U.S. Rep. Tom Reed. P-J file photo by Jordan W. Patterson

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed said he is not ruling out a possible run for governor in 2022.

Reed, R-Corning, made the comments during a call with local media Wednesday. The congressman first confirmed he was at least contemplating a possible run against Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo in an interview with the Buffalo News in late December.

“We have been approached by numerous people about a candidacy,” Reed told local reporters. “I appreciate that I am being considered — I’m not ruling it out.”

The congressman noted the “one-party control” taking place in Albany, and tied Cuomo to the Democratically-controlled state Assembly and state Senate which have passed a variety of bills in 2019. Some of those bills, including criminal justice reform, have met repeated push back by Chautauqua County officials.

“If I can be part of the effort to take on that one-party control … I will support that,” Reed said.

The Republican was first elected to Congress following a special election in 2010. Prior to that he served as mayor of Corning.

Reed has won reelection to Congress four times since first arriving at Washington. He is currently the co-chairman of the Problem Solvers Caucus.

Cuomo, meanwhile, easily won reelection for a third term as governor in 2018. He already has stated he plans to run for a fourth term in 2022.