Mayor Adams Is Denied Public Money for His Re-election Campaign

Mayor Eric Adams was denied public matching funds for his re-election campaign on Monday as he faces federal corruption charges focused on his fund-raising practices, dealing a major setback to his bid for a second term.

The New York City Campaign Finance Board ruled that Mr. Adams was not eligible to participate in a program that awards an eight-for-one match of small-dollar donations, withholding as much as $4.3 million.

Mr. Adams was indicted in September and is expected to go on trial in April; his top adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, resigned on Sunday amid a grand jury investigation by prosecutors in Manhattan.

The board’s chair, Frederick P. Schaffer, said that the board had reviewed the indictment and other records and concluded that “there is reason to believe the Adams campaign has engaged in conduct detrimental to the matching-funds program in violation of law.”

“Our priority remains achieving an equitable and transparent democracy that is accountable to all New Yorkers,” he said.

The mayor, whose approval rating has fallen to a record low, is facing a difficult path to re-election next year, and the denial of matching funds places him at a significant disadvantage. He will have less money to spend on television advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts in a competitive race, and will be forced to devote more of his time to fund-raising.