New York Mayor Eric Adams Declines to Endorse Kamala Harris

New York Mayor Eric Adams has commended President Joe Biden for stepping aside in the 2024 presidential election, but he will not endorse current Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.

“Whoever wants to run, they should have the right to do so,” Adams said in an interview with CNN. “We make a decision on who to best represent our body.”

President Joe Biden announced Sunday afternoon that he would withdraw his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. His decision follows weeks of mounting pressure from within his party and from key Democratic donors urging him to step aside for the sake of the party’s future.

Eric Adams, Kamala Harris

Adams released a statement on Biden’s decision not to run for re-election, noting that the country “owes a debt of gratitude” to the President.

“He and his team took us out of Covid, stabilized the country and restored the should of the nation,” Adams wrote. “President Biden is now again delivering for the American people by passing the torch at a critical moment, when the country needs strong leadership from a new generation.”

America owes a debt of gratitude to President Biden for his decades of service.

He is now again delivering for the American people by passing the torch at a critical moment where we must continue to put working-people first and address cost of living and public safety concerns. pic.twitter.com/FrXm2VO8Jr

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) July 21, 2024

Adams told CNN that he is in “support of the beauty of the friction process of democracy.”

“This is democracy, and we should be proud that every time that we change power, we do it in a peaceful way,” Adams said.

Adams also told The New York Times that he is looking forward to having a conversation with the presidential nominee.

“I’m looking forward to a good, healthy conversation and allow the senior leaders of the party to carve out the steps forward,” he said.

Mayor Eric Adams doesn’t endorse Kamala Harris on 1010 WINS: “I’m looking forward to a good, healthy conversation and allow the senior leaders of the party to carve out the steps forward.”

— Emma G. Fitzsimmons (@emmagf) July 21, 2024

Adams has been vocal about the financial impact New York City has experienced due to an influx of migrants throughout Biden’s administration.

“Never in my life have I had a problem that I did not see an ending to. I don’t see an ending to this,” Adams said in 2023. “The president and the White House have failed New York City on this issue.”

Adams had on multiple occasions called for additional federal funding. It was announced earlier this year that Harris would lead the response team to the political crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Mayor Eric Adams delivers remarks and unveils a street sign at street co-naming for Dr. James E. Caldwell in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.

NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx/STRMX

The New York Mayor suggested at the time at there was a $12 billion deficit.

“Every service in this city is going to be impacted,” Adams said, adding that it was baffling” that officials “are not understanding what this is doing to New York City.”

Harris, however, has quickly gained support from dozens of other Democrats.

Biden endorsed Harris in a follow-up post to his withdrawal announcement, writing, “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

Following Biden’s announcement, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsed Harris for president and said they “will do whatever we can to support her.”

Rep. Jasmine Crockett said Harris is the only candidate she would support.

Well I hope the geniuses that pushed the most consequential President of our lifetime out, have a plan. WHO in the hell couldn’t sell the MF Accomplishments & win over a 34 time convicted Felon who isn’t even allowed to operate businesses in the state of NY (and therefore should… https://t.co/CjCSY37Owp

— Jasmine Crockett (@JasmineForUS) July 21, 2024

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar thanked Biden for his years of service and then endorsed Harris.

“Thrilled to support Kamala Harris as our Democratic nominee and remain committed to working alongside her to defeat Donald Trump in November,” she posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.

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