A New York City vendor who alerted police to an attempted car bombing in Times Square is running for Congress.

Duane Jackson said Tuesday that his brush with terrorism in 2010 taught him that it made sense to get involved.

He's seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Nan Hayworth in his home district north of the city.

On May 1, 2010, Jackson was hawking handbags when he and another vendor spotted an idling and abandoned SUV in a no-parking zone. They notified police.

Inside was a potentially powerful bomb that authorities say might have begun to detonate but didn't explode.

A grateful President Barack Obama called Jackson to thank him.

Jackson is a 59-year-old Navy veteran. He says he has 15 years of experience in city planning and housing.