Inside the Money Race for the 2025 New York City Mayoral Primary

In a luxury apartment in Trump World Tower in Manhattan near the United Nations, a group of two dozen or so lawyers and civic leaders gathered this spring at the home of Mitchell Draizin, a financier and prominent Democratic donor.

The group, he said, was searching for a candidate to defeat Mayor Eric Adams, “somebody to manage and have the city progress.” And for that evening, Scott Stringer, the city’s former comptroller, had their ear.

“He’s obviously not the most charismatic person. Perhaps Adams is charismatic, but look where it got us,” Mr. Draizin said in an interview. “Look at the M.T.A., look at the garbage, look at the shoplifting and the migrant crisis.”

Similar scenes are playing out across the city, with Democratic supporters being courted by Mr. Adams, Mr. Stringer and others interested in running in next June’s mayoral primary.

While most Democrats are preoccupied with the presidential race this November, the New York City mayoral race has begun and is showing signs of being more competitive than many expected. Mr. Adams, a former police captain who ran on a public safety message, is facing low approval ratings, prompting many Democrats to considering jumping in.

Two Democrats — Mr. Stringer and Zellnor Myrie, a state senator from Brooklyn — have already entered the race and will announce their fund-raising totals on Monday, the first major reporting deadline. The current city comptroller, Brad Lander, is seriously considering joining the race, along with former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.