New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ re-election campaign raised $36,000 over the past two months, according to new campaign finance filings released Tuesday, March 18th. The figure marks a significant drop from his previous fundraising efforts, placing him far behind his major Democratic primary opponents.
The latest financial disclosure, covering the period from January 12th to March 13th, shows Adams received contributions from just 42 donors. After issuing refunds totaling more than $21,000, his net fundraising amount for this period fell to approximately $19,000. The mayor’s campaign also reported spending more than $157,000 during this time, significantly outpacing the amount raised.
Adams’ campaign has struggled to qualify for the city’s public matching funds program, which provides an 8-to-1 match for eligible small-dollar donations. The city’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB) has withheld public funds from the mayor’s campaign, citing compliance issues and an ongoing federal investigation into Adams’ 2021 campaign fundraising. Without these funds, his financial position in the race remains uncertain.
Despite the low fundraising numbers, Adams’ campaign maintains that he has already secured substantial financial support. Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for the mayor’s campaign, defended the fundraising totals, emphasizing that Adams had previously raised the maximum amount allowed under the city’s rules.
“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 said in a statement. “This achievement reflects the strong, broad-based support for Mayor Adams’ leadership and vision for the future of our city. 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.”
Adams still has approximately $3 million in his campaign account but trails his Democratic opponents in recent fundraising. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who leads in the polls, raised $1.5 million in just 13 days after entering the race. Queens Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani reported $845,000 in contributions over the same period. Both candidates also qualified for public matching funds, increasing their campaign resources.
With the Democratic primary approaching in June, Adams faces several challenges, including an unresolved federal corruption case. While he has publicly expressed his commitment to seeking a second term, his fundraising difficulties and lack of endorsements have raised questions about his campaign’s future.
