Editing Michael Bloomberg (section)

== Political career ==
=== Mayor of New York City ===
{{Main|Mayoralty of Michael Bloomberg}}
[[File:George W. Bush and Michael Bloomberg.jpg|thumb|Bloomberg with President [[George W. Bush]] in 2003]]

Bloomberg assumed office as the 108th [[mayor of New York City]] on January 1, 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Steinhauer|first=Jennifer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/01/nyregion/the-mayoral-transition-overview-bloomberg-takes-oath-as-108th-mayor-of-new-york.html|title=THE MAYORAL TRANSITION: OVERVIEW; Bloomberg Takes Oath as 108th Mayor of New York|date=January 1, 2002|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 19, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He won re-election in 2005 and again in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2009/11/04/bloomberg-elected-to-a-third-term/|title=Bloomberg elected to a third term|last=Lisi|first=Clemente|date=November 4, 2009|website=New York Post|language=en|access-date=March 19, 2020}}</ref> As mayor, he initially struggled with approval ratings as low as 24 percent;<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/mikebloomberg00purn |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/mikebloomberg00purn/page/102 102] |title=Mike Bloomberg: Money, Power, Politics |publisher=PublicAffairs |isbn=978-0-7867-4621-7 |last1=Purnick |first1=Joyce |author-link=Joyce Purnick|date=September 22, 2009 }}</ref> however, he subsequently developed and maintained high approval ratings.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/mikebloomberg00purn |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/mikebloomberg00purn/page/119 119] |title=Mike Bloomberg: Money, Power, Politics |publisher=PublicAffairs |isbn=978-0-7867-4621-7 |last1=Purnick |first1=Joyce |date=September 22, 2009 }}</ref> Bloomberg joined [[Rudy Giuliani]], [[John Lindsay]], and [[Fiorello La Guardia]] as re-elected Republican mayors in the mostly Democratic city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/03/mike-bloomberg-upsets-critics-wealth-seek-presidency/4753489002/|title=Bloomberg upsets critics by spending wealth to seek presidency|last=Krupa|first=Gregg|website=The Detroit News|language=en|access-date=March 19, 2020}}</ref>

Bloomberg stated that he wanted [[public education]] reform to be the legacy of his first term and addressing poverty to be the legacy of his second.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/education/3352-the-mayors-legacy-educational-improvements-and-poverty-reduction-or-bold-budgeting-and-economic-development |title=The Mayor's Legacy: Educational Improvements and Poverty Reduction, Or Bold Budgeting and Economic Development? |work=[[Gotham Gazette]] |date=August 13, 2007 |first=Glenn |last=Pasanen |access-date=February 17, 2020 }}</ref>

[[File:P111512PS-0317 (8248707334).jpg|thumb|Bloomberg with President [[Barack Obama]] in 2012]]

Bloomberg chose to apply a statistical, metrics-based management approach to city government, and granted departmental commissioners' broad autonomy in their decision-making. Breaking with 190 years of tradition, he implemented what ''New York Times'' political reporter [[Adam Nagourney]] called a "bullpen" [[open plan|open office]] plan, similar to a [[Wall Street]] trading floor, in which dozens of aides and managerial staff are seated together in a large chamber. The design is intended to promote accountability and accessibility.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nagourney |first=Adam |date=December 25, 2001 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/nyregion/bloomberg-vows-to-work-at-center-of-things.html |title=Bloomberg Vows to Work at Center of Things |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=October 18, 2016 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

Bloomberg accepted a [[One-dollar salary|remuneration of $1 annually]] in lieu of the mayoral salary.<ref>{{cite news |first=Robert W. |last=Wood |date=April 5, 2014 |work=Forbes |access-date=February 17, 2020 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2014/04/05/tax-smart-billionaires-who-work-for-1/ |title=Tax-Smart Billionaires Who Work For $1 }}</ref>

[[File:Primer Foro Latinoamericano Bloomberg Auspiciando la Alianza del Pacífico. (15138698720).jpg|thumb|Bloomberg with presidents of [[Colombia]], [[Chile]], [[Peru]] and [[Mexico]] in 2014]]

