Staten Island Republican District Attorney Dan Donovan — the controversial prosecutor in the Eric Garner chokehold case — is “strongly considering” running for Congress to replace Rep. Michael Grimm, who announced Monday he’s resigning after pleading guilty to tax evasion charges.
In a statement, Donovan said he was “very seriously considering” running.
The congressman announced his resignation effective next Monday after pleading guilty to federal tax-evasion charges.
Donovan immediately became the favorite — and was endorsed by fellow Republicans, including former Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari and City Council GOP leader Vincent Ignizio.
Molinari even said he would run Donovan’s campaign because Donovan “can’t lose.” In the 1990s, the DA served as Molinari’s chief-of-staff at Borough Hall.
Republican Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis has also expressed an interest in running.
On the Democratic side, former Rep. Mike McMahon, who was defeated by Grimm in 2010, is eyeing a return. Assemblyman Mike Cusick was also being mentioned as a possible contender.
But strategists said it would be difficult for any Democrat to take on Donovan, despite a firestorm of criticism that he did not obtain a grand-jury indictment against the officer in the Garner case.
“Donovan is going to be hard to beat. His profile matches the district. This is a very pro-police district,” said political consultant Hank Sheinkopf.
Grimm offered his resignation after getting a phone call from GOP House Speaker John Boehner on Monday.
It will be up to Gov. Cuomo to set a date for a special election.