Exclusive | NYC Mayor Adams weighing Hail Mary play thatll let him run on GOP line if he loses Dem primary: sources

Mayor Eric Adams has been exploring a far-reaching “Hail Mary” political play that could see him claw back his seat at City Hall if shunned by the Dems by running as a Republican — without him actually having to desert his own party, The Post has learned.Hizzoner has had several conversations in recent weeks about utilizing a state law that would essentially grant him a waiver to run on the GOP line in the general election should he lose the Democratic primary in June, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.“It’s a Hail Mary in case he doesn’t get the primary nod,” one city Republican official said Thursday.Under the state’s Wilson-Pakula law, a majority of the city’s five GOP county committees would essentially have to grant Adams permission to appear as their mayoral candidate on the Republican ballot — even though he would still remain a Democrat.

Adams has insisted he has zero plans to switch parties ahead of the mayoral race, telling the Post: “I am not running as a Republican.”But the embattled mayor has been either speaking to or trying to arrange meetings with multiple GOP officials to try and line up support if his own party chooses to back another candidate in an already crowded primary race, the sources said.Adams started weighing the potential escape hatch option as doubts swirled about his future at City Hall amid his historic federal corruption case and dismal polling that show him trailing others — notably ex-Gov.Andrew Cuomo, who hasn’t even officially thrown his hat in the ring, according to sources.While some Republican power brokers are likely to balk at embracing a longtime Dem over one of their own, sources said county bosses would likely play ball if President Trump told them to get on board with an Adams alliance.

“It’s going to take an act of the presidency,” one GOP official said, adding, “And even then it’s not sure.”Another political pundit said the move would require tactful poli...