Democrat Eric Adams elected mayor of New York City
- Eric Adams becomes just the second African American to lead America’s biggest city
- He will be tasked with leading the city’s economic recovery after the pandemic
Democrat Eric Adams won New York City’s mayoral race on Tuesday on promises to boost public safety and give voice to working-class residents, drawing on his experience as a police captain and as a black man who experienced police brutality as a youth.
Adams, the Brooklyn borough president since 2014, was projected the winner by the Associated Press. He will become the city’s second black mayor after defeating Republican Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels civilian patrol.
The 61-year-old Adams takes over in January from Democrat Bill de Blasio, who was term-limited after eight years in office.
“Tonight I have accomplished my dream and with all my heart I’m going to remove the barriers that are preventing you from accomplishing yours,” Adams told cheering supporters at his victory party in Brooklyn.
Adams will face the task of overseeing the largest US city’s nascent recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, as well as confronting wealth inequality, lack of affordable housing and struggling public schools.
He had been expected to win handily in the overwhelmingly Democratic city.