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Paperboy Prince

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Paperboy Love Prince
Born1992 or 1993 (age 31–32)[1]
Other namesPaperboy the Prince, Paperboy Prince of the Suburbs
Occupations
  • Artist
  • politician
Political partyDemocratic

Paperboy Love Prince, also known as Paperboy Prince of the Suburbs[2] (born 1992/1993), is an American artist, community activist, and perennial candidate.[2][3]

Early life

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Prince grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and Bowie, Maryland, one of the suburbs of Washington, D.C.[4] One of their grandfathers was a Pentecostal bishop, and both of their parents are devoutly religious.[5] As a child, they worked as a newspaper carrier delivering The Wall Street Journal.[6][7]

When Prince was 12, their mother won a contest that permitted her to bring them to have lunch with congressional representatives.[8] Following that experience, Prince participated in youth government programs and eventually had internships with the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Supreme Court. In college, Prince studied journalism and computer science while also creating art and hosting entertainment events.[8]

Political activities

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Paperboy Prince for the 2021 New York City Democratic mayoral primary

Paperboy Love Prince started in politics by hosting concerts which provided voter registration for attendees.[8] Prince supports the redirection of police funding to other programs.[9] Prince hosts a community center called the Love Gallery on Myrtle Avenue in Bushwick, Brooklyn.[5]

Campaign for New York's 7th Congressional District

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In 2020, Prince was a candidate in the primary for New York's 7th congressional district competing against incumbent Nydia Velázquez.[8] Prince received 20% of the vote to their opponent's 80%.[10]

In Prince's campaign their political platform included advocacy for universal basic income, Medicare for all, and spreading love.[7] Some media portrayed Prince's campaign as a longshot.[11] In preparation for the election, Prince overcame a challenge to their bid to appear on the ballot.[12]

2021 New York City mayoral campaign

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In December 2020, Prince registered as a candidate for Mayor of New York City in the 2021 Democratic primary.[13] If elected, Prince would have been the youngest mayor in the history of New York City.[1]

Prince's campaign manager was 13-year old student Theo Demel, who believes that homework is unconstitutional.[1] The campaign's goal was to raise $2 million. Part of the fundraising strategy included busking outside the Myrtle Avenue station in Bushwick, Brooklyn.[3] The campaign's major policy points included fighting poverty and providing more housing for New York City residents.[14] The campaign hosted weekly food distribution events, giving away food donated by churches to whoever happened to show up.[5]

In May 2021, Prince challenged their electoral competitor Andrew Yang in both a basketball game and rap battle at Tompkins Square Park.[15][16][17]

One of the criteria for joining the city's mayoral debates was fundraising a minimal amount of money.[18] Prince was among the candidates who met the criteria to appear on the ballot, but did not meet the criteria to join the debates.[18] While Prince was not inside the building to participate in mayoral debates, they were outside the venue on a bus known as the "Love Tank".[19][20] Prince's performance outside the debate included singing about affordable housing.[21]

A writer for Harvard Political Review said that Prince's campaign could shift discussion about what sorts of political policies are acceptable to discuss and also shift the perception of the electability of non-white candidates.[22] A writer for The Red Hook Star-Revue said that Prince was a candidate to take seriously.[23] That paper also endorsed Prince for mayor.[24] Trevor Noah of The Daily Show showcased Prince's idea that police should reward people for doing good as an alternative to spotting violations.[25] The City surveyed Prince on their political positions and published their responses.[26]

Prince received 0.4% of the vote and was not elected.[27]

2022 campaigns

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Following the 2021 election Prince announced intent to seek candidacy in the 2022 elections for 11 congressional districts and the New York governorship.[28] They again got on the ballot for congress in NY District 7.

