NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Former New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang has left the Democratic party and become an independent, he announced on Monday.
In an essay entitled “Breaking Up With The Democratic Party,” Yang wrote that he “changed [his voting registration from ‘Democrat’ to ‘Independent,’” adding that it was “a strangely emotional experience."
“My goal is to do as much as I can to advance our society. There are phenomenal public servants doing great work every day — but our system is stuck. It is stuck in part because polarization is getting worse than ever,” he wrote. “Many of the people I know are doing all of the good they can — but their impact is constrained. Now that I’m not a member of one party or another, I feel like I can be even more honest about both the system and the people in it.”
“Also, on a personal level, I’ll admit there has always been something of an odd fit between me and the Democratic Party. I’m not very ideological. I’m practical,” he added. “Making partisan arguments — particularly expressing what I often see as performative sentiment — is sometimes uncomfortable for me. I often think, 'Okay, what can we actually do to solve the problem?' I’m pretty sure there are others who feel the same way I do.”
Yang was defeated by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams in the Democratic mayoral primary earlier this year. He also ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2020.
Yang reportedly plans to launch a new political party at some point this month.
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