Jim Walden Ends NYC Mayoral Bid,Urges Rivals to Consolidate Against Mamdani
Jim Walden,an autonomous candidate vying for New York City mayor,announced Tuesday he was suspending his campaign,and called on his fellow contenders to rally against Democratic primary winner Zohran mamdani.
In a statement released announcing his withdrawal, Walden urged those “still trailing in the polls by month’s end” to consider their legacy, warning that “vanity or stubborn ambition” could lead to Mamdani’s victory. He characterized Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, as a “Trojan Horse taking over city Hall,” and stated that time was “slipping away” for an choice candidate to gain traction.
Walden, an attorney who has previously represented figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.and Conor McGregor, had campaigned as a free-market technocrat, drawing comparisons to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
However, he faced an uphill battle gaining recognition amongst a field including incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Guardian angels founder Curtis Sliwa.Last month, Walden proposed a “drop out challenge” to Adams, Cuomo, and Sliwa, suggesting they agree to support whichever candidate led in the polls in the fall to maximize their chances of defeating Mamdani. The proposal was not accepted, though both Adams and Cuomo have publicly called for the other to withdraw from the race.
Following Walden’s announcement, a spokesperson for Cuomo, Richard Azzopardi, commended Walden for “putting aside ego and ambition,” adding that the decision “underscores the existential threat our city faces in Zohran Mamdani.”
Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for adams’ campaign, stated the mayor has no intention of dropping out and remains “focused on the future – delivering results and leading this city forward.”
Zohran Mamdani’s spokesperson, Dora Pekec, responded with a statement asserting that “while support of Zohran’s vision for an affordable New York continues to grow across all five boroughs, the billionaire class is narrowing their selection process – and andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams are pulling out all the stops to charm them alongside Donald trump.”
