ALBANY — Former Gov. David Paterson says he may run for Congress if Rep. Charles Rangel retires.

But Paterson also made a case for recruiting a younger candidate if his fellow Democrat chooses not to run after more than 40 years in Congress.

Paterson would be 60 if he is elected next year. He said a younger member would have more time to build seniority in Congress, which is critical to amass power.

Rangel didn’t initially respond to a request yesterday for comment on whether he will seek another term representing the Harlem district.

Paterson became governor in 2008, rising from lieutenant governor when Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned because of a prostitution scandal.

Paterson decided not to run for a full term in 2010, when Andrew Cuomo successfully campaigned for governor.