De Blasio announces run for open New York congressional seat

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Former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday announced he is running for a newly open congressional seat in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

“People are hurting. They need help, they need help fast, and they need leaders who can actually get them help now and know how to do it,” de Blasio told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” in an interview.

“I do know how to do it, from years of serving the people of this city,” de Blasio continued. “And so today, I’m declaring my candidacy for Congress in the 10th Congressional District of New York.”

POLITICO previously reported that de Blasio was considering entering the race for New York’s 10th District, which was created by a redistricting plan released on Monday.

The district would cover lower Manhattan, brownstone Brooklyn and the Orthodox Jewish enclave of Borough Park, Brooklyn, according to draft district maps. De Blasio’s announcement on Friday came hours before the new district map lines were set to be officially revealed.

De Blasio, a Democrat, served as New York mayor from 2014 to 2021 and mounted a failed presidential bid in 2020. He opted not to challenge New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Democratic gubernatorial primary this year.