Andrew Yang (born January 13, 1975) is an American businessman, attorney, lobbyist, political commentator, and author. He founded the political party and action committeeForward Party in 2021, for which he serves as co-chair alongside former New Jersey GovernorChristine Todd Whitman andMichael S. Willner.[3]
On October 4, 2021, Andrew Yang announced his departure from theDemocratic Party to become anindependent politician,[15] faulting what he characterized as a system stuck in increasing polarization and saying that he is "more comfortable trying to fix the system than being a part of it".[16] Later in October 2021, Yang founded theForward Party, a centrist political party with a stated goal of providing an alternative to the twomajor U.S. political parties.
After graduating from law school, Yang began his career as a corporate attorney atDavis Polk & Wardwell in New York City. Yang later described the job as "a pie-eating contest, and if you won, your prize was more pie".[32] He left the law firm after five months, which he has called "the five worst months of my life".[32]
In February 2000, Yang joined his office mate, Jonathan Philips, in launching Stargiving, a website for celebrity-affiliated philanthropic fundraising.[26][33][34] The startup had some initial success, but folded in 2002 as thedot-com bubble burst. Yang became involved in other ventures, including a party-organizing business.[26] From 2002 to 2005, he served as the vice president of a healthcare startup.[18]
After working in the healthcare industry for four years, Yang left MMF Systems to join his friend Zeke Vanderhoek at a smalltest preparation company,Manhattan Prep.[35] In 2006, Vanderhoek asked Yang to take over as CEO. While Yang was CEO, the company primarily providedGMAT test preparation. It expanded from five to 69 locations and was acquired byKaplan, Inc. in December 2009. Yang resigned as the company's president in early 2012.[36][37][38] Yang later said it was during his time at Manhattan Prep that he became a millionaire.[22]
In September 2019 testimony before the New York City Commission on Gender Equity, former employee Kimberly Watkins testified that Yang had fired her because he felt that she would not work as hard after getting married. Yang has denied the allegations.[39] In an appearance onThe View, Yang said, "I've had so many phenomenal women leaders that have elevated me and my organizations at every phase of my career, and if I was that kind of person I would never have had any success."[40]
In November, a former employee of Yang's at Manhattan GMAT filed a lawsuit against him for allegedly paying her less than her male co-workers and subsequently firing her for asking for a raise. Yang and another female employee at the company disputed the anonymous woman's claim that she was in an equivalent position to the male co-workers she cited.[41]
Following Kaplan's acquisition of Manhattan Prep in late 2009, Yang began to work on creating a newnonprofit fellowship program,Venture for America (VFA), which he founded in 2011. The organization was intended to find and train entrepreneurs to start businesses in economically stressed cities.[30][42][43][44] VFA was launched with $200,000 and trained 40 graduates in 2012 and 69 in 2013. VFA addedColumbus, Miami,San Antonio, andSt. Louis in 2014, with a class of 106.[38][45]
VFA quickly received national attention, including from theObama administration. In 2011, Yang was recognized by "Champions of Change", a White House program that honored 500 people from every state for extraordinary work in their communities.[43] In 2015, Yang was named aPresidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship.[46][47]
VFA has also been criticized for falling far short of its 100,000 job goal. AnABC News investigation found that VFA's own tally counted only 365 jobs created as of 2020 and of thoseThe New York Times has found only 150 remain.[48][49][50]Startup, a documentary film co-directed byCynthia Wade and Cheryl Miller Houser about six startups in Detroit launched through VFA, was released in 2016.[51] Yang stepped down from his position as CEO of VFA in March 2017 but continued to advise startups aligned with his signature policy ofuniversal basic income during his presidential campaign.[42][52][53]
On August 10, 2022, Andrew Yang joined the advisory team at Legendary Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm, to drive strategic value across the firm's portfolio of consumer retail technology investments, alongsideFung Brothers Ventures.[54]
On March 5, 2020, following the suspension of hispresidential campaign, Yang announced that he was creating the nonprofit organization Humanity Forward Foundation, dedicated to promoting the ideas he campaigned on during his run, such as UBI,ranked voting, and data privacy. Yang also announced that the organization, together with The Spark of Hudson,[55] forming HudsonUP,[56] would give away $500,000 in UBI to the residents ofHudson, New York, to demonstrate UBI's benefits.[57] After theTrump administration said it was considering a form of basic income in response to the pandemic, Yang announced that he had been in touch with the White House and had offered his team's services.[58]
On March 20, CNN reported that Humanity Forward would soon spend $1million on $1,000 monthly payments to 500 low-income households inthe Bronx during the crisis. Yang tweeted that the number of households was expected to double with additional funding.[59] On August 3, Yang announced that his organization was partnering with The $1K Project, an online network that helps identify families in need, who will be awarded three months of $1,000 payments. One of the network's founders describes the program as "a bridge to reemployment or other kinds of support."[60]
Humanity Forward stated that it was not supporting or endorsing any candidate after Yang announced his run formayor of New York City.[61]
On February 17, 2022, Yang announced the launch of aWeb3 community whose membership token fees would be used to fund lobbying work on behalf of Web3,blockchain, andcryptocurrency interests onCapitol Hill.[62] The announcement has been met with some criticism in part due to Yang's continued launches of organizations in addition to the skepticism around cryptocurrency ventures.[63]
Media outlets provided several estimates of Yang's net worth as of mid-2019: $1 million according toForbes,[64] between $834,000 and $2.4 million according toThe Wall Street Journal,[65] and between $3 million and $4 million according toNewsweek.[66] In 2020OpenSecrets estimated it being as low as $584,047.[67]
Yang makes a speech in New Hampshire in January 2019. His book,The War on Normal People, is displayed.