As mayor, Bloomberg turned the city's $6&nbsp;billion budget deficit into a $3&nbsp;billion surplus, largely by raising property taxes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/05/5832308/bloomberg-presents-balanced-budget-moving-parts|title=Bloomberg presents a balanced budget, with moving parts|last=Rubinstein|first=Dana|date=May 3, 2012|publisher=Capital New York|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506142304/http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/05/5832308/bloomberg-presents-balanced-budget-moving-parts|archive-date=May 6, 2012|access-date=November 5, 2012}}</ref> Bloomberg increased city funding for the new development of affordable housing through a plan that created and preserved an estimated 160,000 affordable homes in the city.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2015/04/the-mayors-affordable-housing-optimism-021017|title=The mayor's affordable housing optimism|work=Politico PRO|access-date=August 13, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/428-13/mayor-bloomberg-city-will-reach-160-000-units-affordable-housing-financed-under-new#/0|title=City will reach 160,000 units of affordable housing by year's end under New Housing Marketplace Plan|date=December 21, 2013|work=The official website of the City of New York|access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> In 2003, he implemented a successful [[smoking ban]] in all indoor workplaces, including bars and restaurants, and many other cities and states followed suit.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Farley|first=Tom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=COtwBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT39|title=Saving Gotham: A Billionaire Mayor, Activist Doctors, and the Fight for Eight Million Lives|date=October 13, 2015|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company|isbn=978-0-393-24880-7|language=en}}</ref> On December 5, 2006, New York City became the first city in the United States to [[Ban on trans-fat|ban trans-fat]] from all restaurants.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dunlap|first=David W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/01/nyregion/blocks-capturing-the-spirit-of-1776-but-with-a-different-number.html|title=Blocks; Capturing the Spirit of 1776, but With a Different Number|date=January 1, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 19, 2006}}</ref> This went into effect in July 2008 and has since been adopted in many other cities and countries. Bloomberg created [[bicycle lanes]], required chain restaurants to post [[Calorie count laws|calorie counts]], and [[pedestrianized]] much of [[Times Square]]. In 2011, Bloomberg launched the NYC Young Men's Initiative, a $127&nbsp;million initiative to support programs and policies designed to address disparities between young Black and Latino men and their peers, and personally donated $30&nbsp;million to the project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.org/press/releases/young-mens-initiative-to-aid-young-black-and-latino-males/|title=Young Men's Initiative to Aid Young Black and Latino Males|website=Bloomberg Philanthropies|language=en-US|access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> In 2010, Bloomberg supported the then-controversial [[Park51|Islamic complex near Ground Zero]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Dorothy Rabinowitz|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703545604575407160266158170|title=Liberal Piety and the Memory of 9/11; The enlightened class can't understand why the public is uneasy about the Ground Zero mosque|date=August 4, 2010|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=August 4, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725035032/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703545604575407160266158170|archive-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref>

Under the Bloomberg Administration, the [[New York City Police Department]] greatly expanded its [[Stop-and-frisk in New York City|stop and frisk]] program, with a sixfold increase in documented stops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nyclu.org/en/stop-and-frisk-data|title=Stop-and-Frisk Data|date=January 2, 2012|website=New York Civil Liberties Union|language=en|access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> The policy was challenged in [[U.S. Federal Court]], which ruled that the city's implementation of the policy violated citizens' rights under the [[Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fourth Amendment of the Constitution]] and encouraged racial profiling.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Devereaux|first=Ryan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/12/stop-and-frisk-landmark-ruling|title=New York's stop-and-frisk trial comes to a close with landmark ruling|date=August 12, 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=April 1, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Matt|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/12/new-york-stop-and-frisk-unconstitutional-judge|title=New York's stop-and-frisk policy is unconstitutional, judge rules|date=August 12, 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=April 1, 2020|last2=Devereaux|first2=Ryan|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Bloomberg's administration appealed the ruling; however, his successor, Mayor Bill de Blasio, dropped the appeal and allowed the ruling to take effect.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Weiser|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/nyregion/departing-judge-offers-blunt-defense-of-ruling-that-ended-stop-and-frisk.html|title=Departing Judge Offers Blunt Defense of Ruling in Stop-and-Frisk Case|date=May 2, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 1, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> After the [[September 11 attacks]], with assistance from the Central Intelligence Agency, Bloomberg's administration oversaw a controversial program that surveilled Muslim communities on the basis of their religion, ethnicity, and language.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/other/factsheet-nypd-muslim-surveillance-program|title=Factsheet: The NYPD Muslim Surveillance Program|website=American Civil Liberties Union|language=en|access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> The program was discontinued in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/21/justice/new-york-nypd-surveillance-no-leads/index.html|title=Surveillance unit produced no terrorism leads, NYPD says|first= David |last=Ariosto|website=CNN|date=August 22, 2012|access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref>

In a January 2014 [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute|Quinnipiac]] poll, 64 percent of voters called Bloomberg's 12 years as mayor "mainly a success".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://poll.qu.edu/new-york-city/release-detail?ReleaseID=1997|title=QU Poll Release Detail|website=QU Poll|publisher=[[Quinnipiac University]]|location=New Haven, Connecticut|language=en|access-date=May 7, 2018}}</ref>

=== Mayoral elections ===
==== 2001 election ====
{{Main|2001 New York City mayoral election}}

In 2001, New York's Republican mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]], was ineligible for re-election due to the city's limit of two consecutive terms. Bloomberg, who had been a lifelong member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], decided to run for mayor on the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ticket.<ref name="2001 election">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/08/nyregion/the-2001-elections-strategy-as-democrats-bicker-bloomberg-era-begins.html |access-date=February 15, 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Adam |last=Nagourney |title=The 2001 Elections: Strategy; As Democrats Bicker, Bloomberg Era Begins |date=November 8, 2001 |url-access=limited}}</ref> Voting in the primary began on the morning of September 11, 2001. The primary was postponed later that day, due to the [[September 11 attacks]]. In the rescheduled primary, Bloomberg defeated [[Herman Badillo]], a former Democratic [[United States House of Representatives|congressman]], to become the Republican nominee. After a [[Two-round system|runoff]], the Democratic nomination went to [[New York City Public Advocate]] [[Mark Green (New York politician)|Mark Green]].

