NYC mayor launches re-election campaign

Criticises Mamdani’s progressive policies

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New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams, who won as a Democrat in his first mayoral bid in 2021, launched his re-election campaign on Thursday as an independent, after the surprise victory of progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary earlier this week.

The mayor did not name Mr Mamdani during the event held on the steps of New York City Hall, but he alluded to some of the self-described Democratic socialist's positions and background.

"This election is a choice between a candidate with a blue collar and one with a silver spoon," Mr Adams said. "A choice between someone who delivered lower crime, the most jobs in history and the most houses built in decades and an assembly member who did not pass a bill."

"I understand what he's doing," Mr Mamdani said of Mr Adams on Thursday evening in an interview with CNN. "He's trying to distract from his own record. His is a record where he raised rents on more than 2 million New Yorkers by 9% and he's considering another 8% increase."