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Eric Adams

Eric Adams is an American politician and former police officer who served as the 110th mayor of New York City from 2022 to 2025.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Eric Adams is an American politician and former police officer who served as the 110th mayor of New York City from 2022 to 2025. A Democrat for most of his political career, he was elected in 2021 after previously serving as Brooklyn borough president and as a New York State senator. His mayoralty was marked by controversies, including a 2024 federal indictment and his later withdrawal from the 2025 re-election race.

Early life and policing career

Eric Adams was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 1, 1960. He later joined the New York City Police Department and served for more than two decades, rising to the rank of captain before entering electoral politics.

Political career

Adams served in the New York State Senate and later became Brooklyn borough president from 2014 to 2021. He won the 2021 New York City mayoral election and took office on January 1, 2022, becoming the second Black mayor of New York City.

Mayoralty

As mayor, Adams focused on public safety, the economy, and city administration. His tenure drew significant attention because of policy disputes and legal controversy, including a 2024 federal indictment on charges of bribery and fraud.

Legal issues and 2025 campaign

In 2024, Adams was indicted on federal corruption-related charges. He left the Democratic primary, ran as an independent in the 2025 mayoral race, and later withdrew from the campaign.

Key facts

Eric Adams served as the 110th mayor of New York City from 2022 to 2025.
He was the second Black mayor of New York City.
He served 22 years in the New York City Police Department before entering politics.
In 2024, he was indicted on federal corruption charges.
He withdrew from the 2025 re-election race after initially running as an independent.

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Canadian context

Eric Adams is relevant to Canadian readers mainly through New York City's influence on trade, travel, policing, migration, and cross-border political coverage. His mayoralty also attracted attention in Canadian media because New York City is a major North American metropolis.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Eric Adams?

Eric Adams is an American politician and former police officer who served as mayor of New York City from 2022 to 2025.

What political party is Eric Adams affiliated with?

He was a Democrat for most of his career, became an independent in 2025, and had earlier been outside the party between 1997 and 2001.

What offices did Eric Adams hold before becoming mayor?

He served in the New York State Senate and later as Brooklyn borough president.

Was Eric Adams a police officer?

Yes. He served in the New York City Police Department for 22 years before entering full-time elected politics.

Was Eric Adams indicted?

Yes. In 2024, he was indicted on federal charges including bribery and fraud.

Did Eric Adams run for re-election in 2025?

He initially ran as an independent after leaving the Democratic primary, but he withdrew from the race in September 2025.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Adams
Supports: Birth date and place; political party history; mayoral election and office dates; citizenship details.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eric-Adams
Supports: Biography; mayoral term; party switch; indictment; withdrawal from 2025 race.
THE CITY — https://www.thecity.nyc/meet-your-mayor/candidates/eric-adams.html
Supports: Early policing career; Brooklyn borough presidency; campaign themes; background details.
BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly3gz35dgro
Supports: Overview of federal charges and allegations related to the indictment.
Politico — https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/03/eric-adams-reelection-independent-00267865
Supports: Independent re-election bid in 2025.