Recent Presidential Candidate, Andrew Yang, announced Wednesday night on Twitter that he would be running for New York City Mayor this November.
What We Know:
- Yang, who was not particularly known before his candidacy for President in the 2020 race, quickly gained supporters, who deemed themselves the “Yang Gang,” who helped him raise $40 million over the course of his campaign.
I moved to New York City 25 years ago. I came of age, fell in love, and became a father here. Seeing our City in so much pain breaks my heart.
Let’s fight for a future New York City that we can be proud of – together. Join us at https://t.co/TGnxwuBiHB pic.twitter.com/n9zxPybgbh
— Andrew Yang🧢🗽🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) January 14, 2021
- At the new candidate’s kick-off rally in Upper Manhattan, Yang fired up his supporters by promising to “revive” a city stricken by the coronavirus and introducing newly-elected Rep. Ritchie Torres as a co-chair on his campaign, as reported by CNN News. This endorsement is quite impressive as Yang has virtually no political office experience.
- “I’m running for mayor for a very simple reason,” Yang told a group of supporters in Upper Manhattan. “I see a crisis and believe that I can help.” Yang’s campaign platform seems to reflect that of his presidential campaign, including a localized version of the “Universal Basic Income” idea that was at the center of his presidential candidacy.
- Another part of his campaign includes making New York “fun again” by creating a plan to make the city more affordable for local artists and creative types. “Our administration would also work to attract content creator collectives, such as TikTok Hype Houses, where young artists collaborate. We need to help create similar artist collectives that utilize new technologies,” states his campaign website. On the same note, he also proposes the notion of creating a “Deputy Mayor of Entertainment, Nightlife, and Culture.”
- Despite entering the race on an exciting note, after the rally on Thursday, Yang was hit with criticism following a report by Politico, who revealed Yang had left the city for his second home in New Paltz as New York City faced one of the worst days regarding Covid cases.
- In response to the report, Yang spoke to The New York Times in an interview that many believe made him appear out-of-touch with the middle class. He responded, “We live in a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. And so, like, can you imagine trying to have two kids in a virtual school in a two-bedroom apartment, and then trying to do work yourself?”
The 2021 New York City Mayoral race will decide who will fill Mayor Bill de Blasio’s seat as he will be term-limited out of office.
