Adams’ appeal to overturn ruling on matching campaign funds denied; he can reapply in mid-July.

New York City’s Campaign Finance Board has upheld its decision to deny Mayor Eric Adams over million in public matching funds for his reelection campaign, with no opportunity for him to contest this ruling until mid-July, according to information obtained from Media News Source.

The Board initially denied Adams access to the matching funds in December 2024, citing a range of compliance issues. These issues included a federal corruption indictment that accused him of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from operatives associated with the Turkish government.

Following a controversial dismissal of his indictment by the Department of Justice, which occurred in early April, Adams’ campaign submitted a formal petition last week requesting that the Board reconsider its previous denial of funds. However, the response from Joseph Gallagher, the Board’s general counsel, was clear: the rejection of the indictment did not sway the Board’s stance that Adams potentially violated various federal, state, and city laws.

The Campaign Finance Board reiterated its reasoning at multiple meetings held throughout the year. Mayor Adams has consistently maintained his innocence regarding the allegations. In his correspondence to Adams’ campaign attorney, Gallagher noted that the Board would not entertain further challenges to its ruling until the scheduled public matching funds disbursement on July 15, 2025. He pointed out that since Adams is no longer running in the Democratic primary scheduled for June 24, the next opportunity for the campaign to present evidence supporting its eligibility for matching funds will occur during the July payment cycle.

In the meantime, Gallagher has encouraged the Adams campaign to provide any additional documentation or clarification that could demonstrate compliance with public financing laws. Following the dismissal of his indictment, Adams opted to exit the Democratic primary and announced plans to run as an independent candidate in the general election come November. This strategic shift comes as Adams faces record low approval ratings and significant financial challenges compared to several Democratic candidates who have already benefited from public matching funds.

The matching funds program, designed to bolster mayoral hopefuls by matching donations from city residents at an 8:1 ratio for contributions up to 0, has significant implications for candidates needing substantial resources to support campaign operations. Notably, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was also denied matching funds due to a paperwork discrepancy, reportedly expects to qualify for public financing later this month.

As the political landscape intensifies and the June primary approaches, the Board’s decision poses potential obstacles for Adams, further complicating his reelection efforts in a city that historically leans Democratic.