Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain and state senator, won the New York City mayoral elections by a landslide, getting 66% of the vote after more than a half of the projected ballots were counted. His opponent, Curtis Sliwa, talk show host and founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime nonprofit, only managed to get 29% of the vote, reports suggest.
"Today, we take off the intramural jersey and we put on one jersey, Team New York", Adams told supporters during a celebration at the New York Marriott. "Tonight is not just a victory over adversity, it is a vindication of faith. It is the proof that the forgotten can be the future".
Eric Adams, Democratic candidate for New York City Mayor, speaks during a campaign appearance in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., June 11, 2021
© REUTERS / BRENDAN MCDERMID
The politician started his career as a police officer in 1984 and became a captain shortly before leaving the ranks in 2006. He then ran for the state senate, representing the 20th Senate district in Brooklyn from 2006 to 2013. In 2013, Adams was elected Brooklyn Borough President and gained enough support for a successful re-election bid in 2017.
Adams is known as a moderate Democrat, who opposed the "defund the police" agenda over the past few years. He also supported outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio in his decision to make vaccination obligatory for police officers, firefighters, and other key workers.