Democrat Andrew Yang, who may crash 2020 presidential debates, heads to Houston

Andrew Yang, a candidate in the Democratic primaries for president, speaks at a town hall meeting sponsored by the Euclid chapter of the NAACP at Christ Lutheran Church in Cleveland, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Phil Long) less Andrew Yang, a candidate in the Democratic primaries for president, speaks at a town hall meeting sponsored by the Euclid chapter of the NAACP at Christ Lutheran Church in Cleveland, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. (AP ... more Photo: Phil Long, FRE / Associated Press Photo: Phil Long, FRE / Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Democrat Andrew Yang, who may crash 2020 presidential debates, heads to Houston 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Andrew Yang is a 44-year-old venture capitalist from upstate New York who has never held political office and barely registers among 2020 Democratic presidential contenders in the polls.

But Yang, who is planning a pair of campaign events in Houston this weekend, has a real shot at being one of the Democrats who will make the cut to get on the debate stage with the likes of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and possibly former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke.

The reason: New Democratic Party rules adopted after 2016 to assure more candidates get access to the debates. To qualify, candidates must get at least 1 percent in key polls, or collect campaign donations from at least 65,000 people — and Yang says he is nearly there, with 51,000 donors.

That list includes at least 87 Texans, according to campaign finance reports filed in January. The Texas donations average $37 per person, with many giving just $1 or $2 to help Yang get closer to the 65,000-person threshold.

His supporters in Houston are making the push on social media calling for people to attend a pair of events on Saturday and Sunday to boost Yang’s chances of bringing his unorthodox campaign to a national stage.

Yang speaks at a reception 8 p.m. Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn, Houston West Belt. Then he will hold a fundraising event on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at the same location.

Before heading to Houston, Yang stopped in Austin where the South By Southwest Festival is kicking off and featuring major Democratic presidential candidates such as Warren, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro. Yang speaks Friday night in Austin at an event not officially sanctioned by SXSW.

A big part of his campaign is pushing for a program that would give every American $1,000 a month from the government. He calls the money the “Universal Basic Income” program. He said that money is meant to offset automation that is eliminating manufacturing jobs and will continue to cut into other job sectors such as retail, call centers, truck driving and fast food.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com