Eric Adams has won the New York City mayor’s race, fending off Republican and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa.
The race was swiftly called for Adams, who was projected to be the winner shortly after polls closed. Early tabulations showed him garnering more than 75 percent of the vote, with Sliwa badly trailing with just under 20 percent.
“Tonight, we celebrate — because tomorrow, the real work begins!” Adams tweeted.
Adams, the current Brooklyn Borough president and a former state senator and police captain, had been the overwhelming favorite to win the general election after emerging victorious from a fierce primary battle in July.
Known for his more moderate stances, Adams defeated former New York City Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia, former New York City Hall legal adviser Maya Wiley and entrepreneur Andrew Yang . That race largely was fought over divisions regarding the “defund the police” movement and a rise in crime. Adams campaigned heavily on expanding the police presence in the city.
The ultimate winner of that race was expected to coast to victory in November due to Democrats’ roughly seven-to-one voter registration advantage over Republicans in deep-blue New York City.
Adams is replacing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), who is forbidden by term limits from running for reelection.