NEW YORK – Democratic mayoral contender Andrew Yang was hospitalized Friday morning after being diagnosed with what “appears to be a kidney stone,” his campaign said in a statement.
Yang, the frontrunner in the mayor’s race who ran for president last year, received the diagnosis after going to the emergency room with abdominal pain, his campaign said.
His wife, Evelyn tweeted an update: “In the hospital with Andrew where we had our babies. Andrew is doing well on meds, with the best care team ever. We are joking about how this kidney stone is our third baby. Apparently it’s the closest men can get to labor . Thank you all for your well wishes.”
His campaign did not disclose where Yang is being treated and said in a written statement that his public events for Friday, which included attending a Broadway show with his wife Evelyn, had been canceled.
Campaign co-manager Chris Coffey said Friday morning that Yang is “undergoing tests now” and that he experienced “severe pain this morning.”
“We’ll update more when we know more,” he said in a text.
Yang had planned to hold a press conference at noon Friday touting the reopening of Broadway theaters with an announcement that he and his wife planned to take in a concert from Lillias White at Green Room 42. In recent weeks, he’s made a habit of cheerleading various reopening dates, such as the return of movie theaters and baseball’s opening day Thursday.
In February, he tested positive for coronavirus, raising questions about the safety of campaigning in person during a pandemic. That positive test result came after a staffer tested positive for the disease just days after Yang announced his run in January.
The bad news for Yang prompted fans to send their well wishes over social media.
“Praying for your swift recovery/healing, Andrew!” wrote Dino Manrique on Twitter.
“Ohh boy do I know how these feel,” tweeted Blake Bowser. “Get well @AndrewYang. I’ve had kidney stones myself and they are not fun.”
At least one Twitterer tried to find some humor in the pain and blamed the food at Yankee Stadium, where Yang went Thursday to take in opening day.
“Yankee stadium nachos strike again,” one man snarked from Twitter handle @eacisneros.
