WITHDRAWN: September 20, 2019

Bill de Blasio, in announcing his campaign, said he’s running “because it’s time we put working people first.” He touted his policy initiatives, which include pre-kindergarten classes for all children, paid sick leave for workers and increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Accomplishments: Soon after receiving his bachelor’s degree from New York University and a master’s from Columbia University, de Blasio entered New York politics, working in the offices of various Democratic politicians, including as campaign manager for Hillary Clinton’s 2000 senatorial campaign. He later served on the New York City Council for seven years and was first elected mayor in 2013, winning a close Democratic primary, partly on the strength of ads featuring his biracial family. He was re-elected as mayor four years later.

Foreign policy: De Blasio supports a proposed federal bill that would allow relatives of victims of the September 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for that government’s alleged role in the attacks.

What sets him apart: De Blasio is one of only a few mayors to contend for the Democratic presidential nomination, and is the only mayor of a major U.S. city to be in the race. He argues that he has an ability to run a complex organization and get real results. While he is not as known nationally as some of his competitors, he is a polarizing figure where he is known – in New York City. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted in April found that 44% of New Yorkers disapprove of his job performance compared with 42% who approve, and an overwhelming 76% of New Yorkers believe de Blasio should not run for president. If he won the presidency, de Blasio would be the first sitting mayor ever to be elected to the office.

Platform: De Blasio has touted his record of progressive policies that he implemented in New York City, including mandated paid sick time for workers, instituting universal prekindergarten, and curtailing stop-and-frisk policing. He has long been an advocate for affordable housing and has railed against income inequality, two issues expected to be prominent in his presidential bid.