The mayoral race in New York City has taken a significant turn, as independent candidate Jim Walden has suspended his campaign. With the election drawing near, Walden's departure underscores the increasingly contentious battle for City Hall.
Walden, a former federal prosecutor, had struggled to gain traction in a crowded field of candidates. In a recent poll, he garnered just 3% of voter support. Drawing a line on his campaign, Walden expressed a stark reality in a statement obtained by The Post: "For months I have been steadfast in my view that, unless there is a one-on-one race in November, a Trojan Horse will take control of City Hall. I cannot spend more public money in the futile hope I am the one called to battle."
Financial constraints also played a role in Walden's decision to bow out. With campaign finances in focus, Walden, who raised $1.1 million and received over $2.3 million in public funds, now faces the task of returning that public money. "Once you received public funds and you drop out of the race, you have to return the matching funds," Tim Hunter, a Campaign Finance spokesman told WABC-TV. Walden's campaign reportedly has about $1.24 million on hand, which will be used in part to settle his campaign debts.
Compounding the issue, sources close to Walden cited "personal problems" as a contributing factor to his campaign's suspension, as per a report by The Post. Walden's camp has been marred by internal challenges, as one source vented, "There’s been a lot of internal bulls–t in this campaign to start." Following the suspension announcement, the source also shed light on discord within Walden's team, hinting at underlying issues that have not been publicly detailed.
Reflecting on the broader implications of Walden's exit, the New York City mayoral race now appears potentially headed towards a pivotal one-on-one matchup between former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, as suggested in a segment of WABC-TV's Up Close.
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