New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday that he was ending his 2020 presidential bid—and everyone quickly was reminded he had been still running.
De Blasio said he was dropping out of the race during an appearance on Morning Joe and in an op-ed published by NBC News.
“So getting out there, being able to hear people’s concerns, address them with new ideas, has been an extraordinary experience,” the New York City mayor said on Morning Joe on Friday. “But I have to tell you, at the same time I feel like I’ve contributed all I can to this primary election and it’s clearly not my time. So I’m going to end my presidential campaign.”
Breaking: Bill de Blasio announces he is ending his presidential campaign pic.twitter.com/vL8GcX3xV5
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) September 20, 2019
In his op-ed, de Blasio said he would continue to “improve the quality of life of everyday New Yorkers” as mayor and warned that the Democratic party needs to “return to our roots as a party focused on bold solutions that speak to the concerns of working people” in order to beat President Donald Trump in 2020.
In the wake of his announcement, many people joked that they didn’t remember de Blasio was still running.
https://twitter.com/Ro12Two/status/1175014793146765312
https://twitter.com/marinafang/status/1175014532126826497
BREAKING NEWS- Bill De Blasio drops out of the presidential race.
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) September 20, 2019
EVEN BIGGER BREAKING NEWS- No one realized he was still running nor cared.
Mayor Bill de Blasio drops out. Did you know he was still in it? #AnotherOneBitesTheDust
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) September 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/shannoncerneka/status/1175013888045277186
BREAKING NEWS: Bill de Blasio was still running for President https://t.co/fB4iKUEG2y
— John Schwartz (@jswatz) September 20, 2019
Bill de Blasio was in the presidential race? 😏 https://t.co/Axj2A0g2ep
— Sarah (@SarahLynnScott) September 20, 2019
One person who did not forget de Blasio was in the race was Trump—who attacked the New York City mayor during his short presidential campaign.
“Oh no, really big political news, perhaps the biggest story in years! Part time Mayor of New York City, @BilldeBlasio, who was polling at a solid ZERO but had tremendous room for growth, has shocking dropped out of the Presidential race. NYC is devastated, he’s coming home!” Trump tweeted on Friday morning.
Oh no, really big political news, perhaps the biggest story in years! Part time Mayor of New York City, @BilldeBlasio, who was polling at a solid ZERO but had tremendous room for growth, has shocking dropped out of the Presidential race. NYC is devastated, he’s coming home!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2019
With de Blasio backing out of the race, there are now 19 Democrats vying for the party’s 2020 nomination.
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