After a brief and controversial run for the House of Representatives, Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday that he is giving up on his Congressional aspirations.
De Blasio said on Twitter that he was quitting “electoral politics” completely, putting an end to both his time as mayor and his failed bid for the presidency in 2020.
De Blasio has barely 3% of the support of people in the 10th Congressional District of New York, according to a recent survey.
‘I’ve listened really carefully to people. And it’s clear to me that when it comes to this Congressional district, people are looking for another option,’ de Blasio said in a video message. ‘And I respect that.’
‘I just want to say, I love the people of this city. I really want to keep serving, and I’m going to find a different way to serve.’
He did not elaborate on what that would be but said his campaign for the House of Representatives had been an ‘amazing journey’ and thanked his small base of support.
‘Even though this is not going to work out, I hope you know how much I appreciate you, and we are going to do a lot together to make this city better in the future,’ de Blasio said.
The unpopular progressive conceded that he ‘made mistakes’ and said he wants to ‘do better in the future.’
De Blasio described his political career, which has been distinguished by a barrage of negative press and unanimity among organizations that would otherwise disagree with one other, as a “humbling experience occasionally.”
However, he added, it had also been a positive experience. Bottom line: I’m genuinely overwhelmed with thankfulness today.
De Blasio remarked, “I feel New York City in my heart and soul, I truly do, and I’m really thankful,” his voice trembling a little from emotion.
Only a few weeks after a presidential campaign event the former mayor conducted in Iowa that attracted only approximately 15 people, his final campaign for federal office ended in September 2020.
The recently established 10th district of New York encompasses both downtown Manhattan and the Brooklyn boroughs of Dumbo, Red Hook, and Park Slope.
De Blasio launched his campaign in May, but according to several surveys, he did not stand out from the more than a dozen other contenders, who all had different levels of name recognition and educational credentials.
De Blasio polls second-to-last among the top eight contenders in the progressive Working Families Party (WFP) survey, which was issued on Tuesday, with just 3% of the vote.
Yuh-Line Niou, a member of the New York State Assembly and a WFP supporter, and Carlina Rivera, a councilwoman from New York City, tied for first place with 16 percent of the vote.
Attorney Daniel Goldman, a Democrat, placed in last place with 10% of the vote. When the House Democrats first attempted to impeach Donald Trump, Goldman acted as their chief attorney.
Nearly 4 out of 10 locals surveyed were still unsure.
Mondaire Jones, a current House representative, is also running for the open Congressional seat, but so far, various surveys have shown that he does not have the necessary 10 percent of the vote.
Jones formerly served the state’s 17th Congressional District, which encompasses the lower Hudson Valley and a portion of Westchester, just outside of New York City.
The recently redistricted boundaries of his current district would have forced him into a fiercely contested run against fellow progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman, which is why he is moving to the 10th.
House Judiciary Chair and veteran House Representative Jerry Nadler previously represented the 10th District, but he is stepping down to compete for the new 13th District, which covers his Upper West Side neighborhood.
By doing this, Nadler sets up a historic showdown between himself and Rep. Carolyn Maloney, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, in which both men are seasoned senior lawmakers from the same party.
Additionally, the vacancy has created a power gap that Goldman, Jones, and other candidates are vying to fill.