Bill De Blasio Leaves NYC Politics To The Relief (And Joy) Of NYers

BROOKLYN, NY — Bill de Blasio says he's heard New Yorkers loud and clear: they don't want his representation in Congress, or politics at large for that matter.

"I've listened really carefully and it's clear to me that when it comes to this congressional district people are looking for another option and I respect that," the former mayor announced Tuesday, a couple months after announcing his candidacy for the newly-mapped 10th Congressional District.

De Blasio, who is upfront about his unpopularity but has still considered several political bids after leaving Gracie Mansion, took the announcement a step further, saying he's not planning to run for office anymore — period.

"Time for me to leave electoral politics and focus on other ways to serve," he wrote on Twitter, alongside the video announcing his leaving the congressional race.

News of his political exit was celebrated online, where New Yorkers largely reacted with a mix of relief and joy, many saying they were glad he finally got the message they've been sending.

"The entire time you were mayor people were trying to tell you to do better. And if you hadn't waited until you were out of office to *actually speak to and listen to New Yorkers* you might have had better odds at this race," commented journalist Erin Biba.

Longtime sports and political commentator Keith Olbermann put it more succinctly: "Took him five years," he said.

Others used more colorful language, mocking his bid in the first place and hurling insults his way.

New Yorkers, though, haven't seen the last of de Blasio yet, the former mayor promised.

"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 said in the video, seemingly filmed on his Park Slope block (the same place where he announced he would not be running for governor earlier this year).

The announcement that he's leaving the District 10 race comes a day after after a district-wide survey conducted by the Working Families Party showed him in nearly last place among voters.

Earlier in the month he also lost out on the powerful 1199 SEIU endorsement over Council Member Carlina Rivera.

Upon reflection, de Blasio described his congressional bid as "humbling" and "healthy" (a moment that many saw as sincere).

"I made mistakes, I want to do better in the future, I want to learn from those mistakes," he said. "Even though this [congressional race] isn't going to work out.... we're going to do a lot together to make this city better in the future."

The solidly Democratic District 10 seat — encompassing Lower Manhattan and swaths of Brooklyn from Park Slope to Borough Park — doesn't have an incumbent, but has drawn an unusually larger crowd of as many as 15 Democratic contenders, including well-known candidates like U.S. Rep. Mondaire Jones and Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou.

Rivera and Niou (who was endorsed by the Working Families Party) are leading the pack with 16 percent of voters each, according to the political party's survey.