NYC mayoral candidate Jim Walden drops out of race, asks others do same to beat Mamdani

Independent NYC mayoral candidate Jim Walden announced Tuesday he’s dropping out of the race, and urged other candidates to do the same in the hopes of defeating Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.

Walden, an attorney, said it’s time for the others in the race to follow suit and consolidate behind one candidate in order to set up a head to head match with the progressive Mamdani, whose pro-Palestinian positions and support for tax hikes to fund an affordability agenda has sparked blowback.

The other candidates now in the race are Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov, Andrew Cuomo, both running an independents; and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Most polls show Mamdani winning handily against a divided field.

“For months I have been steadfast in my view that, unless there is a one-on-one race in November, a Trojan Horse will take control of City Hall,” Walden said in a statement. “I cannot spend more public money in the futile hope I am the one called to battle.




https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/09/02/nyc-mayoral-candidate-jim-walden-drops-out-of-race-asks-others-do-same-to-beat-mamdani/