Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said he is dropping out of the mayoral race and will retire from public office once his term ends in 2021.
The 46-year-old, longtime Bronx politician, who kicked off his political career 23 years ago when he was elected as a state Assemblyman, will formally announce the decision to his supporters in a Monday campaign letter.
“I plan to retire from elected office at the end of 2021 and become a private citizen,” the letter reads.
“This decision is final, and no length of additional time will change that.”
Diaz Jr.’s campaign fundraising slowed down recently, raising just $94,000 over the last six months.
By comparison, longshot mayoral candidate Loree Sutton raked in $113,000 in donations in the two months since she announced her run.
In his letter, Diaz Jr. noted he will return any unspent campaign donations to the original donors.
“Once my campaign has finalized meeting its financial obligations, the remaining funds will be returned to all who generously stepped up to help,” he said.