On November 6, 2017, Yang filed with theFederal Election Commission (FEC) to run for President of the United States in2020.[69][70] The campaign began with a small initial staff working out of an apartment owned by Yang's mother.[22] He ran on multiple slogans, including "Humanity First", "Make America Think Harder (MATH)", and "Not Left, Not Right, Forward."[71][72] Initially considered a longshot, Yang's campaign gained significant momentum in February 2019 following an appearance on the popular podcastThe Joe Rogan Experience.[73][74][22] On the podcast, Yang emphasized severallibertarian-leaning policies that contributed to his growing popularity, such as his support fordecriminalizing drugs,data privacy rights, and endingcorporate welfare, all of which focus on reducing government intervention in personal lives and the economy. He later appeared on other podcasts and shows, includingThe Breakfast Club,The Ben Shapiro Show, andReal Time with Bill Maher where he continued advocating forcriminal justice reform,cryptocurrency regulation clarity, andnuclear energy investment, ideas that aligned with the broader goals ofindividual freedom and market innovation.[75][76][77] By March 2019, Yang had met the polling and fundraising thresholds to qualify for the first round ofDemocratic primary debates.[74][22] In August 2019, he met the higher thresholds to qualify for the second round of Democratic debates.[78] Later, he qualified for the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth Democratic debates but was unable to meet a polling threshold for the January 2020 debate.[79] He did qualify for the February 2020 debate.[80]
Yang's campaign focused largely on policy, in whatReuters described as a "technocratic approach."[81][82] Yang regularly calledDonald Trump a symptom of a wider problem in theeconomy, rather than the problem itself.[83] According toThe New York Times, Yang was known for doing interviews with conservative news outlets, and "although [Yang] tweets often, he almost never tweets about Mr. Trump."[84] This approach was exemplified by one of Yang's campaign slogans: "Not Left, Not Right, Forward."[81][82][84]
Yang speaks with attendees at the 2019 Iowa Democratic Wing Ding at Surf Ballroom inClear Lake, Iowa.
Yang's campaign was known for its heavy reliance on Internet-based campaigning.[85][86][87] The campaign was also known for its popularity online, withThe New York Times calling Yang "The Internet's Favorite Candidate."[88] His campaign supporters, known informally as theYang Gang, brought attention to his campaign onReddit,Facebook,Instagram,Twitter, and other social media platforms, throughmemes andviral campaigning.[89][90] Several news outlets called Yang the most surprising candidate of the election cycle, going from relative obscurity to a national contender who outlasted several well-known politicians.[4][5][91][92][93]
Yang also received several high-profile endorsements, such as fromTesla CEOElon Musk.[94]
Yang was at least the third American of East Asian descent to run for President of the United States, afterHiram Fong andPatsy Mink.[95][96] According toBBC, he was "one of the first and most recognizable East Asian-Americans in history to run for president."[97] He has said that he hoped his "campaign can inspire Asian Americans to be engaged in [politics]."[98]
Yang dropped out of the presidential race on February 11, 2020.[99] On March 10, 2020, Yang endorsed Joe Biden.[100]
Yang's supporters form a crowd at the Liberty and Justice Celebration inDes Moines, Iowa. Yang is visible in the background.
