New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday announced he will run for president in 2020, jumping into what’s already a crowded group of candidates vying for the Democrats’ nomination.
“As president, I will take on the wealthy. I will take on the big corporations. I will not rest until this government serves working people,” Mr. de Blasio said in a video announcing his run. “As mayor of the largest city in America, I’ve done just that.”
“Donald Trump must be stopped. I’ve beaten him before, and I will do it again,” he said.
Mr. de Blasio said he knows how to take on a “bully” in President Trump.
“Don’t back down in the face of a bully — confront him. Take him on,” the mayor said.
Appearing on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday, Mr. de Blasio said working Americans deserve better.
“And I know we can do it because I’ve done it here in the largest, toughest city in this country,” he said. “We’re putting money back in the hands of working people.”
He touted issues like expanded health care, paid sick leave, and universal pre-K.
“These are things that changed working people’s lives for the better - all Americans deserve that kind of opportunity to live a better life,” he said.
But it’s unclear where Mr. de Blasio will draw his support in a field that already features well-known candidates like Sens. Bernard Sanders and Elizabeth Warren occupying the far left lane on key issues.
A Quinnipiac poll released last month found that three-quarters of New York City voters said Mr. de Blasio should not run for president.
Host George Stephanopoulos noted that it’s a “tough city” and that there was noise from protesters outside.
“A little serenade,” Mr. de Blasio said.
The mayor said the poll that actually matters is the election, noting he won broad support in his successful 2013 and 2017 campaigns.
“So New Yorkers have twice said they want me to lead them,” he said. “And I think about polling in general - it’s not where you start. It’s where you end.”
He said he’s going to talk about what working people need, saying the federal government is not on their side right now.
“And that’s because Donald Trump is playing a big con on America. I call him ’con Don,’” he said. “I believe I’ll be able to show the kinds of things we have done here are what’s needed all over this country so working people can live better.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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