Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Yang has dropped out as Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams emerges as the frontrunner.
“I am a numbers guy, I am someone who traffics in what’s happening by the numbers, and I am not going to be the next mayor of New York City — based upon the numbers that have come in tonight,” Yang, who told his supporters.
On Wednesday morning, Adams led the Democratic race with 31.7% with 84%, with civil rights lawyer, Maya Wiley, trailing on 22.3%. Kathryn Garcia, a former New York sanitation commissioner, was third with 19.5% of the vote, while Yang racked up 11.7% of the vote.
Despite bowing out, Yang touted his achievements.
Yang stated that he was proud that he had secured more individual donors than any other campaign.
“I am conceding this race. Though we’re not sure who’s the next mayor is going to be, but whoever that person is, I will be very happy to work with them to improve the lives of the 8.3 million people who live in our great city and I encourage everyone here to do the same,” he said in his speech.
During his run, Yang pushed the issue of cash relief for families following the pandemic. The businessman, who also ran for president, says that he helped to focus attention on a rise in attacks on people of Asian descent.
Voters head to the polls on June 22 for the mayoral primaries, but New Yorkers may not receive the final result until next month, where it is expected that the Board of Elections will have all the votes counted and certified by July 12.