On multiple occasions, news media disproportionally omitted Yang from election coverage or presented misleading data about his standing in polls.[101] Incidents include cases of news outlets excluding Yang from lists of2020 Democratic candidates.[102][103][104][105][106] On August 29, 2019, a CNNinfographic displaying the results of a poll included candidateBeto O'Rourke but not Yang, even though the poll showed Yang polling three times higher than O'Rourke. Yang supporters criticized media outlets for the disproportionately low coverage, including via Twitter hashtag #YangMediaBlackout.[107][108][109]
Yang dropped out of the presidential race on February 11, 2020, after a disappointing result in theNew Hampshire primary.[110] He announced to his supporters, "while we did not win this election, we are just getting started."[111] Former MayorMichael Bloomberg's counselorHoward Wolfson suggested that Yang "would make a very interesting candidate" formayor of New York City; Yang said, "it's incredibly flattering to be thought of in that role.... We haven't ruled anything out at this point. I will say I'm more attracted to executive roles than legislative ones because I think you can get more done."[112] On March 3, Yang reiterated his interest in the mayoralty toBuzzFeed News.[113]
On February 19, Yang joined CNN as apolitical commentator.[114] On March 10, the night of theMichigan Democratic primary, he endorsed Joe Biden. He said he understood Sanders' supporters' frustration, but that beating Trump was the most important objective.[115] After his campaign, Yang created a podcast,Yang Speaks, where he discussed national and global issues with guest commentators.[116][117] The podcast has since been folded into his newest brand, "Forward". The podcast continues to publish new episodes weekly.
On April 29, 2020, Yang announced that he was taking legal action against the New York State Board of Elections after the state election commission voted to cancel itspresidential primary. The filing stated: "This unprecedented and unwarranted move infringes the rights of Plaintiffs and all New York State Democratic Party voters, of which there are estimated to be more than six million, as it fundamentally denies them the right to choose our next candidate for the office of President of the United States."[118] In early May, the judge ruled in Yang's favor.[119]
Initially left out of the list of confirmed speakers for the2020 Democratic National Convention, Yang expressed his dissatisfaction on Twitter stating that he "kind of expected to speak" at the event.[120] Yang spoke at the DNC on August 20, as the third speaker of the night.[121]
In September 2020, the Biden campaign hired Yang as a member of its small business advisory council.[122] In November 2020, Yang announced that he and his wife were moving toAtlanta to assistRaphael Warnock's andJon Ossoff's campaigns in the January 2021 Georgia Senaterunoffelections.[123]
In August 2020, Yang revealed toThe Carlos Watson Show that he had been in contact withJoe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign about a potential role in the Biden cabinet focusing on the issue of technology in society.[124] In Yang's bookForward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy, he writes that he interviewed with Biden's transition team for the role ofUnited States Secretary of Labor. He also suggested that he serve in a new role, Secretary of Technology and Innovation.[125]
Logo for Yang's 2021 mayoral campaignYang campaigning for Mayor in May 2021
After the suspension of his presidential campaign in February 2020, Yang was considered a potential candidate in the2021 New York City mayoral election to succeed the outgoingBill de Blasio,[126] with Yang himself expressing interest in seeking the office.[127] Yang had reportedly told city leaders that he intended to run for mayor[128] after polling obtained by theNew York Post showed him leading the field, with 20% of New Yorkers saying they would support his candidacy.[129] Yang filed paperwork to raise money for his mayoral campaign on December 23, 2020.[130]
On January 8, 2021,Politico reported that Yang left New York City during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to stay at his second home inNew Paltz, New York.[131] In an interview withThe New York Times, he said, "Can you imagine trying to have two kids on virtual school in a two-bedroom apartment and then trying to do work yourself?"[132][133] Critics saw his comments as tone-deaf, as many Americans had to balance work and family during COVID-19 lockdowns.[133]
Yang formally announced his bid for mayor on January 13, 2021, on Twitter.[134] He himself had not voted in a municipal election since 2001.[135] Yang was endorsed by U.S. RepresentativesGrace Meng andRitchie Torres, as well as a number of other New York state and city political figures.[136][137] He emerged as a front-runner after entering the race,[138][139] and maintained a steady lead in polls; starting in May 2021, Yang's lead shrank asEric Adams emerged as another front-runner.[140][141] After placing fourth in first-place votes on election night, June 22, Yang conceded that he could not win the race and ended his campaign.[14] Shortly after New York city mayor Eric Adams was indicted on federal corruption charges, Yang wrote anop-ed forNewsweek stating that back when he ran against Adams in the 2021 mayoral primary he expected the charges were coming.[142]
Yang speaking for Wharton Undergraduates in Public Policy at theUniversity of Pennsylvania in April 2023
In Yang's 2021 bookForward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy, he announced his intention to found a newthird party, the Forward Party.[143] On October 4, 2021, Yang announced on his blog that he had changed his voter registration from Democrat to Independent, saying he was "confident that no longer being a Democrat is the right thing";[16] the next day he announced the formation of the Forward Party.[144]
Yang said the group would start as a social movement andpolitical action committee, and eventually petition theFEC for formal recognition as a political party.[143][145] On July 27, 2022, the Forward Party announced a merger with theServe America Movement and theRenew America Movement to form a new political party.[146][147] The party is officially registered as a minor party in Nevada[148] and legal party status in Maine and Texas.
