Liu Announces NYC Mayoral Bid

City Comptroller John Liu has kicked off his bid to become the first Asian-American mayor of New York City.

The Democrat made the announcement Sunday on the steps of City Hall.

Liu is already the first person of Asian descent to be elected citywide in New York, and his mayoral ambitions illuminate the political rise of the city's Asian-American population.

But his aspirations have been shadowed by a fundraising-conspiracy case against two former aides. They have pleaded not guilty, and Liu hasn't been charged with any wrongdoing.

Liu was born in Taiwan and came to New York at age 5. He worked as an actuary before winning a City Council seat in 2002 and the comptroller's race in 2009.

His announced and likely Democratic opponents include City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former City Councilman Sal Albanese, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and former Comptroller Bill Thompson.

Republican contenders include former MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota, billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis and George McDonald, the head of a nonprofit that helps the homeless.

Former Bronx borough president and federal housing official Adolfo Carrion, a former Democrat who is now unaffiliated, is running on the Independence Party line and seeking Republican backing.