Bloomberg received Giuliani's endorsement to succeed him in the 2001 election. He also had a huge campaign spending advantage. Although New York City's [[Campaign finance in the United States|campaign finance]] law restricts the total amount of contributions that a candidate can accept, Bloomberg chose not to use public funds and therefore his campaign was not subject to these restrictions. He spent $73&nbsp;million of his own money on his campaign, outspending Green by a ratio of five to one.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/143966p-127415c.html |title=Mike's Wrong, Campaign Fixes Make Sense |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |author=Russianoff, Gene |date=December 9, 2003 |archive-date=January 5, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060105025803/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/143966p-127415c.html|author-link=Gene Russianoff |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the wake of the September 11 attacks, Bloomberg's administration made a successful bid to host the [[2004 Republican National Convention]]. The [[2004 Republican National Convention protest activity|convention drew thousands of protesters]], among them New Yorkers against [[George W. Bush]] and the Bush administration's pursuit of the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-aug-30-na-bloomberg30-story.html|title=Bloomberg Walks a Fine Line as Host|date=August 30, 2004|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bloomberg Makes City's Bid For 2004 G.O.P. Convention |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/18/nyregion/bloomberg-makes-city-s-bid-for-2004-gop-convention.html |website=The New York Times |first=Raymond |last=Hernandez |date=June 18, 2002 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

==== 2005 election ====
{{Main|2005 New York City mayoral election}}

Bloomberg was re-elected mayor in November 2005 by a margin of 20 percent, the widest margin ever for a Republican mayor of New York City.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/363961p-309955c.html |title=Bloomberg wins by a KO: Crushes Ferrer by nearly 20-point margin |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=November 9, 2005 |access-date=November 12, 2008 |archive-date=November 26, 2005 |first1=Lisa L. |last1=Colangelo |first2=David |last2=Saltonstall |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126142753/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/363961p-309955c.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> He spent almost $78&nbsp;million on his campaign, exceeding the record of $74&nbsp;million he spent on the previous election. In late 2004 or early 2005, Bloomberg gave the [[Independence Party of New York]] $250,000 to fund a phone bank seeking to recruit volunteers for his re-election campaign.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Haberman, Maggie |author2=Saltonstall, David |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/268291p-229740c.html |title=Mayor Hires Indys To Hunt volunteers |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=January 5, 2005 |archive-date=January 5, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050105171254/http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/268291p-229740c.html |access-date=July 12, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Former Bronx Borough President [[Fernando Ferrer]] won the Democratic nomination to oppose Bloomberg in the general election. [[Thomas Ognibene]] sought to run against Bloomberg in the Republican Party's primary election.<ref name=schulman>{{cite news |last=Schulman |first=Robin |date=August 4, 2005 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/04/nyregion/metrocampaigns/04ognibene.html |title=Ognibene Loses Bid for Line on Ballot Against Bloomberg |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=limited}}</ref> The Bloomberg campaign successfully challenged the signatures Ognibene submitted to the Board of Elections to prevent Ognibene from appearing on ballots for the Republican primary.<ref name=schulman /> Instead, Ognibene ran on only the [[Conservative Party of New York State|Conservative Party]] ticket.<ref>{{cite news |last=Clyne |first=Meghan |url=https://www.nysun.com/new-york/ognibene-will-fight-bloomberg-all-the-way/12873/ |title=Ognibene Will Fight Bloomberg All the Way to November Election |work=[[The New York Sun]] |date=April 27, 2005 }}</ref> Ognibene accused Bloomberg of betraying Republican Party ideals, a feeling echoed by others.<ref>{{cite news |last=Levy |first=Julia |url=https://www.nysun.com/new-york/bloombergs-republican-problem/20193/ |title=Bloomberg's 'Republican' Problem |work=[[The New York Sun]] |date=September 19, 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lagorio |first=Christine |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gop-mayors-reign-over-liberal-nyc/ |title=GOP Mayors Reign Over Liberal NYC |work=[[CBS News]] |date=October 22, 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Gerald |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article1081546.ece |url-status=dead |title=Democrats Celebrate as Voters Pile Woe Upon Woe for Bush |work=[[The Times]] |date=November 10, 2005 |access-date=October 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614213156/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article1081546.ece |archive-date=June 14, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rudin |first=Ken |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11221628 |title=Bloomberg News: A 'Subway Series' for President? |work=NPR |date=June 20, 2007 }}</ref>

Bloomberg opposed the confirmation of [[John Roberts]] as [[Chief Justice of the United States]].<ref name="PR- 354-05">{{cite web |title=Statement By Mayor Bloomberg On Supreme Court Chief Justice Nominee John Roberts |url=https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/354-05/statement-mayor-bloomberg-supreme-court-chief-justice-nominee-john-roberts |first1=Edward |last1=Skyler |first2=Jordan |last2=Barowitz |publisher=The City of New York |access-date=January 20, 2011 |date=September 16, 2005 |archive-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219132110/https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/354-05/statement-mayor-bloomberg-supreme-court-chief-justice-nominee-john-roberts |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bloomberg is a staunch supporter of [[abortion rights]] and did not believe that Roberts was committed to maintaining ''[[Roe v. Wade]]''.<ref name="PR- 354-05" /> In addition to Republican support, Bloomberg obtained the endorsements of several prominent Democrats: former Democratic mayor [[Ed Koch]]; former Democratic governor [[Hugh Carey]]; former Democratic City Council Speaker [[Peter Vallone]], and his son, Councilman [[Peter Vallone Jr.]]; former Democratic Congressman [[Floyd Flake]] (who had previously endorsed Bloomberg in 2001), and [[Brooklyn]] [[Borough President]] [[Marty Markowitz]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/353944p-301791c.html |title=Mike Soaks Up 2 Big Nods: Vallones Cross Party Line for Mayor |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=October 9, 2005 |access-date=November 12, 2008 |archive-date=January 4, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104155720/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/353944p-301791c.html |first=Celeste |last=Katz |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== 2009 election ====
{{Main|2009 New York City mayoral election}}
[[File:Mayor Michael Bloomberg (cropped).jpg|thumb|Bloomberg in 2007]]

