Former Democratic Presidential Nominee Joins Race for NYC Mayor

By Staff, Agencies

Former 2020 US presidential contender Andrew Yang officially threw his hat into the ring to be the next New York City mayor on the Democratic party ticket.

Yang, a native New Yorker, built an ardent grassroots following his attempt to become the Democratic Party’s nominee for the presidency last year with a pledge to create a universal basic income [UBI] that would pay every American $1,000 a month," reported Reuters.

His video campaign message to New Yorkers ran along similar lines. As he travels around New York City in the footage, Yang outlines proposals for the city to take back control of its subway, which is currently operated by the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

In addition, the former presidential nominee calls for the creation of a citywide universal basic income in which he envisions that up to 500,000 New Yorkers would receive $2,000 to $5,000 per year.

“I am running for mayor because I see a crisis - and I believe I can help,” Yang said in a message posted on his campaign website.

He joins a crowded field as more than two dozen people have already officially registered with the city's Campaign Finance Board.

Registered Democrats will vote for their nominee on June 22, 2021 primary, ahead of the general election on November 2.

"Last month, a poll from Education Reform Now Advocacy New York showed Yang as the leading candidate with 17 percent of the support from those polled, narrowly ahead of Adams, who had 16 percent," according to Forbes.

No other candidate had more than 7 percent support, but the poll found 40 percent either undecided or supporting a minor candidate.

Incumbent NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio is ineligible to run as he has reached his term limit.