Jim Walden will stay on the NYC mayoral election ballot amid potential exit of Mayor Adams.

A Manhattan judge ruled on Thursday that Jim Walden, a former candidate for New York City mayor, will remain on the ballot for the upcoming November election. This ruling may suggest that Mayor Eric Adams would also retain his position on the ballot, should he decide to withdraw from the race in the future.

Walden, who had recently suspended his campaign amid disappointing polling figures, made a public appeal for other candidates to follow suit in an effort to facilitate a one-on-one contest against Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. Reports indicate that Adams is contemplating a withdrawal but continues to assert his intention to stay involved in the race.

The ruling from the court, along with the potential for Adams’ future decisions, implies that the ballot may still feature five candidates despite the possibility that only three will be actively campaigning by Election Day: Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Earlier this week, the Board of Elections confirmed that Walden’s name would remain on the ballot, prompting him to file a lawsuit seeking to have it removed. Walden expressed concerns that his continued presence would mislead voters, indicating that he believes any of the remaining candidates would be preferable to Mamdani, whom he characterized as an inexperienced radical.

In his lawsuit, filed just a day before the court’s ruling, Walden argued that allowing his name to appear could fundamentally mislead the electorate. However, Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman dismissed his petition, stating that while Walden presented persuasive arguments regarding New York State Election Law, the court could not rule in his favor based on those claims.

Pearlman noted that the Board of Elections had adhered strictly to the legal requirements pertinent to the situation. Following the ruling, Walden indicated he would not pursue an appeal, acknowledging that the Board of Elections must finalize the ballots by a set deadline to accommodate voters outside the city.

This decision emphasizes the complexities of the electoral process as candidates navigate the landscape of public opinion and electoral strategy. With the election approaching, the dynamics of the race remain fluid, as candidates prepare for what may be a pivotal moment in New York City’s political history.