With federal investigators swarming Mayor Adams’ administration, the New York Metropolis Council’s prime Republican is eyeing a run for mayor, The Publish has discovered.
Council Minority Chief Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) has advised confidantes he’ll marketing campaign for mayor ought to the embattled Eric Adams resign earlier than his time period is up on the finish of subsequent yr, sources mentioned.
“Given the quickly altering political panorama, he’s very involved, as are many New Yorkers, that the subsequent election may simply be a race to see who can go the furthest left, and the general public shouldn’t stand for that,” mentioned a supply near Borelli, 42.
If Adams resigns earlier than his time period expires, a nonpartisan particular election could be held. Candidates wouldn’t face main contests, and would seem on the poll with out celebration affiliation.
Borelli isn’t thinking about going face to face towards Adams within the 2025 common election, the place he’d be an enormous underdog in a metropolis the place Dems outnumber Republicans greater than seven to 1, sources mentioned.
Nonetheless, a nonpartisan election might give Borelli extra of a puncher’s likelihood as the highest conservative within the race as a result of he’d possible profit from a big slate of lefties additionally working and splitting the Democratic vote.
Comptroller Brad Lander, ex-Comptroller Scott Stringer, Queens Sen. Jessica Ramos and Brooklyn Sen. Zellnor Myrie head an extended record of Dems who’ve already declared their candidacy, smelling blood with Adams’ marketing campaign additionally dealing with plummeting voter-approval scores.
“I believe in a crowded area, with ranked alternative voting and no scarcity of progressive candidates leaping within the race, there’s a path for somebody who can consolidate Republicans and conservative Democrats, like Joe,” mentioned a Republican insider.
“I believe Joe might win a citywide particular election.”
Democratic insiders scoffed, stating Borelli misplaced a 2019 citywide bid for public advocate by a virtually 5 to 1 margin to lefty victor Jumaane Williams.
“Joe’s identify recognition has improved [since then], however there’s simply too many Democrats within the metropolis who wouldn’t cross celebration traces,” mentioned a prime NYC Democratic operative.
A average Dem who routinely angers his celebration’s far-left faction by generally siding with Borelli and Republicans on public-safety and different coverage points, Adams is below fireplace over ongoing federal investigations into his 2021 marketing campaign fundraising and members of his internal circle and different allies.
The mayor has claimed he’s not the goal of any investigation — and insisted his administration and marketing campaign committee are absolutely cooperating with federal authorities.
On Tuesday, he mentioned he’s “dedicated” to finishing his time period after which looking for re-election, however the mayor refused to say whether or not he’d resign if slapped with prison prices.
“I’m not going to cope with hypotheticals,” he advised reporters.
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban on Thursday resigned below strain from Metropolis Corridor, per week after his digital units have been seized by federal brokers as a part of a sweeping corruption probe into potential affect peddling and different wrongdoing.
Borelli declined remark.
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