Mayor Eric Adams abruptly bailed on a high-profile forum with his Democratic primary challengers on Wednesday — saying his lawyer advised him not to participate, The Post has learned.
The incumbent pulled out just hours before the 6 p.m. event — hosted by New York City’s largest municipal union DC 37 — was set to kick off in Lower Manhattan.
“Mayor Adams informed us that he will no longer be able to participate in tonight’s forum at the advice of his legal counsel,” union spokesperson Thea Setterbo said in a statement.
“We look forward to hearing from the other candidates as they make their case to our members on why they would make the best choice for New York City’s mayor.”
The crowded field of Democratic candidates challenging him in the June primary will get to make their case to members of the powerful union during the event.
DC 37 was one of the key unions that backed Adams during the 2021 race, but insiders have said the labor group distanced itself from the mayor over recent months, leaving their influential endorsement up for grabs.
The forum would have been the first attended by Hizzoner in the 2025 mayoral campaign season.
The cancellation was first reported by Politico.
Sources close to Adams confirmed that he had been told by his lawyers the forum wasn’t a good idea as the historic federal criminal case against him continues to drag on.
He had confirmed his participation in the event last week, when it seemed all but certain that the case would be dismissed following a highly public push by President Trump’s Justice Department to get the bribery and corruption charges tossed.
But Manhattan federal court Judge Dale Ho said he first wanted to hear from a third-party legal expert before making a decision, which now isn’t expected until at least mid-March.
Adams is unlikely to take part in any similar forum while the case is looming over his head, the sources said.
The DC 37 event is expected to be attended by hundreds of union members who will hear from state Sens. Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie, City Comptroller Brad Lander, state Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, ex-Assembly Member Michael Blake and former City Comptroller Scott Stringer.
Adams insiders also said the mayor didn’t think the event was worth it without the top challenger — former governor Andrew Cuomo, who is expected to formally announce his bid in the coming days — and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who has been mulling a run.
