Citing incomplete paperwork and questionable donations, NYC’s Campaign Finance Board rejects Adams’ funding request—leaving his re-election campaign in financial limbo just months before the vote.
Shah J. Choudhury
Shah J. Choudhury
New York | August 6, 2025: Mayor Eric Adams’ re-election campaign has been dealt another serious blow as the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) again denied his request for millions in public matching funds. The board cited missing documentation, donor irregularities, and repeated procedural delays as the primary reasons behind the rejection.
This decision, made just months ahead of the 2025 citywide elections, places Mayor Adams in a significantly weakened financial position compared to his challengers.
What triggered the denial?
According to the CFB, Adams’ campaign failed to provide required financial disclosures and verifiable donor documentation. Even more concerning, several contributions appear to be from individuals who deny making donations—raising red flags about potential “straw donors,” a serious violation of campaign finance law.
This resulted in the board refusing to release up to $3 million in public matching funds the Adams campaign had requested.
What did the court say?
The Adams campaign had previously taken the matter to federal court, attempting to force the board to release the funds. But U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled against the mayor’s team, emphasizing that the delay and non-compliance originated with the campaign—not the board.
The Board’s Statement
Board chair Frederick Schaffer said in a formal statement:
“The campaign repeatedly missed deadlines, failed to cooperate with the audit process, and could not substantiate its contributions. The board cannot, in good conscience, authorize public funds under these circumstances.”
Rivals Gain Ground
While Adams has received zero matching funds to date, his challengers have fared much better:
• Zohran Mamdani has secured $1.68 million
• Curtis Sliwa received over $1.91 million
• Jim Walden collected approximately $237,000
The stark contrast in fundraising capacity is likely to widen the playing field—and potentially alter the outcome of a highly competitive mayoral race.
Impact on Adams’ Campaign
With multiple investigations ongoing—including inquiries related to foreign fundraising and donor fraud—this latest denial amplifies the scrutiny surrounding Adams’ leadership. Campaign finance experts believe this could cripple his ground game and messaging efforts in the final stretch of the election.
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Source: Reporting based on verified information from Politico, The City, and New York Post.
