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Dave Chappelle will campaign in South Carolina districts for 2020 Democrat Andrew Yang this week ahead of the Iowa caucuses.
The comedian, 46, endorsed Yang for the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this month and will join the candidate's team in visiting communities in Columbia and Charleston, where he will convince voters to support the former tech entrepreneur.
The first event is a meet and greet with supporters in Columbia Wednesday afternoon, which will kick off at 5 p.m. Chappelle is slated to campaign for Yang at another event on Thursday in Charleston at 3 p.m. ET. During the events, the comedian will perform stand up for the guests, before then speaking to them about Yang's campaign.
"We're honored to have Dave's support and engagement in both Iowa and South Carolina," Erick Sanchez, Yang's travelling press secretary, told Newsweek. "Over the next few days, he'll be connecting with voters and encouraging their support for Andrew in a variety of different ways including stand-up performances, phone banking and canvassing across the state."
Chappelle officially announced his support for the candidate on January 14. "I'm Yang Gang!" the two-time Emmy and Grammy award-winning comedian said at the time.
Speaking about the endorsement, Yang praised the comedian, who he says shares "similar concerns" about the future of America. "Dave is one of the most important voices in our country today and I'm thrilled he has thrown his support behind this campaign," he said. "He and I share similar concerns about the future and hopes for what it could be. We are also parents who see the world that we are leaving to our kids and believe they deserve better."
Since launching his presidential campaign in November 2017, Yang has experienced numerous celebrity endorsements. Last month, The Walking Dead actor Steven Yeun officially threw his support behind the candidate after "meeting and speaking" with him.
"I didn't see a traditional politician," he said in a statement emailed to Newsweek by the campaign. "I saw a real human being who is authentic and genuinely cares deeply about everyday people and our country. I think he is rising to the challenge of a new world and he's uniquely thinking about the future and the life we will leave for our children and further generations."
Rapper Donald Glover, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, actor Nicolas Cage, Weezer's Rivers Cuomo and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey are among the many other celebrities who have already indicated their support for Yang.
Despite having not qualified for the last Democratic debate in Des Moines, Iowa, Yang's campaign has continued to thrive in fundraising, after having raised $16.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Yang confirmed, however, that he has earned a spot for the next primary debate in New Hampshire on February 7.
