Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says he's running for Congress

• Former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio announced he's running for Congress.
• He will run to represent parts of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday he's running for Congress, pouncing on an opportunity created by the state's new redistricting maps.

"The polls show 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," he told MSNBC's Morning Joe.

"I do know how to do it from years of serving the people of this city," he continued. "And so today, I'm declaring my candidacy for Congress in the 10th congressional district of New York."

—Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) May 20, 2022

Days earlier, De Blasio announced he'd formed an exploratory committee for the seat, often seen as a precursor to a candidate's official declaration. New York's newly drawn 10th district, which was previously occupied by Rep. Jerry Nadler, will now encompass parts of Lower Manhattan and the tonier neighborhoods of western Brooklyn.

De Blasio departed the mayor's office in 2021, due to term limits. He was first elected in 2013, beating out a chaotic Democratic field that included former Rep. Anthony Weiner.

When he entered the mayor's office, he enjoyed a wave of liberal support. New Yorkers were hungry for a departure from billionaire entrepreneur Mike Bloomberg, who held office as an Independent and controversially arm-twisted the city council into allowing him to run for a third term.

But even though de Blasio accomplished his signature campaign promise, establishing free universal pre-kindergarten for New York City children, he remained unpopular with New Yorkers.

Constituent's distaste stemmed less from de Blasio's policy accomplishments and more from his perceived personal failings: a rrecurring issue with tardiness; a diminished presence at City Hall; an insistence on working out at his favorite gym in Brooklyn, far from the mayor's residence in Manhattan; his bitter relationship with the press.

Before deciding to run for Congress, de Blasio reportedly also considered running for governor of New York, after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was forced to step down due to multiple accusations of sexual harassment and was replaced by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. But polls showed Hochul leading the Democratic field and de Blasio trailing far behind in fifth — behind even Cuomo, who had left office amid major scandal.

This is not de Blasio's first attempt to seek federal office. In 2020, he was one of nearly 30 Democratic candidates to throw their hats into the presidential primary He dropped out in September of 2019, months before the party held its first primary.