Music

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By 2015, Paperboy the Prince was a rapper and a center of attention among the fans at games of the basketball team Washington Wizards.[4] They got recognition for their effort in organizing a music campaign to raise $20 million to bring DC-native basketball player Kevin Durant to the Wizards.[29]

At the 2016 South by Southwest, Prince spoke on behalf of street performers to reporters on the condition that Prince could talk out loud on microphone, and that they got a hug.[30]

Prince received death threats while performing music as Minister of Fun at an anti-Trump art production by LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner at the Museum of the Moving Image in the days after President Trump's inauguration.[2]

In 2017, musician Azealia Banks established record label Chaos & Glory Recordings, with Prince as the first artist signed to produce music.[31]

Personal life

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Prince is non-binary and prefers the pronouns they/them/their or the neopronouns God/Goddess.[3][7][5]

They dress as "royalty" to draw attention to how politicians can hold power for longer than kings or queens.[8] In an interview with fashion magazine V, Prince explained how freedom in fashion encourages freedom in thinking and welcoming of diversity.[32] They often wear a Game Boy Advance SP or Game Boy Color around their neck.[6]

Prince's role models include Martin Luther King Jr. for his vision of racial justice.[8]

Electoral history

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2020

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New York's 7th congressional district
2020 Democratic primary results[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nydia Velázquez (incumbent) 56,698 80.1
Democratic Paperboy Prince 14,120 19.9
Total votes 70,818 100.0

2021

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2021 New York City mayoral Democratic primary election[34]
Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Eric Adams 289,403 30.7% 289,603 30.8% 290,055 30.8% 291,806 31.2% 295,798 31.7% 317,092 34.6% 354,657 40.5% Won 404,513 Won 50.4%
Kathryn Garcia 184,463 19.6% 184,571 19.6% 184,669 19.6% 186,731 19.9% 191,876 20.5% 223,634 24.4% 266,932 30.5% 397,316 49.6%
Maya Wiley 201,127 21.4% 201,193 21.4% 201,518 21.4% 206,013 22.0% 209,108 22.4% 239,174 26.1% 254,728 29.1% Eliminated
Andrew Yang 115,130 12.2% 115,301 12.2% 115,502 12.3% 118,808 12.6% 121,597 13.0% 135,686 14.8% Eliminated
Scott Stringer 51,778 5.5% 51,850 5.5% 51,951 5.5% 53,599 5.7% 56,723 6.1% Eliminated
Dianne Morales 26,495 2.8% 26,534 2.8% 26,645 2.8% 30,157 3.2% 30,933 3.3% Eliminated
Raymond McGuire 25,242 2.7% 25,272 2.7% 25,418 2.7% 26,361 2.8% 27,934 3.0% Eliminated
Shaun Donovan 23,167 2.5% 23,189 2.5% 23,314 2.5% 24,042 2.6% Eliminated
Aaron Foldenauer 7,742 0.8% 7,758 0.8% 7,819 0.8% Eliminated
Art Chang 7,048 0.7% 7,064 0.8% 7,093 0.8% Eliminated
Paperboy Prince 3,964 0.4% 4,007 0.4% 4,060 0.4% Eliminated
Joycelyn Taylor 2,662 0.3% 2,683 0.3% 2,780 0.3% Eliminated
Isaac Wright Jr. 2,242 0.2% 2,254 0.2% Eliminated
Write-ins 1,568 0.2% Eliminated
Inactive ballots 0 ballots 752 ballots 1,207 ballots 5,314 ballots 8,062 ballots 26,445 ballots 65,714 ballots 140,202 ballots