On October 2, 2008, Bloomberg announced he would seek to extend the [[New York City mayoral elections#Terms and term limits (since 1834)|city's term limits law]] and run for a third mayoral term in 2009. Bloomberg said, "Handling this financial crisis while strengthening essential services&nbsp;... is a challenge I want to take on," Bloomberg said at a news conference. "So should the City Council vote to amend term limits, I plan to ask New Yorkers to look at my record of independent leadership and then decide if I have earned another term."<ref name=Honan_Reuters_20081002>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0228265920081002 |title=NYC's Bloomberg Says To Seek Third Term as Mayor |date=October 2, 2008 |author=Honan, Edith |work=Reuters}}</ref>

[[Ronald Lauder]], who campaigned for New York City's term limits in 1993 and spent over 4&nbsp;million dollars of his own money to limit the maximum years a mayor could serve to eight years,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/24/nyregion/ronald-lauder-leader-of-term-limit-band.html |title=Ronald Lauder, Leader Of Term-Limit Band |author=Steven Lee Myers |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 24, 1993 |url-access=limited}}</ref> sided with Bloomberg and agreed to stay out of future legality issues.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/lauder-favors-a-third-term-for-bloomberg/ |title=Lauder Favors a Third Term for Bloomberg |first=Jonathan P. |last=Hicks |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 30, 2008 |url-access=limited}}</ref> In exchange, he was promised a seat on an influential city board by Bloomberg.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/term-limit-deal-ronald-lauder-agrees-stay-legal-battle-return-city-board-seat-article-1.299400 |title=Term limit deal: Ronald Lauder agrees to stay out of legal battle in return for city board seat |first=Erin |last=Einhorn |newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=October 6, 2008}}</ref>

Some people and organizations objected and [[NYPIRG]] filed a complaint with the City Conflict of Interest Board.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mas.org/citizens-unionnypirg-forum-on-term-limits-tonight |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106100625/http://mas.org/citizens-unionnypirg-forum-on-term-limits-tonight/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 6, 2012 |title=Citizens Union/NYPIRG Forum on Term Limits Tonight |publisher=mas.org}}</ref> On October 23, 2008, the city council voted 29–22 in favor of extending the term limit to three consecutive four-year terms.<ref name="nyccouncil">{{cite news |url=http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts/bloomberg.third.term.2.847239.html |title={{-'}}Aye' And Mighty: Bloomberg's Wish Is Granted |website=[[WCBS-TV]] |date=October 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025085132/http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts/bloomberg.third.term.2.847239.html |first=Marcia |last=Kramer |archive-date=October 25, 2008}}</ref> After two days of public hearings, Bloomberg signed the bill into law on November 3.<ref name=Chan-Chen_NYT_20081103>{{cite news |url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/bloomberg-hears-opponents-of-term-limits-bill |title=City Room: After an Earful, Mayor Signs Term Limits Bill |work=[[The New York Times]] |author-link=Sewell Chan |last1=Chan |first1=Sewell |last2=Chen |first2=David W. |date=November 3, 2008 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

Bloomberg's bid for a third term generated some controversy. Civil libertarians such as former [[New York Civil Liberties Union]] Director [[Norman Siegel]] and New York Civil Rights Coalition Executive Director Michael Meyers joined with local politicians to protest the process as undermining the democratic process.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.sohojournal.com/?p=1374 |title=New Yorkers Protest Against Bloomberg Plan to Override Term Limits. |publisher=Archive.sohojournal.com |date=October 6, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208140310/http://archive.sohojournal.com/?p=1374 |first=Jo |last=Panisch |archive-date=December 8, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Bloomberg's opponent was [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] and [[Working Families Party]] nominee [[Bill Thompson (New York)|Bill Thompson]], who had been [[New York City Comptroller]] for the past eight years and before that, president of the [[New York City Board of Education]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov |title=Office of the New York City Comptroller |publisher=Comptroller.nyc.gov |date=April 14, 2014 |access-date=April 20, 2014}}</ref> Bloomberg defeated Thompson by a vote of 51 percent to 46 percent.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2009/results/index.html |title=2009 Election Results |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 5, 2009 |access-date=May 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107034641/http://elections.nytimes.com/2009/results/index.html |archive-date=November 7, 2009}}</ref> Bloomberg spent $109.2&nbsp;million on his 2009 campaign, outspending Thompson by a margin of more than 11 to one.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/news/2010/07/final_total_of_mayor_bloomberg.html|title=Final total of Mayor Bloomberg's 2009 campaign: $109M|agency=Associated Press|date=July 15, 2010|website=silive}}</ref>

After the release of Independence Party campaign filings in January 2010, it was reported that Bloomberg had made two $600,000 contributions from his personal account to the Independence Party on October 30 and November 2, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |author-link=Elizabeth Benjamin (journalist) |last=Benjamin |first=Elizabeth |title=Bloomberg's Independence (Pay)Day |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=January 25, 2010 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/01/bloombergs-independence-payday.html |access-date=April 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130014725/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/01/bloombergs-independence-payday.html |archive-date=January 30, 2010}}</ref> The Independence Party then paid $750,000 of that money to Republican Party political operative John Haggerty Jr.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eligon |first=John |title=How G.O.P. Worker Got Bloomberg Money Is Investigated |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/nyregion/10independence.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 9, 2010 |access-date=April 17, 2010 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

