De Blasio drops out of Congressional race after half the district says they would not for him

Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio withdrew from the crowded field hoping to represent the state’s 10th congressional district on Tuesday evening after dismal polling and fundraising.

The veteran politician made the announcement in a video posted to Twitter, where he said he intends to leave electoral politics and focus on other ways to serve.”

"It's clear to me that when it comes to this congressional district, people are looking for another option and I respect that," De Blasio says in the video.

"I just want to say that I love the people in this city, I really want to keep serving and I'm going to find a different way to serve, but I'm filled with gratitude at the same time," he added.

It’s clear the people of #NY10 are looking for another option and I respect that. Time for me to leave electoral politics and focus on other ways to serve. I am really grateful for all the people I met, the stories I heard and the many good souls who helped out. Thank you all! pic.twitter.com/gpt6V6WLUf

— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) July 19, 2022

De Blasio drops out one day after a poll found that 49% of likely Democratic voters in the 10th House District would “definitely not vote for him” when presented with the names of all the candidates.

The second least popular candidates were tied at a distant 6% – former Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman and Maud Maron, a former Attorney for the Legal Aid Society. 49% marked that they were “open to all candidates.”

U.S. House District 10 was left open following the state’s redistricting chaos, where Democratic efforts to gerrymander districts in their favor was rejected by courts.

The new map, redrawn by special master Jonathan Cervas of Carnegie Melon University, has pit two high-ranking Democrats against one another in its new 12th congressional district – House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, the incumbent, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, who vacated the 10th district seat to run against her.

De Blasio was one of 17 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the 10th; others include Rep. Mondaire Jones, who currently represents the 17th congressional district, and state assemblywoman Yu-Line Niou.

Despite his name recognition, the former mayor was only able to raise only $510,000 for his campaign, reports the New York Post. De Blasio has not found much success outside New York City, withdrawing from the 2020 Democratic presidential primary after failing to gain even 1% of the vote.