The 2025 mayoral race seems to be coming into focus. 

On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams drew a second possible Democratic challenger, this time from his home turf of Brooklyn.  

State Sen. Zellnor Myrie has launched an exploratory committee. Former City Comptroller Scott Stringer is also considering a run against Adams. 

In an interview on NY1’s “Inside City Hall,” Myrie pointed to some of the top issues motivating a possible bid.

“The New Yorkers I talk to, their main concern is whether or not this city is affordable, whether or not the streets are clean, whether or not they feel safe on the subway. I’m going to be focused on those issues,” Myrie said. 

Beyond fundraising and setting up a political operation, Myrie’s biggest challenge will be acquiring name recognition outside of his Brooklyn district. 

“This administration has been fumbling the nuts and bolts of government and I think frankly they have disappointed many New Yorkers that I am speaking to,” the Brooklyn state senator said.  

Earlier on Wednesday, Myrie told NY1 one of his top platform issues would be investing in young people. 

“I was proud to introduce a bill that would put us on the path of universal after school in the state. My hope as mayor is to implement that throughout the city,” he said.  

Myrie’s likely entrance into the race comes as the mayor is facing a record low approval rating of 28% and a federal investigation into his 2021 campaign finances. 

“I’m going to let the Department of Justice do its job. Let those investigations play out,” Myrie said. “I don’t think they are talking about the cost of childcare in the wee hours at Zero Bond, and I think there’s an expectation that the mayor’s be focused.” 

Adams and Myrie also differ on public safety.

Adams is a former police captain and strong supporter of the NYPD. Meanwhile Myrie, a police reform advocate, supported the repeal of 50-a, a law that kept the disciplinary records of police officers hidden from the public. 

Myrie’s campaign could also present a new divide in Brooklyn politics. 

But the Kings County Democratic Party leader sees it differently.  

“We have a few different ideologies across, and that doesn’t say much. Again, Eric Adams has support of most of the Democratic district leaders and state committee,” Rodneyse Bichotte, the Kings County Democratic Party chair, said. 

Bichotte has been an ardent supporter of the mayor, and insists he is the best person for the job.

She noted Adams’ push for affordable housing, a decrease in crime and his handling of the migrant crisis as successes.   

“Like every one of these other candidates who are vying, I don’t think anyone is in the position to really face off Mayor Adams, who has really taken the city to another level despite the multiple crisis,” Bichotte said. “Voters cannot take a chance of voting someone in and not be sure of how they are going to run this city.” 

Other names floated as potential Democratic contenders include state Sen. Jessica Ramos and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. 

Myrie will be looking to capture more progressive voters and Latino voters as he leans into his Afro-Latino roots. 

Myrie officially filed with the city’s campaign finance board on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Adams has more than $2 million in his war chest with more than a year to go until the election.