With Mayor Eric Adams’s political future shrouded in uncertainty, the New York attorney general, Letitia James, is considering whether to run to replace him, according to five people familiar with her thinking.

Ms. James views her potential candidacy as a way of helping New York City recover from the crisis unfolding under Mr. Adams, according to people who have spoken with her.

Her decision is far from assured and is not imminent; some close to her stressed her ambivalence, if not reluctance. But Ms. James might be swayed to run if a different sullied political leader enters the race: the former governor she helped push out of office, Andrew M. Cuomo.

Ms. James, who would become the city’s first female mayor, has discussed a potential candidacy with multiple civic leaders, according to several people close to her. She has expressed concern that voters could elect Mr. Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 after a report from her office found that he had sexually harassed current and former employees.

Ms. James has said in private that if she were to run for mayor, she would prefer that other prominent Democrats step aside and allow her a clearer path to victory. There are indications that some candidates would consider doing so.

Delaney Kempner, a spokeswoman for Ms. James, declined to comment on whether she might run for mayor, noting in a statement that Ms. James was busily engaged in a multistate effort to help Vice President Kamala Harris defeat Donald J. Trump. Ms. Kempner added that Ms. James had “delivered more for New Yorkers than any other attorney general, and she is focused on continuing that work to protect our communities.”