Henry Hewes (politician)


Henry F. Hewes is an American real estate developer and perennial candidate. Throughout his career, he ran for Mayor of New York City and for the U.S. senate as the nominee of the Right to Life Party. He served on the presidential campaigns of numerous Republican politicians.
In 2016 and in 2020, Hewes announced that he would run as a Democratic presidential candidate.

Early life and education

The son of theater critic Henry Hewes, Hewes studied at State University of New York and Hunter College. He was formerly a publisher before moving into consulting.

Political career

Hewes worked as a regional and state director for a number of presidential campaigns. He supported Pat Robertson, Pat Buchanan and George H.W. Bush in their respective campaigns for president. After serving in administrative roles, he ran for mayor of New York City as the nominee of the Right to Life Party in 1989. He participated in the first Mayoral debate, over the objections of Rudy Giuliani. During the debate he defended Democratic canddate David Dinkins against Giuliani, prompting allegations from the latter that Hewes and Dinkins were "running almost like a ticket here". He finished in third position in the election, behind Dinkins and Giuliani; He also ran for U.S. Senate in 1994, receiving 2% of the vote.
In 2016, Hewes ran for president as a Democrat, receiving more than 600 votes in the Missouri primary and over 11,000 votes nationwide; in 2020, he again ran as a Democrat.

Political positions

In 2005, Hewes described his political stances as "eclectic", noting his opposition to the War in Iraq, the USA Patriot Act, and the death penalty. He also favored raising the minimum wage at the time. Earlier in his political career, in 1989, he supported the death penalty; as well as rent vouchers and the deregulation of the housing market in New York City.
Hewes is pro-life, stating in an interview that he was worried by the number of politicians that "are utterly untroubled by the 58 million aborted children since 1973." He also stated in the same interview with Rolling Stone that he is against any form of capital punishment.
According to Hewes, the financial system in the United States requires reform, along with the Veterans Administration. He believes veterans should receive full medical insurance.