This prompted an investigation beginning in February 2010 by the office of [[New York County District Attorney]] [[Cyrus Vance Jr.]] into possible improprieties.<ref>{{cite news |last=Benjamin |first=Elizabeth |title=Vance Investigating Indy/Bloomberg/Haggerty Connection |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=February 9, 2010 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/02/vance-investigating-indybloomb.html |access-date=April 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215225017/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/02/vance-investigating-indybloomb.html |archive-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref> The Independence Party later questioned how Haggerty spent the money, which was to go to poll-watchers.<ref>{{cite news |author=Benjamin, Elizabeth |title=Independence Party to Haggerty: Where's Our Money? |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=February 12, 2010 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/02/independence-party-to-haggerty.html |access-date=April 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217092127/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/02/independence-party-to-haggerty.html |archive-date=February 17, 2010}}</ref> Former New York State Senator [[Martin Connor]] contended that because the Bloomberg donations were made to an Independence Party housekeeping account rather than to an account meant for current campaigns, this was a violation of campaign finance laws.<ref>{{cite news |author=Barrett, Wayne |title=Mike Bloomberg's $1.2 Million Indy Party Donation Gets Murkier and Murkier |work=[[The Village Voice]] |date=March 2, 2010 |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/03/mike_bloomberg_3.php |access-date=April 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709162713/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/03/mike_bloomberg_3.php |archive-date=July 9, 2010}}</ref> Haggerty also spent money from a separate $200,000 donation from Bloomberg on office space.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Calder, Rich |author2=Seifman, David |title=Mike Poll Watcher Also Rented Office |work=[[New York Post]] |date=February 16, 2010 |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/mike_poll_watcher_also_rented_office_qVYB5U94wgeOcz0uJKNVrN |access-date=February 16, 2010}}</ref>

==== 2013 election ====
{{Main|2013 New York City mayoral election}}

On September 13, 2013, Bloomberg announced that he would not endorse any of the candidates to succeed him.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Michael |last1=Barbaro |first2=Kate |last2=Taylor |title=Bloomberg Decides Not to Endorse a Successor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/14/nyregion/bloomberg-says-he-will-not-make-endorsement-in-mayoral-race.html |work=The New York Times |date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013 |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mayor Bloomberg focused on his legacy as he prepares to leave office |url=https://news.yahoo.com/michael-bloomberg-election-future-231927885.html |first=Holly |last=Bailey |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=November 6, 2013}}</ref> On his radio show, he stated, "I don't want to do anything that complicates it for the next mayor. And that's one of the reasons I've decided I'm just not going to make an endorsement in the race." He added, "I want to make sure that person is ready to succeed, to take what we've done and build on that."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/14/nyregion/bloomberg-says-he-will-not-make-endorsement-in-mayoral-race.html|title=Bloomberg Decides Not to Endorse a Successor|first1=Michael|last1=Barbaro|first2=Kate|last2=Taylor|date=September 13, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|url-access=limited}}</ref>

[[File:PM Narendra Modi with Michael Bloomberg.jpg|thumb|Bloomberg with Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] in 2015]]
Bloomberg praised ''[[The New York Times]]'' for its endorsement of [[Christine Quinn]] and [[Joe Lhota]] as their favorite candidates in the Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=In Conversation: Michael Bloomberg |url=http://nymag.com/news/politics/bloomberg/in-conversation-2013-9/# |first=Chris |last=Smith |work=New York |date=September 7, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Michael Bloomberg: I Won't Endorse Candidate In New York City Mayor Race |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/13/michael-bloomberg-endorse-no-new-york-city-mayor-race_n_3920428.html |work=The Huffington Post |date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013 |first=Christopher |last=Mathias}}</ref> Quinn came in third in the Democratic primary and Lhota won the Republican primary. Bloomberg criticized Democratic mayoral candidate [[Bill de Blasio]]'s campaign methods, which he initially called "racist"; Bloomberg later downplayed and partially retracted those remarks.<ref>{{cite news |last=Louis |first=Errol |title=Bloomberg's 'racist' remark reveals much |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/09/opinion/louis-bloomberg-de-blasio |publisher=CNN |date=September 9, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AtlanticRacist>{{cite news |last=Simpson |first=Connor |title=New York Alters Bloomberg 'Racist' Accusation |url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/michael-bloomberg-calls-bill-de-blasios-campaign-racist/69157 |work=The Atlantic |date=September 7, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013 |archive-date=September 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910023336/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/michael-bloomberg-calls-bill-de-blasios-campaign-racist/69157/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On January 1, 2014, de Blasio became New York City's new mayor, succeeding Bloomberg.<ref>{{cite news |last=Deprez |first=Esmé E. |title=Obama Endorses Fellow Democrat De Blasio for New York Mayor |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-23/obama-endorses-fellow-democrat-de-blasio-for-new-york-city-mayor.html |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |access-date=October 10, 2013 |date=September 23, 2013}}</ref>

