New York City Comptroller Brad Lander officially announced Tuesday that he is challenging Mayor Eric Adams in next year’s Democratic primary.

The left-leaning Lander, who won a heated comptroller race in 2021, the same year the mayor was elected, declared his candidacy in a campaign video that took aim at Adams.

“Nothing can replace New York City but we can replace a leader when they fail the basic test of the job,” Lander says in the video.

In an interview with The Post, Lander added: “I’ve learned a lot about what makes the city run better and delivered results from the comptroller’s office.”

“I think it’s a critical moment for the city’s future on those key issues of affordable housing, quality of life, the mental health crisis and street homelessness and that’s why I’m running,” he said.

The former Brooklyn councilman will pitch himself to New Yorkers as a more effective manager than the incumbent mayor as he aims to successfully make the leap to Gracie Mansion.

He tried to dismiss possible concerns from voters over picking a progressive Democrat as the city continues to endure a spike in crime after coming out of the pandemic.

“I don’t think this is a moment in New York City of ideology or lane, this is a moment of delivering results on safety, affordability and quality of life,” Lander, 55, told The Post.

He vowed to end street homelessness, and also said he’d been talking with NYPD’s former chief of department, Ken Corey, about how to run the police force more effectively. 

In one of the worst-kept secrets in New York City politics, Lander jumped in the race as other potential candidates are exploring runs against Adams, including lefty state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, former city comptroller Scott Stringer and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.

Just last month, Lander was telling key donors he was running and his announcement would be coming in July, sources said.

The already crowded field of candidates is also anxiously awaiting to see if ex-governor Andrew Cuomo will use the primary as his return to public life. 

Cuomo paid a polling firm nearly $80,000 this year to test his popularity for a political comeback – including a possible run for mayor, The Post reported this month.

Adams has faced woeful approval ratings in recent months as the city deals with an ongoing migrant crisis and as a federal investigation looms over his campaign. 

But his camp doesn’t see Lander as much of a threat, unlike Cuomo who is believed to be able to peel away Adams voters, according to sources with knowledge of the campaign. Other political pundits privately told The Post that Lander has a shot at unseating Adams, but it was a risky move to challenge the party’s incumbent.    

Lander’s move opens the door for Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine to make his expected bid for comptroller in a race that also counts Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, an Adams ally.

The other political domino to fall would be council member Keith Powers, who is term-limited, to announce his run for Manhattan borough president.

Both of which are expected to happen in the coming days, sources said. 

Lander, who served as Brooklyn councilman before his current gig, has been an oft critic of Adams’ administration since the two took their citywide offices.

“Nothing can replace New York City but we can replace a leader when they fail the basic test of the job,” Lander said in the nearly two-minute video taking aim at the sitting mayor.

“It’s time for strong experienced leadership that delivers real results, time to deliver fairness and safety to build a more affordable, livable city.”

The mayor declined to comment on Lander’s announcement, telling reporters during his off-topic press conference that he was focused on getting Vice President Kamala Harris elected president in November. 

Adams’ supporters rallied to his side after Lander unveiled his bid.

“The mayor’s record is excellent: lower crime, more jobs, historic investments in housing and child care,” said Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference. “We should all be focused on electing the first black woman president, not attacking the second black mayor.”

The Democratic mayoral primary will take place next June.