DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Latest on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s speech in Iowa (all times local):
9:10 p.m.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told a crowd in Iowa that Democrats must push a progressive agenda to win elections in 2018.
De Blasio told a group of progressives Tuesday night in downtown Des Moines that the party “cannot be timid” in addressing such issues as income inequality, early childhood education and mental health access.
De Blasio’s visit to Iowa raised speculation about the mayor’s presidential aspirations in 2020. But de Blasio told a group of reporters he’s not running for president, and he intends to serve his full four-year term in office.
De Blasio says he’ll travel outside of New York City again to help Democrats, but it’s unclear how that will play out. De Blasio emphasized he can balance such a national role alongside his job as mayor.
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3:15 p.m.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is in Iowa to deliver a speech to progressives that could also aim to elevate his national profile.
De Blasio is scheduled to headline a fundraiser Tuesday night in Des Moines for Progress Iowa, a self-described progressive advocacy organization.
De Blasio, who won re-election recently, said in a blog post last month he would travel outside of New York City to help efforts to flip Congress into Democratic control. But any visit from a politician to Iowa, with its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses, is watched for signs of future aspirations.
De Blasio has had limited success in Iowa, with a failed attempt in 2015 to organize a presidential forum in the state.
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