader who contends that he is the best manager to run the city.
He has been a fierce critic of Mr. Adams and a key supporter of congestion pricing, and he has promised to end street homelessness for severely mentally ill people. He has led in fund-raising, despite pledging to eschew donations from real estate developers.
As he presents himself as a common-sense alternative to Mr. Adams or another potential candidate, the former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, Mr. Lander has begun to moderate some of his most ardent left-leaning stances.
Scott Stringer Dem.
Former city comptroller
Mr. Stringer, who has held several elected offices, is running on a message that he is competent and experienced.
He has a history of support from unions and elected officials from Manhattan’s Upper West Side, already securing the endorsements of state lawmakers and Representative Jerrold Nadler.
His 2021 mayoral campaign was derailed by allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied. He has tried to make a political comeback by focusing on proposals to address the high costs of housing and child care. He has better name recognition than other candidates and has raised a significant amount of money.
Zohran Mamdani Dem.
State assemblyman
Mr. Mamdani, a state lawmaker from Queens and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is running on populist ideas like free buses, rent freezes for rent-stabilized apartments and city-owned grocery stores.
Mr. Mamdani has momentum as a favorite on the left, though he lacks widespread name recognition, and has surprised the political world with strong fund-raising numbers. His campaign videos interviewing Trump voters and halal cart workers have gone viral.
Jessica Ramos Dem.
State senator
Ms. Ramos is a progressive state lawmaker from Queens who supports raising the minimum wage and has close ties to unions.
She notably opposed a major casino proposal in her district that was supported by the billionaire owners of the Mets. She has highlighted her Colombian roots and speaks Spanish on the campaign trail. She is trailing in fund-raising.
Michael Blake Dem.
Former state assembleyman
Mr. Blake was a White House aide under President Barack Obama and served in the State Assembly representing the Bronx.
He considers himself a moderate and says he is focused on addressing quality of life issues. He is a former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2020 and for public advocate in 2019.
Jim Walden Ind.
Former federal prosecutor
Mr. Walden, a prominent lawyer who has handled high-profile cases, is considering running as a Republican or on the Independence Party line.
He is a former prosecutor and political independent who has not run for office before and wants to curtail corruption. He has criticized congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan and city vaccine mandates during the pandemic.
Considering Running
Andrew Cuomo Dem.
Former governor
Mr. Cuomo was elected to three terms as governor and resigned in 2021 after a sexual harassment scandal.
He is considering entering the race and leads in polls. If he does run, he is expected to highlight his record as governor, which included major infrastructure projects, raising the minimum wage, leading the state through the coronavirus pandemic and legalizing same-sex marriage.
Mr. Cuomo made enemies through his combative political tactics. Some have already vowed to highlight the Justice Department’s findings that he sexually harassed at least 13 state employees, which he denies. He has also faced widespread criticism for his handling of nursing home deaths early in the pandemic.
Curtis Sliwa Rep.
Guardian Angels founder
Mr. Sliwa, who lost the general election to Mr. Adams in 2021, is expected to run again.
He is a host on the conservative WABC radio station and has led the Guardian Angels, a citizen patrol group, for decades. He has criticized the mayor’s handling of the migrant crisis and opposed the opening of new shelters.
Jumaane Williams Dem.
Public advocate
Mr. Williams is a progressive leader from Brooklyn who has criticized the mayor’s aggressive policing strategy. He has pledged to rank Mr. Lander either first or second on his ballot.
But if Mr. Adams were to resign, Mr. Williams — who ran unsuccessfully for governor and lieutenant governor — would become acting mayor. He would then likely run for a full term.
