Former Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang expected to be a featured speaker at the Democratic National Convention, but he didn’t make the cut.
Yang felt slighted by the Democratic National Committee’s decision to exclude him from the speaking lineup despite attracting many young voters with his platform for a universal basic income during the Democratic presidential primary. He suggested on Tuesday that the committee may have snubbed him because he endorsed primary opponents for some incumbent members of the House and Senate.
“I’ve got to be honest I kind of expected to speak,” Yang tweeted. “Maybe I endorsed against one too many incumbents.”
I’ve got to be honest I kind of expected to speak.
— Andrew Yang??? (@AndrewYang) August 11, 2020
Maybe I endorsed against one too many incumbents. ?
— Andrew Yang??? (@AndrewYang) August 11, 2020
Yang told the Washington Post that he will be involved in a video package during the convention but that he was not offered a chance to speak. He noted that a high-profile speech would have given him an opportunity to speak to his voters who previously supported Trump.
“[Not being offered a speech] makes my job harder to appeal to the 42% of my supporters who said they weren’t going to vote for Joe,” Yang said.
Just talked to @AndrewYang about this tweet. He’ll be “involved in the convention video package,” but said the lack of a higher-profile speech “makes my job harder to appeal to the 42% of my supporters who said they weren’t going to vote for Joe.”https://t.co/jr21quTb90
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) August 11, 2020
The DNC chose several other previous presidential candidates to speak, including former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, California Sen. Kamala Harris, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who identifies as an independent, and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, will also speak at the convention.
Yang was snubbed several times throughout his campaign. He was often excluded from polls and largely ignored during the presidential debates despite polling higher than some of the candidates who were included. Yang was critical of the DNC throughout his run, as well. He condemned its decision to exclude Fox News from hosting a debate during the primary.
