WASHINGTON — Former Long Island congressman and recent inmate George Santos has done something four days out of prison that Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer still have not — endorse a New York City mayoral candidate.

Announcing Tuesday that he backs former Gov. Andrew Cuomo over Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, Santos posted on X, “I pray that God will illuminate the mind” of Republican Curtis Sliwa to “step aside and work with Cuomo to save NYC from Marxism/sharia disaster.”

Santos’ endorsement comes as Jeffries, the House Minority Leader, and Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, both from New York, have for weeks dodged questions on whether they will endorse Mamdani, a self-described Democratic socialist. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) — the successor to Santos’ Long Island-Queens congressional seat — has declined to endorse and is one of Mamdani’s biggest critics within the Democratic Party.

But the Republican Santos — styling himself as a political uniter — said it’s time to come together against Mamdani.

“It’s time to put our personal needs aside and unite to the greater good of the largest city in the country,” Santos wrote. “@andrewcuomo extend an offer of partnership to Curtis and form a coalition to save NYC.”

But within two hours, after being hit with some social media blow-back, Santos pleadingly posted another message on X, “Please don’t shoot me down and educate me on what I’ve missed.”

Santos noted that, “Clearly, I’ve been out of the picture and I am very aware that Cuomo is a horrible person,” but said his decision in making the endorsement was based on polling that he was reading. He is referring to polls that show the Mamdani’s leads over Cuomo in the race would be narrowed with Sliwa out of the picture.

“Love you all and let’s have a solid and good conversation on this,” Santos wrote. “The one bad thing I think we all agree on is Mamdani is BAD for NYC.” 

President Donald Trump commuted Santos’ prison term on Friday, allowing his release only 3 months into a 7-year sentence for wire fraud and identify theft.

Jeffries said last week in a meeting with Newsday and other outlets that he plans to make known his thoughts on the mayoral race before the start of early voting, which begins on Saturday in New York City. Jeffries has since reiterated that in interviews and press conferences, including on Monday, but has not said exactly when.