(Washington Insider Magazine) -Ex presidential candidate, Andrew Yang, is cutting ties with the Democratic Party, he revealed on his website Monday. He will now be politically known as an independent. This announcement comes after he revealed plans to start a new party called the “Forward Party” in his new book Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy.
Andrew Yang, an entrepreneur, and politician from New York, is most known for his unsuccessful presidential run in 2020 and again for mayor of New York in 2021. Yang is a strong advocate for Universal Basic Income (UBI) and other left-leaning policies that made him an underdog candidate in both races. However, his charisma and business savviness made him a media favorite during the elections, and he gained considerable popularity.
In his announcement, he recalls registering as a Democrat nearly 20 years prior, participating in the campaigns of Kerry, Sanders, and Hillary Clinton. He insists that he felt connected to the Democratic Party and the causes they were championing at the time. However, since the election of Donald Trump, politics has become even more polarizing. This change has led Andrew Yang and others to stray from the Democrat’s message, which seems to be shifting as compromise happens in Washington.
In his announcement, Andrew Yang made a point to show gratitude to all the members of the Democratic Party who had assisted him during his campaigns. He also acknowledged the thousands of Democratic Americans he encountered on his travels that he formed incredible relationships with. However, the party isn’t aligning with his values, and thus it was time for him to express that. He described his time running for office as a sobering experience that was entirely different from his life as a businessman, adding that “power actually gives you brain damage.”
This doesn’t mean that Yang is leaving politics entirely. Andrew Yang states that without the affiliation of the Democratic Party, he can be more honest about his vision for America- going as far as describing the two-party system as “stuck.” Many see the intense polarization between the two parties as to the reason for the chaos surrounding Washington. However, Yang is not encouraging his supporters to follow his lead in changing to independents. He discourages this practice, stating that it could be disenfranchising for the 83% of the country that lives in traditionally “red” or “blue” states.
“Breaking up with the Democratic Party feels like the right thing to do because I believe I can have a greater impact this way.” Concludes Yang. No word yet on how this will impact his future political aspirations.
