Mayor Adams won’t rule out rejoining GOP while facing crowded field of Democrats as he seeks re-election

Mayor Eric Adams on Friday refused to rule out joining the GOP as he readies himself for a re-election bid among a crowded field of Democrats.

The Democratic mayor, who was previously a member of the Republican Party from 1995 through 2002, left things open-ended during two interviews.

“Would you ever consider rejoining the GOP?” Adams was asked during his first sit-down of the day with NY1.

Hizzoner responded, “The party that’s most important for me is the American party.

“I’m a part of the American party. I love this country,” Adams said.

Mayor Eric Adams has hinted that he doesn’t rule out joining the GOP for his re-election bid among a possible crowded field of Democrats wanting to become the next mayor of New York City. Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

When asked during a later interview on Pix11 to clarify his comments, Hizzoner doubled down, saying that no matter what party he is with, he wants to “support American values.”

Still, he indicated that for now, he is staying with the Dems.

“I am going to run for my re-election as a Democrat, but my focus is the America people and the people of New York City, and those who don’t like it, they will cancel me, and I say, ‘Cancel me,’ ” Adams said.

Unlike most Democrats, Adams has avoided criticizing GOP President-elect Trump and has instead talked about working with the incoming White House administration, saying voters want their leaders to “stop squabbling.”

As Trump heads back into the White House, Adams has also praised the cost-cutting agenda of MAGA magnate Elon Musk and said that he wants to work with the Republican to deport migrants who have been accused of crimes.

Adams is expected to sit down with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan next week as the city prepares for a massive shift in its immigration policy.

If Adams switches parties again, he wouldn’t be the first Big Apple mayor to do so.

Adams plans to meet with President-elect Trump’s pick for border czar, Tom Homan, next week as the city prepares for a massive shift in its immigration policy. Getty Images

Michael Bloomberg was a lifelong Dem until 2001, when he became a Republican and ran for mayor.

He then became an independent in 2007 before again registering as a Dem in 2018.

Adams was indicted in September on federal corruption charges and is expected to go on trial in April.

Some pundits have questioned Adams’ alleged pro-GOP motives as a way to win favor with Trump and get a presidential pardon after the president-elect takes office — a notion Hizzoner has repeatedly declined to comment on when asked by The Post.

Democrats running against Adams in the primary in June were quick to respond to his comments Friday.

“Instead of playing footsie with the next President, we need a Mayor with the courage to stand up for our city,” said progressive state Sen. Zellnor Myrie of Brooklyn in a statement.

City Comptroller Brad Lander quipped to voters that he himself has “ruled out switching to the Republican Party.”

Queens state Sen, Jessica Ramos said on X that she is happy the mayor is “finally being honest about being a Republican.

“But then he should just run as one and let the Democrats pick a real leader,” she said, adding that it wouldn’t be the first time she “unseated a Trump Democrat,” referring to the late former state Sen. Jose Peralta.

Meanwhile, Israel foe and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani said Adams’ comments were to “serve his own narrow self-interests.”

Scott Stringer, who is exploring a mayoral run, delivered a barb saying Adams’ legal problems are “literally trumping the priorities of New Yorkers.

“The sad fact of this mayoralty is that a presidential pardon would be considered his greatest accomplishment,” Stringer said.