Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) is pitching himself as President-elect Donald Trump’s second choice to head the country’s top federal agency for combating drug trafficking and distribution. 

On Saturday evening, Trump nominated Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister to head the Drug Enforcement Administration during his second term. However, Chronister withdrew his name from consideration for the post on Tuesday, leaving the position open for another candidate. 

D’Esposito, who represented New York’s 4th Congressional District for just one term before losing his bid for reelection earlier this month, emerged Wednesday as a top contender to become Trump’s next DEA chief. 

The New York Republican is actively lobbying the Trump team for the position and has been “making calls” to get his name “to the top” of consideration, a source familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner. 

D’Esposito first rose to power during the 2022 elections when he beat Rep.-elect Laura Gillen (D-NY), flipping the New York seat red. 

He became embroiled in controversy this summer after revelations he hired his ex-mistress and fiancee’s daughter to work in a state district office. 

The congressman paid the two women roughly $29,000 in taxpayer funds during their employment, leading to concerns he may have violated ethics rules. D’Esposito vehemently denied any allegations of impropriety.

He campaigned against Gillen for a second rematch this fall during his first race as an incumbent. Ultimately losing his battle for reelection battle by a narrow margin, the opening at the DEA during a second Trump term could spell a political comeback for the single-term lawmaker. 

D’Esposito could face a weightier vetting process from the Trump camp than the initial DEA pick, Chronister, received. 

Although Chronister said he pulled out of the DEA battle of his own volition, a statement from Trump on Wednesday begged to differ. The president-elect appeared to be angry over strict lockdown measures the Florida sheriff had enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic that rose to the surface again after he was nominated to head the health agency. 

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Chronister authorized the arrest of a Florida pastor named Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne during the pandemic for violating his safety standards. 

“He didn’t pull out, I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters,” Trump said of Chronister.