Part 5/7:
A significant component of the upcoming election is the ranked-choice voting system used in New York City. Unlike traditional elections, where a candidate must secure a simple majority to win, the ranked-choice voting system allows voters to rank their candidates, which complicates the dynamics of the election. Given this context, Adams' strategy to run as an independent could draw votes away from the Democratic nominee, potentially shifting the outcome in favor of a Republican candidate, most likely Curtis Sliwa, who previously garnered only a fraction of the vote against Adams.