=== Post-mayoral political involvement ===
{{See also|Draft Bloomberg movement}}

Bloomberg was frequently mentioned as a possible [[centrist]] candidate for the presidential elections in [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Sam |date=December 31, 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/us/politics/31bloomberg.html |title=Bloomberg Moves Closer to Running for President |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=December 31, 2007 |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author-link=David Broder |last=Broder |first=David S. |date=December 30, 2007 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/29/AR2007122901476.html |title=Bipartisan Group Eyes Independent Bid |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=November 13, 2016 }}</ref> and [[2012 United States presidential election|2012]], as well as for governor of New York [[2010 New York gubernatorial election|in 2010]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/11062007/news/regionalnews/mikes_secret_bid_to_run_vs__spitzer_789523.htm |first1=Frederic U. |last1=Dicker |first2=David |last2=Seifman |title=Mike's Secret Bid To Run vs. Spitzer |work=[[New York Post]] |date=November 6, 2007 }}</ref> or vice-president in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2007/06/mike-for-veep-001897 |title=Mike for Veep? |work=[[Politico]] |author=Smith, Ben |date=June 21, 2007}}</ref> He eventually declined to seek all of these offices.

In the immediate aftermath of [[Hurricane Sandy]] in November 2012, Bloomberg penned an op-ed officially endorsing [[Barack Obama]] for president, citing Obama's policies on climate change.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2012-11-01/a-vote-for-a-president-to-lead-on-climate-change |first=Michael R. |last=Bloomberg |date=November 1, 2012 |title=A Vote for a President to Lead on Climate Change |work=Bloomberg |access-date=November 1, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=bloomswitch>{{cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Raymond |title=Bloomberg Backs Obama, Citing Fallout From Storm |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/nyregion/bloomberg-endorses-obama-saying-hurricane-sandy-affected-decision.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 3, 2012 |url-access=limited |date=November 1, 2012 |quote=he had decided over the past several days that Mr. Obama was the better candidate to tackle the global climate change that he believes might have contributed to the violent storm}}</ref>

==== 2016 elections ====
[[File:Michael Bloomberg 2016 DNC CoanJrKWgAQo2be.jpg|thumb|right|Bloomberg speaking at the [[2016 Democratic National Convention]]]]

On January 23, 2016, it was reported that Bloomberg was again considering a presidential run, as an independent candidate in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 election]], if Bernie Sanders got the Democratic party nomination.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/24/nyregion/bloomberg-sensing-an-opening-revisits-a-potential-white-house-run.html|title=Bloomberg, Sensing an Opening, Revisits a Potential White House Run|first1=Alexander|last1=Burns|first2=Maggie|last2=Haberman|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/01/bernie-sanders-may-inspire-michael-bloomberg-to-run-for-president|title=Michael Bloomberg May Enter The Presidential Race|first=Rachel|last=Handler|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=January 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://morningconsult.com/2016/01/24/poll-bloomberg-vs-sanders-vs-trump/|title=Poll: Bloomberg vs. Sanders vs. Trump|date=January 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/michael-bloomberg-mulling-run-for-president-as-an-independent-1453568255 |title=Michael Bloomberg Mulling Run for President as Independent |author=Mara Gay |date=January 24, 2016 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Michael Bloomberg mulls presidential run on heels of Trump surge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/23/michael-bloomberg-considers-third-party-presidential-bid |newspaper=The Guardian |date=January 23, 2016 |access-date=January 24, 2016 |issn=0261-3077 |first=Edward |last=Helmore}}</ref> This was the first time he had officially confirmed he was considering a run.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bloomberg: I'm considering 2016 bid |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/08/politics/michael-bloomberg-2016-election/ |newspaper=CNN |date=February 8, 2016 |access-date=February 9, 2016 |first=Dylan |last=Byers}}</ref> Bloomberg supporters believed that Bloomberg could run as a centrist and capture many voters who were dissatisfied with the likely Democratic and Republican nominees.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2016/02/18/michael-bloombergs-moment |title=Michael Bloomberg's Moment |newspaper=The Economist |date=February 20, 2016 |access-date=February 19, 2020 }}</ref> However, on March 7, Bloomberg announced he would not be running for president.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2016-03-07/the-2016-election-risk-that-michael-bloomberg-won-t-take |access-date=February 19, 2020 |title=The Risk I Will Not Take |first=Michael R. |last=Bloomberg |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=March 7, 2016 |publisher=Bloomberg View}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/08/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-not-running-for-president.html |title=Michael Bloomberg Will Not Enter Presidential Race |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |date=March 7, 2016 |last2=Burns |first2=Alexander |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=March 7, 2016 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

In July 2016, Bloomberg delivered a speech at the [[2016 Democratic National Convention]] in which he called Hillary Clinton "the right choice".<ref name=":4">{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-07-28/the-independent-s-case-for-clinton |title=The Independent's Case for Clinton |last=Bloomberg |first=Michael R. |date=July 27, 2016 |work=Bloomberg.com |access-date=July 26, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="bloom4hillary">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/25/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-hillary-clinton-dnc.html |title=Dismayed by Donald Trump, Michael Bloomberg Will Endorse Hillary Clinton |last=Burns |first=Alexander |date=July 24, 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=July 27, 2016 |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="vox_prokopday3">{{cite news |last1=Prokop |first1=Andrew |title=How to watch the Democratic convention 2016: DNC live stream, TV channel, and schedule of events |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/7/25/12268364/watch-dnc-democratic-convention-2016-live-stream-tv-channel-schedule-events |access-date=July 27, 2016 |publisher=Vox |date=July 27, 2016}}</ref> Bloomberg warned of the dangers a Donald Trump presidency would pose. He said Trump "wants you to believe that we can solve our biggest problems by deporting Mexicans and shutting out Muslims. He wants you to believe that erecting trade barriers will bring back good jobs. He's wrong on both counts." Bloomberg also said Trump's economic plans "would make it harder for small businesses to compete" and would "erode our influence in the world". Trump responded to the speech by condemning Bloomberg in a series of tweets.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Prokop |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/7/29/12324696/donald-trump-michael-bloomberg-dnc |title=Michael Bloomberg's DNC speech really got under Trump's skin |date=July 29, 2016 |website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |access-date=July 31, 2016}}</ref>

