Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan says he'll run for the congressional seat vacated by Michael Grimm, who pleaded guilty last month to tax fraud.
Donovan made the announcement in a statement Friday, saying he'll be seeking the endorsements of the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties in the special election for the 11th congressional district of New York.
Donovan said "the enthusiasm for my candidacy has only broadened and intensified, with expressions of support also from beyond the two boroughs" after he publicly announced last week that he was considering running for the seat.
Grimm resigned effective Jan. 5, saying he felt he could no longer be "100 percent effective in the next Congress" after he pleaded guilty in December to aiding in the filing of a false tax return.
He was re-elected to his Staten Island seat in November, even though he was under indictment.
Donovan, a longtime prosecutor with more than 25 years of public service experience who has co-authored legislation with Grimm, was slammed across the city after the grand jury he convened failed to indict a police officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner.
But he has maintained widespread support in his borough over the years, and two GOP sources said the party would likely unite behind Donovan.
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Former Rep. Michael McMahon, a Democrat who represented the 13th Congressional District, and Republican State Sen. Andrew Lanza are among others considered to be possible candidates.
Typically, Gov. Cuomo would have 30 days to announce a special election, which would be held up to 60 days after that. New York City Board of Elections Director Michael Ryan said a special election would cost $960,000 if it were held on a date when another election was not being held.
-Andrew Siff contributed to this report
