Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced he will not seek a House seat after considering a congressional run.
“I’ve represented the neighborhoods of the 11th CD for years and I love the people who live here. It was gratifying to connect with community and elected leaders while I considered a run. I’m certain a progressive can win this seat and serve us in Washington,” De Blasio wrote in a tweet on Tuesday.
In his brief Twitter thread, De Blasio said he would instead focus on advocating for policies that will help drive down income inequality in the state.
De Blasio concluded his term as New York City’s mayor last month, with Mayor Eric Adams (D) taking the reins in the new year.
“Back in January, I made a decision to focus on advocating for policies that would continue to drive down income inequality in New York — one of my proudest achievements. I’m going to stick with that decision — it was the right one then and it remains so,” De Blasio wrote.
Reports earlier this month of De Blasio’s potential run prompted a response from his would-be primary opponent, former Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.), who is vying for the old seat he lost to sitting Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) in 2020.
“Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has never been my biggest fan, but now he might be my primary opponent,” Rose wrote at the time. “I know, I laughed at first too, but the implications aren’t funny.”
A new congressional district map, signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), will ensure that Democrats will have a strong majority of registered voters in 22 of the state’s 26 congressional districts by 2023.