WASHINGTON – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday that he is no longer a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president.
It’s true: I’m ending my candidacy for president. But our fight on behalf of working people is far from over. https://t.co/wlqhNmcZLv
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) September 20, 2019
De Blasio first made the announcement in an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“I feel like I’ve contributed all I can to this primary election and it’s clearly not my time,” he said. “So I’m going to end my presidential campaign, continue my work as mayor of New York City, and I’m going to keep speaking up for working people and for a Democratic Party that stands for working people.”
De Blasio seldom polled above 1% during his campaign.
De Blasio, 58, leads the nation’s largest city. He is an unapologetic progressive and an outspoken opponent of President Donald Trump.
Since de Blasio assumed office in 2014 NYC has approved legislation to mandate paid sick leave, provide free pre-kindergarten education and raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
De Blasio’s exit means there are 19 Democrats running for president.
Polls show former Vice President Joe Biden as the frontrunner.
Five other candidates have thus far quit the race. They are Reps. Eric Swalwell (Calif.) and Seth Moulton (Mass.), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Gov. Jay Inslee (Wash.) and former Gov. John Hickenlooper (Colo.).
