Sen. Al Franken Alan (Al) Stuart FrankenGOP Senate candidate says Trump, Republicans will surprise in Minnesota Peterson faces fight of his career in deep-red Minnesota district Getting tight — the psychology of cancel culture MORE (D-Minn.) says he once urged David Letterman to run for Congress, but the former “Late Show” host didn’t want to trade late night for lawmaking.

“I tried to get him to run for senator in Indiana last time,” Franken told ITK over the weekend at the Kennedy Center in Washington, where Letterman was being honored as the 20th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recipient.

But Franken — a “Saturday Night Live” alum — said Letterman declined any turn to politics because “he wanted to enjoy himself.”

The comedic pair, who are friends, teamed up earlier this year to talk about climate change in Franken’s “Boiling the Frog” video series on Funny or Die.

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“He would make a very good senator,” Franken told us of the ex-CBS funnyman, who stepped down from hosting duties in 2015.

“He’s incredibly smart, he’s an incredibly decent guy. I think he understands regular people, the average guy. And I think that’s what made him so appealing,” said Franken, 66.

“He’s one of the hosts of the late-night show, and it wasn’t about ‘we went to this party and hobnobbed with Jay-Z.’ No, he’s a regular guy and that’s what I like about David.”

While a Senate run sounds like a no-go, ITK wondered if Letterman could be eyeing another public office. Asked if there will ever be a Sen. Letterman or President Letterman, the longtime TV host quipped, “I think both, frankly.”

Letterman, a frequent President Trump critic, deadpanned, “I'm 70. I'm still in my prime.”

And will Franken attempt to sway Letterman toward a Senate bid again?

“I understand him well enough to not waste my time,” Franken replied with a smile.

Asked which Democrat has the best shot at winning the White House in 2020, Franken — who’s knocked down talk that he might make a presidential run — said, “I have too many friends that I think may be running, so I’m not gonna say that.”