Eric Adams hailed for quitting mayoral race, pundits hope move is blow to lefty Zohran Mamdani

Eric Adams was hailed for his decision to drop out of the Big Apple mayoral race Sunday — including by ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is mounting his own bid to take City Hall.

“The choice Mayor Adams made today was not an easy one, but I believe he is sincere in putting the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition,” Cuomo, who now becomes lefty front-runner Zohran Mamdani’s most formidable mayoral opponent, said in a statement.

“We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them,” the career Democrat said.

Mamdani, the Democratic nominee who is leading in the polls, lamed Adams’ decision on President Donald Trump — and maintained it won’t change the outcome of the November election.

“Donald Trump and his billionaire donors might be able to determine Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo’s actions but they will not dictate the results of this election,” he said in a statement.

“New York deserves better than trading in one disgraced, corrupt politician for another,” he added, in a swipe at Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 while facing various scandals.

“On November 4th, we are going to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas and deliver a government every New Yorker can be proud of,” Mamdani said.

Adams had been under pressure to quit his independent bid for re-election to clear the field for a stronger challenge against Mamdani, whose socialist views have caused concern in political circles.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said the mayor called her to tip her off about his decision prior to the announcement, and hailed his administration’s accomplishments.

“We have connected more New Yorkers to mental health services and supportive housing. We’ve driven down crime in our subways and gotten illegal guns off the streets,” she said in a statement.

“I have been grateful for his partnership. he leaves New York City better than he inherited it and that will always be central to his legacy as mayor.”

Adams will remain on the November ballot, along with Cuomo, who is running as an independent and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee, who has been polling third after the ex-gov.

“Curtis Sliwa is the only candidate who can defeat Mamdani,” Sliwa campaign spokesperson Daniel Kurzyna said in response to Adams’ announcement.

“Our team, our resources, and our funding are unmatched,” Kurzyna said in a statement. “Most importantly, we have the best solutions to help working people afford to stay in New York City and feel safe.”

Some politicians and pundits said Adams’ move will make it easier to rally anti-Mamdani forces.

“I commend Mayor Adams for putting the city first,” Staten Island GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said. “It’s important we try to consolidate support against Mamdani to stop his destructive and radical socialist takeover that will only make our city less safe, less affordable and less livable.”

But others disagreed, saying Adams should have bowed out a long time ago.

“Once it became clear that Mayor Adams was not going to be the Democratic candidate, he should have stopped campaigning,” Republican City Councilwoman Joann Ariola said.

“Instead, we’ve had months of confusion thanks to him stubbornly trying to stay in the race despite everything screaming that he should withdraw,” she said. “I’m glad he’s finally come to his senses, but I just wish he’d done this months ago so his name wouldn’t be on the ballot at all.”

Longtime political strategist Basil Smikle, who has worked on campaigns for Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, questioned the impact of Adams’ decision on the mayoral race.

“At this late state and given Adams’ poll numbers, it’s unclear how much this matters or helps the anti-Mamdani effort, but it does clear the field for the head-to-head matchup that Cuomo wanted,” he said.

GOP consultant Bill O’Reilly also said the move may not be enough.

“It helps in the effort to stop Mamdani, but only marginally,” O’Reilly told The Post. “Some of the Adams vote will go to Sliwa and some will go to Cuomo, but the numbers are small.

“To defeat Mamdani at this point probably requires a two-person race, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen,” he said.