Ex-Governor Switches Back to Eric Adams in NYC Mayor’s Race

Former Gov. David A. Paterson endorsed Eric Adams’s bid for a second term as mayor of New York City on Tuesday, switching loyalties to become the highest-profile Democrat to back the underdog incumbent.

In an interview, Mr. Paterson sounded skeptical of Mr. Adams’s electoral chances after a federal corruption indictment and accusations that he had conspired with the Trump administration to dismiss the charges. But he said the mayor had been there for him when it counted — and he would do the same.

“There are certain times when, you know what, it’s a friend, you’re not hurting anyone by endorsing him,” Mr. Paterson said. “He’s the candidate who I think, if he did win, would run the city the best.”

He added: “He almost dropped the phone when I told him that about a week ago.”

Mr. Paterson, the state’s first Black governor, could help persuade other Democratic leaders and some voters to give Mr. Adams, the city’s second Black mayor, another look. But polls suggest most voters are tuning the mayor out less than three months before Election Day.

The contest is looking increasingly like a two-man rematch between Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and front-runner, and former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the runner-up in June’s primary. Mr. Adams skipped that race and is running as an independent, as is Mr. Cuomo. Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee, is currently ahead of Mr. Adams in most polls.

Mr. Adams and Mr. Paterson, who hosts a radio show and works for the casino company Las Vegas Sands, were set to appear together on the steps of City Hall on Wednesday afternoon.