De Blasio Wants To Rep Staten Island, Park Slope: Report

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — His chance to make the announcement in a Groundhog Day return to the Staten Island Zoo may have passed, but Bill de Blasio's congressional dreams are very much alive, according to reports.

What began as a joke with the news of a newly-mapped Park Slope congressional district earlier this week has turned out to be true: the former mayor and returned Park Sloper is considering a run for Congress in District 11, the New York Post first reported.

The bid would mean a Democratic primary challenge against Max Rose, who lost in 2020 to U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, New York City's only Republican representative in the legislature.

Malliotakis' Staten Island district would expand to include Park Slope, Sunset Park and other parts of Brooklyn under the redistricting plan, which analysts noted likely means the seat will return to the Democrats. The redistricting is awaiting a signature from Gov. Kathy Hochul.

De Blasio's dream of returning to elected office did not sit well with the party who drew the new district lines, according to the Post.

“The Democratic Party is not happy about this. The last thing they want is a primary race where money is wasted and there is mudslinging,” a source told the outlet. “However, no one is surprised because de Blasio never listens to anyone.”

Rose himself, who has called de Blasio "the worst mayor in the history of New York City," wasn't impressed by the idea either.

“De Blasio running against me (swear this isn’t a joke),” he reportedly said in an email to supporters. “...I know, I laughed at first too, but the implications aren’t funny.”

The idea had, in fact, started as a joke.

"BREAKING: Bill de Blasio set to announce his #NY11 congressional run tomorrow, February 2nd, at the Staten Island Zoo," a Radio Free Bay Ridge host Tweeted on Tuesday.

New Yorkers didn't hold back in their reply to the Tweet, and to the news on Thursday.

"That's cute," one person replied to Thursday's report.

"Groundhog vote could be pivotal," said another. "But people are saying new lines may gerrymander zoo out of district."