There have been some notable political comebacks in our country’s history. Richard Nixon lost the 1960 presidential election to John F. Kennedy, but returned to win the White House in 1968. Ronald Reagan lost the 1976 Republican primary to Gerald Ford, but returned in 1980 and decisively defeated Jimmy Carter. And of course, after being ousted from office in 2020 and dealing with endless lawsuits and false criminal charges, Donald Trump celebrated a decisive presidential victory in 2024.
However, when thinking about political comebacks, it’s secure to assume that Anthony Weiner wasn’t a name on your bingo card. But Huma Abedin’s disgraced, sexting ex-husband is still aiming for such a comeback and is seeking a seat in parliament New York City Council.
Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner returned to the political spotlight on Tuesday, officially filing to run for New York City Council.
The 60-year-old, whose sexting scandal more than a decade ago led to an embarrassing exit from public office that culminated in a criminal conviction and prison sentence for sexting a 15-year-old girl, is keeping an eye on the impending sexting scandal directed. The seat in Council District 2 is wide open.
The post serves a handful of neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan.
While Weiner tried to downplay his return as premature, telling The Post it was a “real exploratory committee,” he has already signed up for a speaking spot at a forum Thursday with Downtown Independent Democrats.
If you remember the scandal involving then-Congressman Weiner in 2011 that forced him to resign from the House of Representatives, remember the headlines about Anthony Weiner and all the puns on the former congressman’s unfortunate last name; Decency prevents us from discussing them here, but you can see some examples at the link above to the New York Post story.
Former Carlos Danger is stern about getting back into politics:
Weiner announced his political committee, Weiner 25on Friday at the Campaign Finance Board and later filed for the 2nd District seat.
The seat is currently held by Carlina Rivera, who is term-limited and will retire at the end of 2025. Other candidates have also filed for the position – Sarah Batchu, Harvey D. Epstein, Andrea Gordillo, Jason Murillo and Allison Ryan.
That wouldn’t be the strangest thing you’d expect from New York City.
See related: Huma Abedin reveals who she meets on her Valentine’s Day date in Paris – and you’ve heard this name before
Watch: Anthony Weiner thought it would be a good idea to spice up his novel show on Hannity – but that wasn’t the case
Listen, everyone has the right to take a chance at redemption. I wouldn’t vote for Anthony Weiner, but then I wouldn’t live in New York City; I’ve seen this city myself and I’d rather have my tongue nailed to a wagon wheel every morning before breakfast than live in this giant anthill. But as my grandfather said, every cat has its own rat, and apparently a lot of people like life in the Big Apple. And many of these people vote.
Still, Anthony Weiner has paid off his debt to his society, and we can hope he’s learned his lesson and keeps his… business to himself these days. As long as he meets all of the requirements that the City of New York requires of candidates for the position, he has the right, like anyone else, to pursue his opportunity for redemption.
But boy howdy, do his past actions ever give his political opponents enough to work with?
