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Eric Adams launches his campaign for reelection

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Adams criticizes policies of Democratic candidate Zohran

Mamdani

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Republicans react to Mamdani candidacy

(Adds Mamdani quotes to paragraphs 4,5,16,17)

By Christian Martinez

June 26 (Reuters) - New York City's Mayor Eric Adams,

who won as a Democrat in his first mayoral bid in 2021, launched

his reelection campaign on Thursday as an independent, following

the surprise upset by progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani in

the Democratic primary earlier this week.

The mayor did not name Mamdani during the event held on the

steps of New York City Hall, but he alluded to some of the

self-described Democratic socialist's positions and background.

"This election is a choice between a candidate with a blue

collar and one with a silver spoon," Adams said. "A choice

between someone who delivered lower crime, the most jobs in

history and the most houses built in decades and an assembly

member who did not pass a bill."

"I understand what he's doing," Mamdani said of Adams on

Thursday evening in an interview with CNN. "He's trying to

distract from his own record. His is a record where he raised

rents on more than 2 million New Yorkers by 9% and he's

considering another 8% increase."

Adams saw his popularity plummet following his indictment on

corruption charges and the subsequent decision by President

Donald Trump's Justice Department to drop the case. In April, he

announced that he would run for reelection as an independent,

avoiding the Democratic primary that included Mamdani and former

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Since Mamdani's win, Adams has criticized the 33-year-old

state assemblyman from Queens, saying he lacked experience and

was campaigning on policy proposals he could not deliver.

"He's a snake oil salesman," Adams said Wednesday in an

interview with Fox News.

Mamdani's victory in the primary and potential win in the

general election has prompted strong reactions from

progressives, who have cheered his campaign's upbeat tone and

focus on economic issues, as well as conservatives and some in

the business community, who have criticized his Democratic

socialist policies.

Trump, a native New Yorker, called Mamdani a "100% Communist

Lunatic" in a post Wednesday on social media.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who supported

Trump in the 2024 election, offered to financially back a

challenger.

"New York City under Mamdani is about to become much more

dangerous and economically unviable," Ackman said Wednesday in a

post on X.

Ackman, a major shareholder in real estate development

company Howard Hughes Holdings ( HHH ), said he has "a superb

candidate who I can believe can win" but added "if I were to say

his name or even reach out to him, it would have a negative

effect on his candidacy, as I am a supporter of President

Trump..."

Ackman instead offered to crowdsource "the best centrist

candidate."

"If someone is ready to raise their hand, I will take care

of the fundraising," Ackman said.

When asked on CNN if he would meet with Ackman and others

with concerns about his tax proposals, Mamdani said he would

"meet with anyone."

"I will meet with them, and I'll explain why I believe

in the necessity of raising the top corporate tax rate," Mamdani

said.

The Republican candidate this fall will be Curtis Sliwa, the

founder of the Guardian Angels. Jim Walden, a former federal

prosecutor, is running as an independent, as well. Cuomo also

retains the ability to run as an independent, though he has not

yet decided whether to do so.