On Wednesday, Former New York Governor David Paterson endorsed Mayor Eric Adams for re-election, offering the incumbent a crucial boost as he struggles to regain ground in a competitive race dominated by other candidates including Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, Curtis Sliwa, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The endorsement, made on the steps of City Hall, grew a large crowd of supporters. Paterson, in reference to Adams’ record as mayor and stance on public safety, said, “We have a mayor who knows what to do; he’s already done it. We just want him to do it again.”
Adams welcomed the support, describing Paterson as a trusted leader whose voice could help stabilize his campaign and reconnect with skeptical voters.
Paterson served as governor from 2008 to 2010 and was the state’s first Black chief executive. He notably had previously supported Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. With Cuomo’s defeat in the June primary election and Mamdani’s commanding lead in recent polls, Paterson shifted his backing to Adams, calling him the candidate with the proven experience to lead the city.
The endorsement arrives as polls show Mamdani holding 44% support, Cuomo at 25%, Sliwa at 12%, and Adams trailing with 7%. Paterson also warned that Mamdani’s platform risks being unsustainable, likening it to a “forest fire” that burns out quickly.