After thefirst presidential debate on June 27, Yang encouraged the Democratic Party to nominate someone instead of Biden "before it's too late".[158] Throughout the summer he encouraged Biden to drop out and for the Democratic Party to nominate someone different to defeat Trump in the general election.[159] Yang later predicted that Biden would lose the election, withHouse andSenateDemocrats heading for "historic" losses as well.[160] On July 23, 2024, followingBiden's withdrawal from the race, Yang endorsed Vice PresidentKamala Harris for president in a statement on social media.[161] He later wrote an opinion piece forNewsweek after theDemocratic Convention, in which he encouraged fellow independents to vote for Harris.[162]
After Trump's win in the U.S. presidential election,Politico reached out to Yang and Democratic thinkers to see what they thought the party needed to do to improve itself. Yang's response was featured in a Politico article where he proposed that the Democrats should apologize for sandbaggingBernie Sanders in the2016 primary, name Dean Phillips the new chair of theDNC for being the only Democrat with the character to sacrifice his career for the good of the country, apologize for not having a competitive primary this year, to back theLocal Journalism Sustainability Act to provide a path for local journalism, back theFair Representation Act as a way to fight gerrymandering and give voice to voters in the minority party of a district, and abandon policing cultural behaviors to instead focusing their political capital on improving Americans' standard of living.[163]
Yang's wife, Evelyn Yang, speaking at an event during his presidential campaign
Yang has been married to Evelyn Yang (née Lu) since 2011; the couple have two sons.[18] He has spoken about his older son Christopher, who isautistic, saying: "I'm very proud of my son and anyone who has someone on the spectrum in their family feels the exact same way."[165]
The Yang family lives in a rental apartment inHell's Kitchen, Manhattan,[166] and also owns a home inNew Paltz, New York, that they purchased in 2015.[167] This became the family's primary residence during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic,[131] and a focus of controversy duringYang's mayoral campaign.[132] In 2019, Yang reported on his tax return that he rented out this home for 58 days to friends or onAirbnb.[168]
Yang and his family attend theReformed Church of New Paltz, which is near his home,[167] and has identified Mark E. Mast as their pastor.[169][170] He considers himself spiritual.[171] Speaking about his faith at an interfaith town hall atWartburg College, Yang said he "wouldn't be the first to say that [his] own journey is still in progress."[172]
In 2020, Yang received the 2021 Vilcek Prize for Excellence in Public Service, awarded by theVilcek Foundation.[173]
On February 26, 2021, Yang stopped a physical attack on a journalist on theStaten Island Ferry by placing himself between the attacker and the journalist. The attacker recognized Yang and stopped the assault.[174][175][176]
Smart People Should Build Things: How to Restore Our Culture of Achievement, Build a Path for Entrepreneurs, and Create New Jobs in America.HarperCollins. February 4, 2014.ISBN978-0062292049.
^Goldenberg, Sally; Anuta, Joe (March 30, 2021)."They want to manage the city's budget. Here's a look at how they manage their own".Politico PRO. Archived fromthe original on May 14, 2021. RetrievedJune 9, 2021.He made $10,662 in capital gains from investments that year and $43,794 through renting his four-bedroom New Paltz house for 58 days for an average cost of $677 a night. His campaign spokesperson, Jake Sporn, said he relied in part on Airbnb, which is heavily regulated in New York state and all-but-illegal in New York City.
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