Gay, HIV-positive Democrat Corey Johnson running for New York City mayor

New York City could get an openly gay Mayor, as council speaker Corey Johnson launched a campaign to back his potential run for the office.

Johnson, the out-and-proud Speaker of New York City Council, confirmed he is considering a run to replace the city’s term-limited Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose is set to leave the office in 2021.

The potential candidate officially launched a Corey 2021 campaign well in advance of the election, which is slated for November 2021.

In a tweet on January 28, he confirmed: “It’s a big decision, but I am thinking about a potential people-powered Mayoral run.”

New York City council speaker Corey Johnson attends the U=U Rally to end HIV Stigma at the NYC AIDS Memorial on 23, 2017 in New York City. (Getty)

Johnson vowed to take no money from “real estate developers, lobbyists or corporate PACs,” and limit the maximum individual contribution to his campaign to $250.

The announcement was followed by a rush of support, Johnson says.

The candidate later tweeted: “My team just told me we’re averaging about one contribution per minute this morning since I announced I’m considering a Mayoral run.

“My campaign isn’t taking a cent from lobbyists, real estate developers or corporate PACs, so I need you.”

The election of an openly gay mayor would represent a remarkable change in the city, which once saw an infamously homophobic battle for the role.

In the 1977 election between Mario Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Ed Koch, a smear campaign was launched bearing the slogan “Vote for Cuomo, not for the homo.”