There’s a revolt brewing in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s political base.
Black church leaders are so furious at some of de Blasio’s policies that they’re actively looking for a candidate to run against him in 2017 — and leading their list is popular Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
Pastors told The Post on Thursday they’re steamed over de Blasio’s handling of the NYPD, for not providing enough city contracts to minority-run businesses and for tilting affordable-housing policies toward developers.
“There’s a lot of displeasure with de Blasio,” said the Rev. Johnnie Green of Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem. “In all of the political circles in the black community, there is a constant discussion about the failures of the de Blasio administration.”
He added, “We are looking for a suitable candidate to run against de Blasio next time around.”
Green, who heads the 350-church Mobilizing Preachers and Communities, said the group’s members are clamoring for a Jeffries run.
“Jeffries is approachable. He listens to the concerns of the people,” Green said.
Black voters were key in ushering de Blasio into City Hall and remain the core of his political base.
A May 12 Quinnipiac University poll found 44 percent of voters citywide thought de Blasio was doing a good job. But among black voters, the figure was 68 percent — precisely double that of white voters.
Political analysts say a challenge from a credible, liberal black candidate such as Jeffries would be a political nightmare for de Blasio.
“The biggest threat the mayor could face is a progressive African-American in a Democratic primary,” said political consultant Hank Sheinkopf.
“His problem is the left — not the right or the center.”
When asked if Jeffries might run against de Blasio, campaign adviser Cathy Toren responded:
“Congressman Jeffries is singularly focused on vigorously representing the hardworking people of Brooklyn and Queens in the 8th Congressional District. Nothing more and nothing less.”
Asked again specifically if Jeffries “has ruled out running for mayor,” she emailed: “No interest.”
Jeffries, 44, represents parts of Brooklyn and Queens, and was regarded as a “political heavyweight” even as a state assemblyman before he got into Congress in 2013.
The Rev. Calvin Butts of the Abyssinian Baptist Church denied widespread rumors that he’s behind a draft-Jeffries movement.
But he described dealing with the de Blasio administration as “frustrating” and acknowledged that several other elected officials have approached him about a leadership change at City Hall.
“People have come to see me to talk about the future of our city,” Butts said. “I’m not prepared to say who they are because they’ve come to me in confidence.”
Other names circulating as potential challengers to de Blasio are Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Public Advocate Letitia James and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
But Jeffries is regarded as the most viable.
“Hakeem Jeffries stands out,” said the Rev. Carl Washington of the Harlem-based new Mount Zion Church. “But he’s not looking. He’s being approached.”
@NewYorkPost
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