Opponent of Cuomo and Mamdani in the N.Y.C. mayoral race

ADAMS

["This Brooklyn borough president won the 2021 election, becoming the city’s second Black mayor after serving as a former NYPD captain."]

This clue refers to Eric Adams, who ran in the 2021 New York City mayoral race against Andrew Cuomo (though Cuomo wasn’t officially a candidate, his influence loomed) and academic Mahmood Mamdani, a lesser-known contender. The answer is simply Adams’ last name, which fits the crossword’s letter count. The clue plays on political name recognition, assuming solvers recall Adams as the eventual winner. No wordplay here—just a direct reference to a recent high-profile election.