Congresswoman Grace Meng endorses Andrew Yang for mayor in Flushing Monday (Photo: YangforNY)
May 11, 2021 By Ryan Songalia
Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang was endorsed Monday by Grace Meng, New York’s only Asian American Congressmember.
Meng made the announcement at a press conference outside P.S. 20Q John Bowne Elementary School in Flushing, calling him an “outstanding leader who is hard-working, compassionate and smart.”
The fifth-term congresswoman from Flushing cites the feedback from her constituents and Yang’s appreciation for the outer boroughs as reasons for her endorsement.
“He is the help and hope that New Yorkers need during this challenging and unprecedented time, and I cannot wait to work with him to make New York City an even better place to live and work in,” said Meng, who, like Yang, is Taiwanese-American.
Meng, who has taken a leading role in combating the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, said Yang would bring visibility to the Asian-American community, “a community that has for way too long in both this country and right here in New York City been seen as too invisible.”
Yang praised Meng’s efforts for addressing hate crimes and said he was pleased to get her support.
“We’re building a special coalition here in New York City. I’m so thrilled Congresswoman Meng is going to help lead this movement,” said Yang, who rose to national prominence with his underdog campaign for the president in 2020.
Yang has been the constant frontrunner in the race—although it appears his grip may be slipping.
A recent poll from Washington, D.C.-based firm GQR on behalf of Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s comptroller campaign showed Yang trailing slightly behind Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams—21 to 18 percent. Yang had been leading by nine points in a poll conducted in mid-April.
Other Queens-based elected officials who have endorsed Yang’s candidacy are State Assemblymembers Ron Kim and Daniel Rosenthal.
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