NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mayor Eric Adams set out Thursday to persuade skeptical voters to grant him a second term, hosting a kickoff event for his independent reelection bid after a corruption indictment, a controversial dismissal and a decision to drop out of a the Democratic primary.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams began campaigning in earnest for re-election Thursday as an independent candidate, attacking presumptive Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani by criticizing some of his progressive platforms.

Mayor Eric Adams officially kicked off his re-election campaign Thursday, pitting himself as the blue collar candidate saving the city from “silver spoon” socialist Zohran Mamdani. Adams, speaking from City Hall’s steps to a raucous crowd of more than 100 supporters,