Former state Sen. Kevin de León is looking to shift his political base of operations to Los Angeles City Hall, by seeking the Eastside council seat being vacated by Councilman Jose Huizar.

De León, who waged an unsuccessful bid to unseat Sen. Dianne Feinstein in November, said Monday he intends to continue on his “path of public service” by running to replace Huizar, who is being forced out by term limits.

With Monday’s campaign announcement, De León instantly becomes the most high-profile person to run in Huizar’s district, which stretches from downtown and Boyle Heights to Eagle Rock. The campaign has already picked up endorsements from nearly two dozen elected officials in the L.A. area, including three on the council: Curren Price, Paul Koretz and Mitch O’Farrell.

De León, 52, served in the Legislature — first in the Assembly, then in the Senate, where he was president — from 2006 until last year. During that period, he represented all or a portion of Huizar’s district, securing funding for parks, environmental cleanup initiatives and housing for homeless Angelenos. “It would be an absolute honor to continue that work at the local level,” he said.

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