New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection campaign has been denied millions of public matching funds, a major blow for the mayor who is seeking a second term despite facing a spring trial on federal corruption charges. The New York City Campaign Finance Board, an independent agency which administers the city’s taxpayer-funded program, issued its ruling on Monday, citing Adams’ legal troubles and a lack of adherence to their rules.
The board stated that there is reason to believe the Adams campaign has engaged in conduct detrimental to the matching funds program in violation of the law, including the campaign finance act and board rules. Adams has been accused of soliciting and accepting straw donations for his 2021 and 2025 campaigns, with prosecutors alleging that donations from foreign nationals were illegally funneled into the campaign account. Adams has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.
The city’s campaign matching funds are intended to encourage candidates to raise small dollar donations from average New Yorkers rather than seek out large sums of money. The program offers an eight-to-one match for small dollar donations, but Adams will now miss out on as much as $4.3 million in public campaign funds for his 2025 campaign.
Adams’ campaign counsel expressed disappointment at the ruling but stated confidence in having the necessary support to spend the maximum amount allowable in the upcoming primary. However, the lack of funding may put Adams at a significant disadvantage, requiring more time for fundraising rather than campaigning.
While Adams is not the only candidate denied public money, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s campaign also missed a filing deadline and will not be eligible for matching funds until a meeting on January 15. Lander, among a handful of candidates challenging Adams in the upcoming primary, faces a similar setback in campaign funding.
