The rise and fall of Mayor Eric Adams: a timeline

From a working-class Brooklyn upbringing to New York City Police Department captain to state senator to Brooklyn borough president to mayor of one of the largest cities in the world, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has had quite an ascent through New York politics. However, he has also endured corruption charges, which were dismissed, and dwindling public support in the polls, leading him to drop his bid for reelection. Here are some key dates in his mayoral tenure.

Nov. 17, 2020 – Adams launches his bid for mayor in a YouTube video titled “Rise Up”

July 6, 2021 – Adams wins the Democratic primary by about 7,000 votes over Kathryn Garcia

Jan. 1, 2022 – Adams is sworn in as the 110th mayor of New York City in Times Square

Feb. 15, 2022 – Adams expands the Summer Youth Employment Program to 90,000 jobs

June 10, 2022 – New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams shakes hands with the mayor on the city budget for the first time, three weeks ahead of the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

July 6, 2022 – Adams hosts his first “Community Conversation” – a series of open dialogues across the city

Aug. 19, 2022 – At the historic Kings Theatre, Adams gives his first State of the City address

Oct. 7, 2022 – Adams declares a “state of emergency,” as the number of recently arrived migrants in New York City soars

April 12, 2023 – The city’s first rat czar, Kathleen Corradi, is appointed by Adams as a part of the “war on rats”

May 10, 2023 – Adams issues an executive order temporarily suspending some of the city’s right-to-shelter protections

June 29, 2023 – A deal on the city budget is reached as the mayor and Speaker Adams announce a $107 billion budget for fiscal year 2024.

July 7, 2023 – Six Adams supporters are indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in an alleged straw donor scheme meant to steer money to Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign

Sept. 15, 2023 – As a part of his anti-rat agenda, trash containerization begins in West Harlem as a pilot

Nov. 2, 2023 – Federal agents raid the home of Adams’ chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs

Nov. 6, 2023 – FBI agents seize Adams’ electronic devices, including at least two cellphones and an iPad

May 22, 2024 – As the city continues to handle an uptick in recently arrived migrants, Adams limits shelter stays, enforcing 30-day eviction notices on adult migrants and 60-day notice on younger adult migrants

June 28, 2024 – Following months of conflict over the mayor’s proposed cuts to New York City’s budget, the mayor and Speaker Adams shake hands on the fiscal year 2025 budget

July 2024 – Adams receives grand jury subpoenas from federal prosecutors as a part of their corruption inquiry

Sept. 4, 2024 – The homes of top officials in Adams’ administration are raided by federal agents, including First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and schools Chancellor David Banks, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and Adams aide Tim Pearson.

Sept. 26, 2024 – Adams is indicted on five counts, alleging that he solicited and accepted illegal foreign donations and other benefits

Sept. 27, 2024 – Adams pleads not guilty to all federal bribery, conspiracy and campaign finance charges

Sept. 27, 2024 – Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Adams’ chief adviser, is subpoenaed by federal authorities who also raid her home, three weeks after other members of Adams’ inner circle face similar raids 

Oct. 23, 2024 – Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani officially launches his bid for mayor.

Dec. 5, 2024 – The New York City Council passes Adams’ City of Yes rezoning plan

Dec. 15, 2024 – Lewis-Martin announces she is retiring

Dec. 19, 2024 – Lewis-Martin is indicted, with the Manhattan district attorney alleging that she leveraged her position to expedite bureaucratic processes for two businesspeople in exchange for a $100,000 bribe.

Jan. 17, 2025 – Adams meets with President Donald Trump in Florida, sparking rumors that he was seeking a presidential pardon

Jan. 20, 2025 – Adams attends Trump’s inauguration, abruptly canceling his Martin Luther King Jr. Day appearances

Feb 10. 2025 – The U.S. Department of Justice instructs federal prosecutors to drop their corruption case against Adams without prejudice

Feb 20. 2025 – Gov. Kathy Hochul announces steps to limit Adams’ power in light of his federal corruption case

March 1, 2025 – Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces that he is running for New York City mayor.

April 2, 2025 – All federal corruption charges against Adams are dismissed by a Manhattan federal judge with prejudice

April 3, 2025 – Adams says he won’t run in the Democratic primary and will seek reelection as an independent

April 9, 2025 – The Adams administration issues an executive order allowing ICE agents to open office space on Rikers Island

June 26, 2025 – Adams officially launches his independent reelection bid at a kickoff rally in front of City Hall

June 27, 2025 – The mayor and Speaker Adams shake hands on the city’s $116 billion fiscal year 2026 budget.

July 1, 2025 – Mamdani wins the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, garnering 56% of the vote to Cuomo’s 44%.

July 14, 2025 – Cuomo announces his mayoral run as an independent candidate in the general election.

July 30, 2025 – Adams revives Bally’s plan to build a casino in the Bronx by vetoing the City Council’s rejection of the bid

Aug. 6, 2025 – The New York City Campaign Finance Board denies Adams public matching funds for the 10th time

Aug. 11, 2025 – New reading and math test scores show a 7-percentage point increase in English reading proficiency for the 2024-2025 school year, leading Adams to tout his successes in education

Sept. 5, 2025 – Adams reaffirms he is running for reelection, calling former Gov. Andrew Cuomo “a snake and a liar”

Sept. 28, 2025 – Adams drops out of the mayoral race, announcing his decision in a video, but he will remain on the ballot

Dec. 31, 2025 – Adams will leave office as a one-term mayor