CITY HALL -- Fifth-term Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis has filed with the Federal Election Commission signaling a first move in running for Congress in 2020, the former Republican mayoral candidate told the Advance.

Candidates seeking nomination for election or reelection to federal office become a candidate when they receive contributions or make expenses over $5,000 once they are registered with the FEC.

“It is a short period between now and the next election for Congress, it’s a short while away,” Malliotakis said.

She declined to get into the specifics about why she wants to run for Congress, but said that last week she visited Washington, D.C., where she met with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and had a phone call with President Donald Trump about her plans.

Malliotakis said she felt “very encouraged” to run after the conversations she had with McCarthy and Trump.

Malliotakis said she can continue to raise money for both offices, but will have to give up her Assembly seat she has held for nearly a decade at the end of her current term if she decides to continue to pursue her run for Congress.

When she ran against Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2017, the assemblywoman walked away with 70 percent of the vote on Staten Island.

Newly-elected Congressman Max Rose (D-Staten Island) said he could care less who is running for Congress in 2020 because his main focus right now is helping federal workers impacted by the government shutdown.

“I don’t care who’s running against me in two years. Right now I have Coast Guard members and FBI agents who don’t know when they’re going to get paid and they need our help," Rose said. "So that’s my priority. She obviously has a different idea of what’s important because she spent last week in DC building support for her 19th attempt for higher office. I wish her the best of luck.”

BORELLI, GRIMM ALSO CONSIDERING CONGRESSIONAL RUN

Not just Malliotakis, but Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), a Trump surrogate who co-chaired his presidential campaign, said he also plans to head to Washington, D.C. next week to meet with Republican leadership to explore a potential 2020 run for Congress.

Meantime, former Republican congressman and ex-felon Michael Grimm, has also said he leaving the door “wide open” on a 2020 Congressional run.

He said he would try to take back his congressional seat if Rose does not do a good job in his opinion, and only tells constituents what they want to hear.

On Thursday, Grimm took to Facebook to slam Malliotakis' run for Congress.

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