Andrew Yang announced Wednesday he’s running for mayor of New York City.
His candidacy has been expected since early December when he began dropping hints.
Right before Christmas, he filed papers, but did not formally declare until now.
“I am running for mayor because I see a crisis – and I believe I can help,” he wrote on his website.
He’ll be competing against a crowded field of other declared candidates to replace outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio who is being termed out of office. According to Reuters, dozens of candidates have already declared including Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Maya Wiley, a civil rights activist.
Yang posted a video Wednesday night on Twitter stating his intention to run.
According to Politico, Yang will carry his universal basic income idea of giving $1000 a month to every adult American into his mayoral run. He is expected to announce a local version which would give money to a half-a-million New Yorkers. His plan is to give those living in poverty $2,000 – $5,000 per year.
Yang recently commented that it’s difficult to work in his two bedroom apartment with his children also there distance learning. That sparked a backlash from his opponents and a debate on social media.
A virtual town hall with Yang is scheduled for 7:30 Eastern tonight, Thursday.
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