References

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  1. ^ a b c Krasner, Bob (February 24, 2021). "Paperboy Love Prince aims to be youngest elected mayor in New York City". AM New York Metro. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Divenuta, Lisa (February 13, 2017). "I Found Love, Togetherness, and Milk-Chugging Nazis at LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner's Livestream". www.vice.com. Vice Media.
  3. ^ a b c Iscoe, Adam (February 15, 2021). "Paperboy Prince's Platform: Cancel Rent, Abolish the Police, Legalize Psychedelics". The New Yorker.
  4. ^ a b Yates, Clinton (May 15, 2015). "Meet Paperboy Prince, the flashiest Wizards fan of them all". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ a b c d Lach, Eric (June 20, 2021). "Why Do So Many New York Politicians Want Paperboy Prince to Hit Them in the Face with a Pie?". The New Yorker.
  6. ^ a b Brown, D'Shonda (October 30, 2020). "Paperboy Prince's Radical Love Is the Hopeful Future of Congress". Highsnobiety.
  7. ^ a b c Roberts, Nigel (June 22, 2020). "Paperboy Prince is running for Congress in NY's 7th Congressional district". BK Reader.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Gontcharova, Natalie (June 22, 2020). "Paperboy Prince Is The First Truly Gen-Z Candidate". Refinery29.
  9. ^ Hogan, Gwynne (June 11, 2021). "Policy Cheat Sheet: Where The Democratic Mayoral Candidates Stand". Gothamist.
  10. ^ McDonough, Annie; Coltin, Jeff; Lewis, Rebecca C. (August 5, 2020). "New York's 2020 congressional primary election results". City & State.
  11. ^ Abadi, Mark; Teckman-Fullard, Meg; Miller, Adam (June 23, 2020). "NYC rapper Paperboy Prince could become the first nonbinary candidate to win a primary bid for Congress". Business Insider.
  12. ^ Meeker, Alec (April 24, 2020). "Paperboy Love Prince Wins Petition Challenge and Will Remain on District 7 Ballot". Bushwick Daily.
  13. ^ Quinn, Anna (December 8, 2020). "Brooklyn Rapper Paperboy Prince Enters Race For NYC Mayor". Bed-Stuy, NY Patch.
  14. ^ News12 Staff (April 13, 2021). "Brooklyn's Paperboy Love Prince hopes to tackle poverty and housing as mayor of NYC". Brooklyn News12. Retrieved April 20, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Scootercaster, Oliya (May 23, 2021). "Andrew Yang vs Paperboy Prince Basketball Game". youtube.com. FreedomNewsTV.
  16. ^ Stuart, Tessa (May 28, 2021). "The Prince of Bushwick Wants to Be Mayor of New York". Rolling Stone.
  17. ^ Weigel, David. "Analysis - The Trailer: 'A Visceral Reaction': How New York's mayoral race became about crime". Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Choi, Ann (May 9, 2021). "Meet Your Mayor Supersized: Now Featuring More Candidates". THE CITY.
  19. ^ Kim, Elizabeth (June 10, 2021). "A Recap Of The Best NYC Mayoral Debate So Far". Gothamist.
  20. ^ Kim, Elizabeth; Hogan, Gwynee (June 3, 2021). "NYC's Second Mayoral Debate Brings A Lively Pre-Show To The Streets, Followed By Sharp Attacks On Stage". Gothamist.
  21. ^ Gay, Mara (June 16, 2021). "Opinion - In New York City, Democracy Is a One-Party Affair". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 17, 2021.
  22. ^ Obasi, Chinyere (June 18, 2021). "The 2021 New York City Mayoral Primary". Harvard Political Review.
  23. ^ Thomas, Roderick (June 9, 2021). "Paperboy is a candidate to be taken seriously". Red Hook Star-Revue.
  24. ^ Fiala, George (May 5, 2021). "Star-Revue Endorsements: Garcia and Prince for Mayor". Red Hook Star-Revue.
  25. ^ Noah, Trevor (May 12, 2021). "Who's Running in the NYC Mayoral Race?". youtube.com. The Daily Show.
  26. ^ The City. "Meet Your Mayor: Paperboy Prince". The City.
  27. ^ "Citywide Recap by Boroughs and Parties - All Ballot Types: Primary Election 2021 – 06/22/2021" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  28. ^ Ricciulli, Valeria (November 24, 2021). "How Is Paperboy Love Prince Possibly Running for Congress in 11 Districts?". Curbed.
  29. ^ Mehic, Ben (June 2, 2016). "Washington Wizards Fan, Artist Paperboy Prince Hopes To Raise $20 Million For Kevin Durant To Come Home". Wiz of Awes.
  30. ^ Needham, Alex; Chen, Lizzie (March 20, 2016). "SXSW: 'It's pretty much the same mess it was last year'". The Guardian.
  31. ^ Chandler, D.L. (October 17, 2017). "Azealia Banks Signs DMV Rapper Paperboy The Prince". Hip-Hop Wired.
  32. ^ Myers, Owen (October 7, 2020). "The Thought Leaders Issue: Paperboy Prince". V Magazine.
  33. ^ "June 23 2020 Primary Election Results" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  34. ^ "Justice Democrats | It's #OurTime". justicedemocrats.com.

Further reading

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