G.N.Miller/NYPost
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams – next in line to become mayor if Eric Adams is ousted – is putting heat on Comptroller Brad Lander to drop his own mayoral bid, sources told The Post.
Williams doesn’t plan on running against the indicted Adams in next year’s Democratic mayoral primary, but he’s been telling allies, including Lander, he won’t give up being mayor without a fight if the job is handed to him before then, according to multiple insiders.
“There’s no chance Lander runs if Jumaane runs,” predicted a top NYC Democratic campaign operative. “Jumaane is trying to get him to drop out, and I think Brad is starting to understand – even though he’s not happy about it — that he will have to step [aside] if Adams resigns and there’s a special election.”
Under the City Charter, the public advocate automatically takes over as mayor if Adams resigns or is removed from office. In such a scenario, a nonpartisan special election would be called 80 days after Williams’ temporary designation to decide who serves out the remainder of Adams’ term, which expires at the end of 2025.
Lander’s mayoral campaign banks heavily on the same socialist and far-left Democratic base, including the Working Families Party, that is loyal to Williams and would side with the public advocate if he runs for mayor, sources said.
State Attorney General Tish James is fielding calls from some top Dems to run for mayor and also taps into the same political base, but insiders said it’s a longshot she runs, especially if Williams is interim mayor.
Reps for Lander didn’t return messages. However, a Williams spokesman said the “public advocate is focused on his current role and, as previously stated, is ready to do what is needed to maintain the continuity of government in any eventuality and continues to work in partnership with Comptroller Lander.”
Democratic Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, according to multiple sources, is also among a long list of high-profile candidates expected to run for mayor if Adams leaves office early.
Cuomo, who’s eying a political comeback after resigning in 2021 amid a slew of sexual misconduct claims that he denies, would likely pick up much of Adams’ moderate Democratic base. A Cuomo candidacy would make it imperative for the party’s far-left wing to coalesce around Williams, Lander or James, political pundits said.
If Lander scraps his mayoral campaign, it’s all but a given he’d seek re-election as comptroller in 2025, which would then affect multiple Democratic primaries next year.
For instance, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan are planning to run for comptroller. But that’s unlikely if Lander runs, sources said.
Adams has said he plans to fight his pending federal corruption charges and seek a second term.