After weeks of rumors, NY State Sen. John Liu (D-Queens) has officially backed Andrew Yang in the NYC mayoral race.
Why this endorsement matters: As the first Asian American elected to office in NYC, Liu’s endorsement is highly coveted for a growing Asian American electorate.
- Liu, who is Taiwanese American, previously served as a City Council member (2002-2009) and comptroller (2010-2013).
- In 2013, he also ran to become mayor but lost to Bill de Blasio.
- At a press conference on Monday, he praised Yang for raising the profile of Asian Americans when he ran to become POTUS.
- He also likened Yang to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who represents parts of Bronx, Queens and Rikers Island.
- While the 54-year-old does not agree with Yang on everything, he finds his platform “comprehensive” and believes he has “the right ideas,” according to the New York Daily News.
Where Yang currently stands: Yang has been going head-to-head against Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams as the top choice in recent polls.
- If elected, Yang would become NYC’s first Asian American mayor.
- “I’m going to finish the job that John Liu started and become the first Asian American mayor in the history of New York City,” he said on Monday, according to Spectrum News.
- Yang previously secured endorsements from Ron Kim, a prominent assemblyman in Queens; Margaret Chin, a city councilwoman representing Lower Manhattan; and Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY), who represents New York’s 6th District, among others.
Voters will head to the polls on June 22 to pick their choice in the Democratic primary. For the first time, they will be able to rank up to five candidates in order of preference, The New York Times noted.
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