Andrew Yang Says He Left Democratic Party to Become Independent

Politics|Andrew Yang Says He Left Democratic Party to Become Independent

Andrew Yang, the erstwhile long-shot statesmanlike campaigner and onetime exertion entrepreneur, announced connected Monday that helium had near the Democratic Party and go an independent.

In an essay connected his website, Mr. Yang, who built a passionate pursuing successful 2019 during the party’s superior race, highlighted his enactment for Democrats. He noted the heavy relationships helium had developed with activists and section leaders and the fund-raisers helium had headlined, and helium took recognition for helping to elite the party’s candidates, including President Biden.

Yet helium described the two-party strategy arsenic “stuck,” saying helium could beryllium much “honest” astir authorities and politicians if helium were not constrained by authoritative rank arsenic a Democrat. Mr. Yang offered his enactment for alternate predetermination systems, similar unfastened primaries and ranked-choice voting, saying these were “key reforms” that would springiness voters much choices successful campaigns.

“I judge I tin scope radical who are extracurricular the strategy much effectively,” helium wrote. “I consciousness much … independent.”

Mr. Yang has struggled to find his footing since skyrocketing to prominence during the 2020 race. One of the highest-profile Asian Americans to ever tally a statesmanlike campaign, Mr. Yang built a fiercely loyal pursuing of disaffected voters done proposals similar providing each American with a universal basal income of $1,000 per month.

After ending his improbable campaign, helium joined CNN arsenic a governmental commentator, started his ain podcast and moved to Georgia to assistance Democrats triumph the runoff Senate races successful January.

A bid for New York City politician this outpouring ended successful defeat, aft Mr. Yang struggled to reply basic questions astir the functions of metropolis government and failed to physique connected aboriginal momentum.

Last month, helium announced plans to commencement his ain governmental enactment called “The Forward Party” — a operation lifted from the past section of his precocious published book.

In an excerpt from his book published by Politico Magazine this week, Mr. Yang recounted the strangeness of moving for president and however the acquisition had inflated his consciousness of his ain importance.

“I’d been a C.E.O. and laminitis of a company, but moving for bureau was a antithetic animal,” helium wrote. “Everyone successful my orbit started treating maine similar I mightiness beryllium a statesmanlike contender. I was getting a clang people successful however we dainty the precise almighty — and it was weird.”

He added: “It turns retired that powerfulness really gives you encephalon damage.”