With under three months left before Election Day, Mayor Eric Adams saw a substantial boost in his bid for reelection on Tuesday, as nearly 100 religious leaders from New York City gathered at City Hall to offer their endorsement.
The group, encompassing priests, pastors, rabbis, imams, and sheikhs, lauded Adams’ leadership and expressed ongoing dedication to New York’s future.
Faith’s Role in Adams’ Mayoral Tenure
Adams is running as an independent and maintains strong relationships with religious communities across all five boroughs. Their support has proven resilient, even amid increased scrutiny and political challenges this year.
During the assembly, Adams attributed many administrative choices—and his perseverance through challenges—to his faith.
“The city is a better place because of this administration and what we accomplished,” Adams said. “Yes, you can have the skill, yes, you can have the people, yes, you can have the agencies. But in administrations with the absence of God, they will never reach their full compassionate commitment that we have.”
He further highlighted the importance of cross-party alliances, which figure prominently in his strategy to attract a broad electorate come November.
Cuomo and Mamdani Set Out Different Paths
Meanwhile, key rival and former Governor Andrew Cuomo laid out his campaign platform on Bloomberg Radio while Adams was at City Hall.
Cuomo is focused on public safety and called for raising NYPD salaries as a means to improve morale and recruiting. He also campaigns as an independent.
“Day one, raise the salary,” Cuomo said. “It will have a practical effect, you’ll be more competitive, but it will also say to police, ‘I value you, I believe in you.’”
Although Adams, a former officer himself, agrees with Cuomo on some crime measures, the two diverge from Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, who, after supporting defunding the police, now advocates for continued funding alongside substantial reforms.
As November approaches, Adams continues to prioritize faith-driven coalition-building, community confidence, and reaching beyond party divisions.