==== 2018 elections ====
In June 2018, Bloomberg pledged $80&nbsp;million to support Democratic congressional candidates in the [[United States House of Representatives election, 2018|2018 election]], with the goal of flipping control of the Republican-controlled House to Democrats. In a statement, Bloomberg said that Republican House leadership were "absolutely feckless" and had failed to govern responsibly. Bloomberg advisor [[Howard Wolfson]] was chosen to lead the effort, which was to target mainly suburban districts.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alexander |last=Burns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/mike-bloomberg-democrats-election.html |access-date=February 19, 2020 |title=Michael Bloomberg Will Spend $80 Million on the Midterms. His Goal: Flip the House for the Democrats |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 20, 2018 |url-access=limited}}</ref> By early October, Bloomberg had committed more than $100&nbsp;million to returning the House and Senate to Democratic power, fueling speculation about a presidential run in [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.axios.com/2018-midterm-elections-michael-bloomberg-house-democrats-88857edd-928a-483f-90ff-0472d8b766e9.html |title=Scoop: Michael Bloomberg becomes House Dems' $100 million man |last=Allen |first=Mike |date=September 27, 2018 |website=Axios |language=en |access-date=October 10, 2018}}</ref> On October 10, 2018, Bloomberg announced that he had returned to the Democratic party.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 10, 2018 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/10/politics/michael-bloomberg-registers-as-a-democrat/index.html |title=Bloomberg re-registers as a Democrat, saying the party must provide 'checks and balances' |first=Devan |last=Cole |work=CNN |access-date=October 10, 2018}}</ref>

=== 2020 presidential campaign ===
{{Main|Michael Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign}}
[[File:Mike Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign logo.svg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|Bloomberg's [[Michael Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign|2020 presidential campaign]] logo]]
[[File:Michael Bloomberg (49474988353).jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|Bloomberg at a campaign rally in [[Phoenix, Arizona]], in February 2020]]
On March 5, 2019, Bloomberg had announced that he would not run for president in 2020. Instead, he encouraged the Democratic Party to "nominate a Democrat who will be in the strongest position to defeat [[Donald Trump]]."<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Associated Press]] |first=Steve |last=Peoples |title=Ex-NYC Mayor Bloomberg won't run for president in 2020 |url=https://www.apnews.com/8a5d3aebc5bb4e4e97d301e119cd95a2 |date=March 5, 2019 |access-date=March 5, 2019}}</ref> However, due to his dissatisfaction with the Democratic field, Bloomberg reconsidered. He officially launched his campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination on November 24, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/24/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-2020-presidency.html |title=Michael Bloomberg Joins 2020 Democratic Field for President |last=Burns |first=Alexander |date=November 24, 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 24, 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

Bloomberg self-funded his campaign from his personal fortune and did not accept campaign contributions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/23/michael-bloomberg-refuse-donations-presidential-bid|title=Michael Bloomberg vows to refuse donations as presidential bid looms|date=November 23, 2019| agency=Associated Press| work=The Guardian|access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref>

Bloomberg's campaign suffered from his lackluster performance in two televised debates.<ref name=EndCostlyBid>Patricia Mazzei, Rebecca R. Ruiz & Jeremy W. Peters, [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-drops-out.html Michael Bloomberg Quits Democratic Race, Ending a Brief and Costly Bid], ''New York Times'' (March 4, 2020).</ref> When Bloomberg participated in his first presidential debate, [[Elizabeth Warren]] challenged him to release women from non-disclosure agreements relating to their [[Bloomberg L.P.#Controversies|allegations of sexual harassment at Bloomberg L.P.]] Two days later, Bloomberg announced that there were three women who had made complaints concerning him, and added that he would release any of the three if they request him to do so.<ref>{{Cite news| last1=Corasaniti|first1=Nick|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-nda.html| title=Bloomberg, in Reversal, Says He'll Release 3 Women From Nondisclosure Agreements| date=February 21, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 22, 2020|last2=Grynbaum| first2=Michael M.|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bloomberg offers to release women from three confidentiality agreements |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/21/politics/michael-bloomberg-nondisclosure-release/index.html |date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> Warren continued her attack in the second debate the next week. Others criticized Bloomberg for his wealth and campaign spending,<ref name="Feb 25 debate">{{cite news |title=Bloomberg improves from his last debate – but is it enough? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bloomberg-improves-from-his-last-debate--but-is-it-enough/2020/02/25/ec87f7ba-57ef-11ea-9b35-def5a027d470_story.html |access-date=February 29, 2020 |issue=February 26, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref name="debate 2 carville">{{cite news |title=Carville on Debate: "Warren Gives The Impression That She'd Rather Beat Bloomberg Than Win Herself" |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/02/25/carville_on_debate_warren_gives_the_impression_that_shed_rather_beat_bloomberg_than_win_herself.html |date=February 25, 2020}}</ref> as well as his former affiliation with the Republican Party.<ref name=EndCostlyBid />

