Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul told reporters Tuesday she was flattered by the talk of her running for the congressional seat vacated by Republican Chris Collins, who had unseated her in office in 2012.

But she wants to remain the state’s lieutenant governor, she said, and won’t seek the Democratic nod in the race for the district, likely to be decided in a special election to be called by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“I’m going to stay as lieutenant governor,” Hochul said during a stop in western New York at the picket line of striking UAW workers.

“I’ve been honored and flattered by the individuals who have asked me to look at this. But, again, representing the entire state of New York is something that I’ll continue to do because I’m fighting for the men and women of New York and I can have a bigger impact on a larger scale,” Hochul said.

Hochul had last been spoken of as a candidate for Congress a year ago amid rumors Cuomo wanted to replace her on the ticket with New York City Councilman Ritchie Torres. Ultimately, Hochul won her primary challenge against Jumaane Williams, then a Brooklyn Council member and now the city’s public advocate.

“I was just elected in the last year,” she said. “I plan to continue my service there and also remind people that integrity and honesty in government matter.”

Hochul won a previous iteration of the district in 2011, jumping into a special election after the resignation of Rep. Chris Lee, who stepped down after he was found to have posted shirtless photos on Craigslist.

Hochul lost a bid for a full term in a redrawn district against Collins, the former Erie County executive.

Collins pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday two counts related to an insider trading case. Hochul said Collins lied to voters when seeking re-election last year that he had done nothing wrong.

“That’s unconscionable,” she said. “Whether you are a member of Congress or the president of the United States you have to be honest, you have to be truthful, you cannot abuse the power of your position and if you do that you can no longer serve.”