By: Russ Spencer

In a development that could reshape the dynamics of New York City’s turbulent mayoral race, a powerful alliance of law enforcement unions is set to endorse incumbent Mayor Eric Adams for re-election this week, The New York Post has learned. The endorsement, which represents a unified show of support from nearly all the city’s uniformed services unions, marks a significant victory for Adams as he campaigns for a second term on an independent ballot line.

The coalition, formally dubbed the NYC Uniformed Forces Coalition 2025, includes a cross-section of the city’s law enforcement, corrections, and sanitation unions. According to sources cited in a report that appeared on Tuesday in The New York Post, the coalition will make its endorsement official during a press event on the steps of City Hall scheduled for Thursday. The endorsement signals a coordinated effort by uniformed services to throw their weight behind Adams at a critical juncture in the mayoral race.

Absent from the coalition’s public endorsement, however, is the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), the largest and most influential police union in the United States. The PBA notably backed Adams during his successful 2021 campaign but has opted to chart an independent course in the current election cycle. Although the PBA attended the coalition’s initial meetings, The New York Post report indicated that the union leadership ultimately decided to withhold participation in the joint endorsement effort, planning instead to make its own announcement at a later date.

The endorsement comes after a primary season that saw political alliances across the city’s labor landscape shift dramatically. The city’s major labor unions remained largely silent during the Democratic primary contest that ended with former Governor Andrew Cuomo losing unexpectedly to Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo, who enjoyed significant support from both organized labor and business leaders, was widely perceived as a favorite among institutional backers before Mamdani’s upset victory last month.

In the weeks since the primary, both Adams and Cuomo—each now running as independent candidates—have engaged in a high-stakes contest for the backing of key constituencies, including business leaders, political influencers, and now law enforcement. As reported by The New York Post, both men have openly suggested that the other should exit the race to consolidate opposition against Mamdani, who emerged from the primary with strong momentum and the backing of progressive activists.

Sources within the NYPD told The New York Post that Cuomo’s history as the architect of New York State’s 2019 criminal justice reforms played a significant role in law enforcement’s decision to favor Adams. Officers and union leaders reportedly harbor lingering resentment toward Cuomo’s legislative record, particularly the bail reform measures that some believe contributed to a perceived rise in crime. The prospect of Mamdani, who has called for reducing police funding, ascending to City Hall has further galvanized law enforcement ranks to unite behind Adams.

Mayor Adams’ campaign welcomed the endorsement, with spokesman Todd Shapiro emphasizing the significance of securing the support of 13 key unions, among them the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, the Detectives’ Endowment Association, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, the Lieutenants Benevolent Association, and the Captains Endowment Association.

“These endorsements reflect real confidence in his record and a shared belief that public safety is non-negotiable,” Shapiro told The New York Post, underscoring Adams’ longstanding position that public safety and justice are not mutually exclusive goals. “This mayor has always said: we don’t have to choose between safety and justice — we can have both.”

The endorsement comes as Adams faces an uphill battle in the polls. Recent surveys cited by The New York Post show Adams trailing Mamdani by more than 20 percentage points, often placing him in a distant third or fourth position among the crowded field of candidates. With his campaign seeking to regain traction, the consolidated backing of the law enforcement community could provide a much-needed boost as the general election campaign intensifies.

The New York Post report also highlighted that Mamdani himself has drawn scrutiny for attempting to recalibrate his image on public safety. Pundits noted the candidate’s recent comments suggesting he would consider retaining current NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch—a move interpreted by some as an effort to moderate his stance on policing ahead of the general election. Critics have accused Mamdani of political maneuvering aimed at blunting concerns over his progressive platform, particularly his past calls to defund law enforcement.

The looming endorsement ceremony at City Hall is expected to send a strong message about Adams’ continued support among the city’s first responders and could serve as a rallying point for his campaign as he seeks to fortify his base. According to the information provided in The New York Post report, the mayor’s alignment with law enforcement unions underscores a broader strategy to position himself as the candidate of law, order, and pragmatic governance—especially in contrast to Mamdani’s progressive platform and Cuomo’s contentious political legacy.

As the general election campaign progresses, the endorsement by the NYC Uniformed Forces Coalition 2025 stands as a pivotal moment for Adams. Whether it will be enough to shift the race in his favor remains to be seen, but the support of the city’s law enforcement community offers the mayor a critical asset in a political environment increasingly defined by issues of public safety and trust in government institutions.