As a late entrant to the race, Bloomberg skipped the first four state primaries and caucuses.<ref name=Mehta>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-03-04/michael-bloomberg-quits-presidential-race|title=Michael Bloomberg drops out of the presidential race and endorses Joe Biden|author=Seema Mehta|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> He spent $676&nbsp;million of his personal fortune on the primary campaign, breaking a record for the most money ever spent on a presidential primary campaign.<ref name=Mehta /> His campaign blanketed the country with campaign advertisements on broadcast and cable television, the Internet, and radio,<ref>{{cite news| author=Jessica Taylor|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/17/797048821/new-figures-show-billionaire-candidates-spending-big-with-little-return|title=New Figures Show Billionaire Candidates Spending Big, With Little Return|newspaper=[[NPR]]|date=January 17, 2020}}</ref> as well as [[direct mail]].<ref name=EndCostlyBid /> Bloomberg also spent heavily on campaign operations that grew to 200 field offices and more than 2,400 paid campaign staffers.<ref name=EndCostlyBid /> His support in [[Nationwide opinion polling for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|nationwide opinion polls]] never exceeded 15 percent but stagnated or dropped before [[Super Tuesday]],<ref>Yelena Dzhanova, [https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/26/mike-bloomberg-stalls-in-presidential-polls-ahead-of-super-tuesday-vote.html Mike Bloomberg's momentum stalls in presidential polls ahead of Super Tuesday vote], CNBC (February 26, 2020).</ref> while former vice president [[Joe Biden]] had become the frontrunner after receiving the support of major candidates [[Pete Buttigieg]] and [[Amy Klobuchar]] shortly before Super Tuesday. Bloomberg suspended his campaign on March 4, 2020, after a disappointing Super Tuesday in which he [[2020 United States presidential caucuses in American Samoa|won only American Samoa]], and subsequently endorsed Biden.<ref name=Mehta /><ref name=EndCostlyBid /> Bloomberg donated $18 million to the Democratic National Committee and publicly planned a "massive spending blitz" to support Biden's campaign.<ref>{{Cite web| last=Schwartz| first=Brian| date=May 15, 2020|title=Mike Bloomberg plots spending blitz to support Joe Biden's run for president|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/15/mike-bloomberg-plots-spending-blitz-to-back-joe-biden-campaign.html| access-date=July 24, 2020|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Michael Bloomberg Sworn In as Defense Innovation Board Chair 220622-D-D0439-101.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|Bloomberg is sworn in as chair of the Defense Innovation Board in June 2022.]]

When a ''[[60 Minutes]]'' correspondent remarked on March 1 that Bloomberg had spent twice what President Trump had raised, he was asked how much he would spend. Bloomberg replied, "I'm making an investment in this country. My investment is I'm going to remove President Trump from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or at least try as hard as I can."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mike-bloomberg-2020-democratic-presidential-candidate-60-minutes-2020-03-01/| title=Mike Bloomberg tells 60 Minutes why he should be president|author=Pelley, Scott| date=March 1, 2020|access-date=March 4, 2020|publisher=CBS News}}</ref>

Speaking on the final night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Bloomberg took aim at Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the American economy: "Would you rehire or work for someone who ran your business into the ground? Who always does what's best for him or her, even when it hurts the company, and whose reckless decisions put you in danger, and who spends more time tweeting than working? If the answer is no, why the hell would we ever rehire Donald Trump for another four years?"<ref>{{Cite web|first=Daniel|last=Villarreal |date=August 20, 2020|title=Mike Bloomberg trashes Donald Trump's business record in fiery DNC speech| url=https://www.newsweek.com/mike-bloomberg-trashes-donald-trumps-business-record-fiery-dnc-speech-1526608|access-date=September 8, 2020|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| date=August 21, 2020|title=Don't Rehire a Failed President|language=en| work=Bloomberg.com| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-08-21/michael-bloomberg-dnc-speech-why-i-m-voting-for-joe-biden|access-date=September 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Thrush| first=Glenn |date=August 28, 2020|title=Joe Biden Pledges to 'Overcome This Season of Darkness' as the D.N.C. Ends |language=en-US|work=The New York Times| url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/08/20/us/dnc-convention-election| access-date=September 8, 2020 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== Defense Innovation Board ===
In February 2022, Bloomberg was nominated to chair the [[Defense Innovation Board]], being sworn in on June 22, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2929557/dod-announces-chair-for-the-defense-innovation-board/|title=DOD Announces Chair for the Defense Innovation Board|date=February 9, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022|website=[[U.S. Department of Defense]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Conte|first=Michael|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/09/politics/bloomberg-nominated-defense-innovation-board/index.html|title=Pentagon nominates Michael Bloomberg to lead Defense Innovation Board|date=February 9, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022|website=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3070020/michael-bloomberg-sworn-in-as-defense-innovation-board-chair/|title=Michael Bloomberg Sworn In as Defense Innovation Board Chair|date=June 22, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022|website=[[U.S. Department of Defense]]}}</ref>