Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday kicked off his re-election campaign, days after Andrew Cuomo's surprising defeat in the Democratic primary to socialist assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.

Adams told the crowd assembled on the steps of City Hall that he rejects Mamdani's promises — free childcare and buses, a rent freeze on regulated apartments, municipal grocery stores and higher taxes on the rich — and ridiculed Mamdani's platform as "giving everything to everyone for free."

"This is not a city of handouts," Adams said. "This is a city of hands up!"

Adams' re-election announcement was attended by hundreds of supporters as well as hecklers who disrupted the event by calling him a criminal, to which Adams answered: "You can call me all the names you want, but I'm going to answer to only one: Mayor Adams!"

Mamdani, a 33-year-old who represents Astoria in the State Assembly, is expected to be declared the winner of the Democratic mayoral primary when the results are made official next month. Cuomo had been favored to win in almost every independent opinion survey — boosted by millions from corporations and billionaires — but came up short and conceded within two hours of the polls closing Tuesday night.

In a victory speech, Mamdani said he wants New Yorkers to have "a city where they can do more than just struggle — one where those who toil in the night can enjoy the fruits of their labor in the day — where hard work is repaid with a stable life. Where eight hours on the factory floor or behind the wheel of a cab is enough to pay the mortgage."

Adams' rally Thursday was being attended by members of the coalition that helped him win the mayoralty in 2021, including Orthodox Jews, black churchgoers and right-leaning New Yorkers. Placards bearing his re-election slogan — "DELIVERS. NEVER QUITS" — were distributed and translated into multiple languages, including Arabic, Spanish, Russian and Hindi. 

Adams' popularity tumbled last year at news he was being investigated and later indicted for alleged campaign finance crimes. He withdrew from the Democratic primary after the city's campaign regulator denied him matching funds over the corruption allegations and he is planning to run as an independent in the general election on Nov. 4.

The criminal case, alleging Adams traded luxury travel and campaign contributions in exchange for municipal favors, was dismissed earlier this year after the Department of Justice was ordered by the Trump administration to stop the prosecution.

With Cuomo's defeat, Adams is reportedly being eyed by Cuomo supporters looking to beat Mamdani.

Check back for updates to this developing story.