Scandal-ridden New York City Mayor Adams only raised $250 after suing

Since taking office in 2022, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been actively fundraising for his 2025 re-election campaign. However, in the past three months, his efforts have been overshadowed by controversy. After being indicted on federal charges on September 26, Adams managed to raise only $146,000, marking his lowest fundraising quarter to date and significantly less than that of his rivals. Specifically, Adams received just a single $250 donation following the indictment, coming from a property insurance broker in Queens.

Recent data released on October 15 by the Campaign Finance Board shows that between July 12 and October 7, Adams raised a mere $146,000—a stark contrast to the over $1 million in private donations he secured in the previous quarter. In comparison, his competitors for the mayoral race have significantly outperformed him; City Comptroller Brad Lander reported raising $330,115 in the latest disclosures, while former City Comptroller Scott Stringer garnered $193,000 during the same period.

Despite these challenges, Adams’ campaign lawyer, Vito Pitta, defended the mayor’s fundraising situation, claiming it’s better than it appears. He pointed out that out of the total $4.1 million raised, approximately $500,000 qualifies for the city’s eight-to-one matching funds program, potentially adding an additional $4 million. This would result in a total fundraising amount exceeding $8 million, surpassing the expenditure cap for the mayoral primary. “Mayor Adams continues to receive strong support from New Yorkers. The campaign has now reached the primary cap amount, with matching funds expected to exceed initial plans,” Pitta stated.

During a press conference on October 15, Adams hinted that he doesn’t feel the need to raise substantial additional funds, saying, “We only need to raise a little bit of money,” and focusing instead on the matching funds. However, those matching funds could face obstacles. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office has alleged in Adams’ indictment that he solicited and accepted illegal contributions from Turkish government officials for his 2021 and 2025 campaigns in exchange for political favors. The Campaign Finance Board has indicated that it will consider these allegations before disbursing the first round of public matching funds to 2025 mayoral candidates in mid-December.