2020 hopeful de Blasio plans town hall with Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin
New York City mayor and presidential hopeful Bill de Blasio will make his way to Columbia this weekend for 2020 campaign stops, including holding a town hall with the city’s mayor.
On his fifth trip to South Carolina, fourth since announcing his bid for the Democratic nomination, De Blasio will kick off his weekend Saturday with a house party with local Democrats. The event, hosted by city councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine, will be open to the public and will begin at 6:30 p.m., according to de Blasio’s campaign.
Sunday morning, de Blasio will meet with church leaders at two Columbia places of worship: at First Nazareth Baptist Church on Gervais Street at 10 a.m. and at Zion Baptist Church on Washington Street at 11:15 a.m.
At 1 p.m. Sunday, de Blasio will attend a town hall hosted by Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. The event will take place at the Lourie Center.
Benjamin is considered a coveted endorsement for 2020 candidates. The Columbia mayor also serves in the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which has raised his profile to the national level and connected him with politicians across the country.
This isn’t the first time Benjamin has co-hosted an event with a 2020 contender. He hosted a forum with U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris in February and another town hall with Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind. Benjamin also led former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke on a tour of Columbia’s downtown.
This story was originally published July 3, 2019 at 3:15 PM.
