Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces run for Congress

May 20 (UPI) -- Bill de Blasio, who served as New York City's 109th mayor from 2014 to 2021, has announced his run for Congress, the Democratic politician said Friday.

De Blasio, 61, plans to run in New York's newly drawn 10th Congressional District, which covers Lower Manhattan and much of Brooklyn, including his Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope.

"I'm ready right now to serve and address the issues that are so deep in communities in Brooklyn and Manhattan," he said in an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," NBC News reported.

"Polls show people are hurting, they need help, they need help fast, they need leaders that can actually get them help now," de Blasio said. "I know how to do it from years of serving the people of this city."

In 2020, the two-term mayor lost a bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. De Blasio reportedly had considered running for governor, according to CNN.

Looking back on his accomplishments as New York's mayor, de Blasio pointed to his team's reduction in income inequality and helping provide free, full-day education for New York City 3-year-olds.

The Democratic primary was rescheduled for Aug. 23 from its original June date to allow for the new congressional map to be implemented.