NYC Council GOP leader Joe Borelli eyes mayoral run if Adams resigns

With federal investigators swarming Mayor Adams’ administration, the New York City Council’s top Republican is eyeing a run for mayor, The Post has learned.

Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) has told confidantes he’ll campaign for mayor should the embattled Eric Adams resign before his term is up at the end of next year, sources said.

“Given the rapidly changing political landscape, he is very concerned, as are many New Yorkers, that the next election might just be a race to see who can go the furthest left, and the public shouldn’t stand for that,” said a source close to Borelli, 42.

If Adams resigns before his term expires, a nonpartisan special election would be held. Candidates would not face primary contests, and would appear on the ballot without party affiliation.

Borelli isn’t interested in going head to head against Adams in the 2025 general election, where he’d be a huge underdog in a city where Dems outnumber Republicans more than seven to one, sources said.

However, a nonpartisan election could give Borelli more of a puncher’s chance as the top conservative in the race because he’d likely benefit from a large slate of lefties also running and splitting the Democratic vote.

Comptroller Brad Lander, ex-Comptroller Scott Stringer, Queens Sen. Jessica Ramos and Brooklyn Sen. Zellnor Myrie head a long list of Dems who’ve already declared their candidacy, smelling blood with Adams’ campaign also facing plummeting voter-approval ratings.

“I think in a crowded field, with ranked choice voting and no shortage of progressive candidates jumping in the race, there is a path for someone who can consolidate Republicans and conservative Democrats, like Joe,” said a Republican insider.

“I think Joe could win a citywide special election.”

Democratic insiders scoffed, pointing out Borelli lost a 2019 citywide bid for public advocate by a nearly five to one margin to lefty victor Jumaane Williams.

“Joe’s name recognition has improved [since then], but there’s just too many Democrats in the city who would not cross party lines,” said a top NYC Democratic operative.

A moderate Dem who routinely angers his party’s far-left faction by sometimes siding with Borelli and Republicans on public-safety and other policy issues, Adams is under fire over ongoing federal investigations into his 2021 campaign fundraising and members of his inner circle and other allies.

The mayor has claimed he’s not the target of any investigation — and insisted his administration and campaign committee are fully cooperating with federal authorities.

On Tuesday, he said he is “committed” to completing his term and then seeking re-election, but the mayor refused to say whether he’d resign if slapped with criminal charges.

“I’m not going to deal with hypotheticals,” he told reporters.

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban on Thursday resigned under pressure from City Hall, a week after his electronic devices were seized by federal agents as part of a sweeping corruption probe into potential influence peddling and other wrongdoing.

Borelli declined comment.