Mayor Bill de Blasio and over 50 other elected officials and labor leaders endorsed Eric Adams to be the Big Apple’s next mayor at a City Hall Park rally Monday, launching the Brooklyn borough president’s general election campaign.
“I know he’s going to do amazing things in this building right behind us,” said de Blasio, who did not publicly back any mayoral candidates during the primary.
“Go get ’em,” he whispered in Adams ear as the two embraced after Hizzoner’s remarks.
Adams faces Republican challenger and Guardian Angel founder Curtis Sliwa in the November general election. The retired cop is expected to beat Sliwa, given the largely Democratic makeup of city voters.
Still Adams vowed to campaign hard through the fall.
“We have work to do. You don’t win a baseball game in the eighth inning. It’s the ninth inning. No premature celebrations. We have another inning to go,” Adams said.
“I know he’s going to do amazing things,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said about Eric Adams.Paul MartinkaOther Democratic leaders joined Monday’s event to back Adams following his primary win last month including Rep. Jerry Nadler of Manhattan who backed city Comptroller Scott Stringer and Rep. Grace Meng of Queens who supported entrepreneur Andrew Yang.
Over 50 Democratic New York politicians turned out to show support for mayoral hopeful Eric Adams. Paul Martinka“So here we are Democrats. We’re here and no matter what we believe there’s one thing we all embrace– the next mayor needs to be a Democrat,” Adams said.
Former rival Kathryn Garcia, who narrowly lost to Adams by just under 7,200 votes, endorsed the borough president but was not at the event. The state’s U.S. Senators– Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer– also threw their support behind Adams Monday but did not attend the rally.
Adams said his campaign would focus on inequality, crime, the economy, education and homelessness.
One of his first general election campaign stops will be at coronavirus hotspots around the city where he’ll give out thousands of face masks this weekend.
Eric Adams faces Republican challenger and Guardian Angel founder Curtis Sliwa in the November general election. Paul Martinka“Many people believed COVID was in our rear view mirror. I don’t believe so. COVID is a formidable opponent,” Adams said.
Adams said he backs the recommendation by de Blasio’s health commissioner to wear masks indoors.
