New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been denied public matching funds for his re-election campaign once again, marking another setback in his ongoing dispute with the city’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB). The CFB, during a meeting on Thursday, stated it would continue to withhold millions in public dollars from Adams' independent run, citing concerns previously highlighted regarding the campaign's eligibility.
CFB Chair Frederick Schaffer explained that the decision was based on the Adams campaign's failure to provide requested information and the board's belief that the campaign violated the law. These were the same reasons cited for the ineligibility finding on August 6th.
While Adams missed out on approximately $475,000 in this phase of campaign funding, his opponents benefited significantly. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, considered the front-runner in recent polls, received $1.92 million through the program, which matches small donations under $2,000 with public funds. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa secured $1.4 million, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, obtained $490,000.
Attorney Jim Walden, another independent candidate, received $35,000. These payments bring Mamdani’s total campaign funds to over $6.3 million, Sliwa’s to around $3.4 million, and Cuomo’s to approximately $1.6 million. Without the matching funds, Adams has about $3.9 million available.
Earlier this month, Adams initiated legal action against the CFB, arguing that the board was improperly withholding over $5 million from his campaign. The decision from the judge is still pending. The Adams campaign maintains its strong belief that it will ultimately prevail in this matter.
Key Takeaways
- Eric Adams denied public matching funds for NYC mayoral re-election bid.
- Zohran Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa receive significant funding.
- Adams is suing the Campaign Finance Board.