Mayor Adams conceded Tuesday he hasn’t been formally campaigning for reelection yet, but said he would start “very soon.”
At a Tuesday press conference, Adams fended off the suggestion he might not be actually running because he does not having much visible campaign infrastructure like a campaign manager or spokesperson.
“I don’t recall at any time that there was a predetermined list that indicates that if someone was actually running or not,” he said. “So, my timetable. I know what I’m doing. I won before, and I’m going to put the chess in place.”
Last time around, by March 2021, Adams had a more clearly organized campaign and had racked up some endorsements from influential unions. Now, he has the advantage of incumbency but is up against a stacked field of competitors as he faces harsh criticism the Trump Justice Department’s involvement in his federal corruption case. A number of his supporters during the 2021 race have switched to endorse ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“Endorsements don’t win races, knocking on doors do,” the mayor said on Monday, adding that he is a “solid campaigner” who knows how to get a “crisp” message across.
“You just you can’t campaign through tweets and videos and only be in this little, confined place come out here,” he said.
