Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang has the support of a new super PAC, with the group seeking to raise more than $1 million to boost his White House bid.
Vox’s Recode first reported that the Math PAC, which was established in September, will engage in both paid media and voter outreach in a number of early voting states.
The group seeks to spend more than seven figures backing Yang’s bid, according to Recode.
The group’s website states that it “will work to ensure that American’s know that Andrew Yang is our best chance of defeating Donald Trump.”{mosads}
“We conduct targeted advertising, plan events, and launch outreach initiatives, so Americans learn what is at stake this election cycle and into the future,” it reads. “It is time America elects a President that has done the math so the economy can start to put PEOPLE first.”
Will Hailer, who is leading the committee, told Recode that the group’s fundraising will “allow the movement behind Andrew Yang to catch up to elected officials — who were able to transfer years of war chests to their presidential campaigns.”
“He is running against governors, senators, and institutional actors that have these apparatuses that they can automatically tap into,” Hailer said. “So the only way to be able to give voice to an incredibly important conversation is to find ways to add value to that voice. And that’s what we’re hoping to do through the super PAC.”
Yang previously declared that he will not accept any PAC money. The businessman has also called for an end to super PACs on his campaign website.
“We need to end Super PACs, drown out their influence, and stop pretending that corporations have equal rights to people,” his website reads.
The Hill has reached out to Yang’s campaign for comment about the new PAC.
Several other 2020 contenders have sworn off money from super PACs, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and former Obama Cabinet Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro.
Yang, who was relatively unknown before he launched his 2020 bid, has defied fundraising expectations, raising $10 million in the third quarter.
He has lagged around 2 percent support in national polls though has drawn more attention in polls of early voting states.
An Iowa poll released this week found Yang at 5 percent support, ahead of politicians such as Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) at 4 percent, and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) at 2 percent.