Former Rep. Michael McMahon (D-N.Y.) is looking at running for his old seat, currently held by embattled Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.).
{mosads}McMahon said that he will give “serious consideration” to running for his old seat shortly before Grimm pleaded guilty to tax evasion on Tuesday, though he wasn’t rushing to make a decision.
“Here in New York, we are really broken-hearted about these officers who’ve been killed, and that’s everyone’s main focus,” McMahon told Roll Call, referring to the pair of New York City police officers who were killed over the weekend. “It’s not something that I’m ruling out or ruling in, but it will get serious consideration after we mourn our tragic losses here.”
McMahon served one term in Congress, defeating a different scandal-plagued Republican in 2008 before narrowly losing to Grimm in the 2010 GOP wave election. Democrats suffered a stinging loss, when they failed to take out Grimm, despite his legal troubles last month. They are hoping that this time, they can win back the Republican-leaning Staten Island seat whether Grimm ends up serving out his term or whether he is forced from office.
Grimm said after he pleaded guilty that he wasn’t planning on resigning his seat, though it’s unclear whether he’ll face pressure from Republican leadership to leave. If he resigns, the seat will be filled in a special election.
McMahon said he’s been “getting a lot of calls” about running.