Paperboy Prince

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]

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]

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.