Mayor Eric Adams Raises Just $36,000, Trails Democratic Rivals in Fundraising

New York City Mayor Eric Adams raised only $36,000 in the latest fundraising period, far behind his Democratic primary rivals. Campaign finance filings released Tuesday, March 18th, show Adams struggling to attract financial support as his re-election bid faces mounting challenges.

Between January 12 and March 13, Adams’ campaign received contributions from just 42 donors. After issuing more than $21,000 in refunds, his net total dropped to about $19,000. Meanwhile, his campaign spent over $157,000, including $67,000 on canvassing and petitioning and $10,000 per month to consultant Brianna Suggs, whose home was raided by federal agents in 2023.

Adams has yet to qualify for the city’s public matching funds due to compliance issues and his federal charges. His campaign still has around $3 million on hand, but he now lags behind his competitors.

Andrew Cuomo raised $1.5 million in 13 days, while Zohran Mamdani secured $845,000. Brad Lander and Scott Stringer have millions available with public matching funds.

Despite the lackluster fundraising, Adams’ campaign insists he remains financially competitive. Campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro emphasized that the mayor had already raised significant funds earlier in the election cycle.

“The Eric Adams campaign is proud to have raised the maximum allowable amount for this election cycle months ago—well in advance of any other candidate in the race for mayor of New York City,” Shapiro stated. “We continue to maintain that the campaign has fully qualified for matching funds and are in active communication with the Campaign Finance Board to ensure that those funds are properly reviewed and unlocked in accordance with all regulations.”

With the June primary approaching, Adams’ push for a second term faces challenges as fundraising falls short and endorsements remain sparse.