New York City mayor Eric Adams has dropped his re-election bid, leaving the race to become the city's next mayor likely between Democrat Zohran Mamdani and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo.
In a video released on social media, Adams spoke with pride about his achievements as mayor including a drop in violent crime.
But he said that "constant media speculation" about his future and a decision by the city's campaign finance board to withhold public funding from his re-election effort made it impossible to stay in the race.
"Despite all we've achieved, I cannot continue my re-election campaign."
The one-term former Democrat's decision to quit the race comes days after he repeatedly insisted he would stay in the contest, saying everyday New Yorkers don't "surrender".
But speculation