The seemingly ongoing roller coaster ride in the New York City mayor's race hit another series of curves on Monday.

If you thought the ballot lineup was set in stone when independent Jim Walden dropped out and incumbent Eric Adams said he was still in the race, think again.

Board of Elections rejects Walden's request for removal

Whether Adams ultimately stays in the race or not, the Board of Elections has preliminarily stymied the efforts of Walden to bow out, saying his application to do so was late. It has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday.

Walden says he's ready to go to court if the BOE doesn't change its mind, adding voters will be confused and "lured" to vote for him if his name is still on the ballot.

Adams avoids questions about dropping out of the race

After denying reports he's angling to get out of the race to take a job with the Trump administration, Adams seemed strangely uninterested in the campaign on Monday, even as he handed out free computers to city students.

CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer asked him whether the event, "is something that will help you in your campaign to get reelected, and what kind of a message it sends to the people who wanted you to drop out?"

"Next question," Adams said.

"Oh, come on, Mr. Mayor. This is the power of incumbency. Will it help you?" Kramer asked. 

"Next question," Adams said.

Kramer persisted, following the mayor as he left by a back door.

"Mr. Mayor, can we just ask you one question?" Kramer asked.

"We are straight ahead. All of that was answered last week. We're not doing that again. We're not doing reruns. Stay focused, no distractions and grind," Adams said. 

It's a two-person race, Andrew Cuomo says

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is insisting it doesn't matter whether Adams says he's running or not, suggesting that no matter how many people are on the ballot, it's still a mano-a-mano contest between him and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic frontrunner.

"We'll see what happens with Eric Adams, but in reality, for voters, there are going to be two viable candidates who can win. It's going to me and Mamdani," Cuomo said. "And you could not have a more stark choice because Mamdani is a socialist. I am a Democrat. And we haven't even gotten to the discussion of what a socialist really means in New York."

Over the weekend, Mamdani claimed Cuomo is President Trump's pick, but Cuomo pushed back on CNBC, claiming Republicans want Mamdani to win.

"If Mamdani wins let's just call it Mayor Trump. He would take over New York City," Cuomo said.

As Cuomo continues to say the race will ultimately come down to him and Mamdani, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa is saying not so fast.

"I am the candidate who will beat Zohran Mamdani and return safe streets, affordable neighborhoods, and competent government to our city," Sliwa said in a statement to CBS News New York.

Mamdani takes questions at Columbia University forum

Mamdani kicked off the first in a series of public forums at Columbia University. The conversation was focused on public safety, political leadership and community priorities.

Columbia said all of the candidates were invited to participate in their own forum, and Sliwa agreed to an event set for Oct. 6.

"Leadership is not about clinging to the old playbook. It's about recognizing when the playbook needs to change," Mamdani posted on social media Monday morning.

Mamdani also responded to charges from NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch that Albany bail reform caused an increase in crime.

"My opinion, crime went up as a result of the drastic changes we made in our criminal justice laws in New York state," Tisch said.

Mamdani blamed it on how the law was implemented.

"About two-thirds of the amount of money that was allotted still remains unspent in Albany, and that is money that was critical," Mamdani said. 

Mamdani campaigns with Sen. Bernie Sanders in Brooklyn

With less than two months to Election Day, the race is capturing the attention of voters and politicians nationwide, including Mr. Trump.

Over the weekend, Mamdani joined Sen. Bernie Sanders for a town hall in Brooklyn. The state assemblyman focused on affordability while calling out his biggest opponent.

"Partnership is critically important in fighting back against Donald Trump. Can you imagine Andrew Cuomo working together with Tish James and Kathy Hochul to fight back against the deployment?" Mamdani said. "Why would he fight back when it's Donald Trump that's trying to get him elected right now?"

Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Mamdani in the June primary. Now, the democratic socialist has yet to earn the endorsement of Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The governor was asked over the weekend if she could give a timeline for her decision.

"No, there's been so much speculation about what I'm going to do," she said, adding, "Whomever is the mayor of New York, I need them to work with me.

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