Midterm elections: Kanye West donates $200,000 to Chicago mayoral candidate

West announced he is distancing himself from politics after being used to 'spread message [he] don't believe in'

Chicago mayoral candidate Amara Enyia speaks as Chance the Rapper, center, and Kanye West listen during a "pull-up" rally for Enyia Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chicago (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Kanye West has given a total campaign contribution of $200,000 to Democratic Chicago mayoral candidate Amara Enyia,

The rapper donated $73,540 to Enyia last week for her to pay off a fine for not properly filing quarterly campaign finance reports during 2015 mayoral campaign, with West having then donated a further $126,460 to her campaign, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Enyia is an activist who began her career in journalism, before earning a Masters degree in education, a law degree focused on international and environmental law, and a Ph.D. in Education Policy.

West appeared alongside Enyia at a sidewalk rally last week in the city, although he did not speak. Enyia also has the support of Chance the Rapper, also a Chicago native, who has appeared at a number of her rallies.

“I also have to give a shoutout and kudos to Ye, who is from the South Side and is invested and committed to giving back to our city,” Enyia said of West at a rally last week.

West announced he is distancing himself from politics after being used to "spread messages [he] don't believe in". In a series of tweets, West said his eyes are now "wide open" and he will focus on his creativity.

To his 28.7 million followers, West tweeted: "I support creating jobs and opportunities for people who need them the most, I support prison reform, I support common-sense gun laws that will make our world safer. I support those who risk their lives to serve and protect us and I support holding people who misuse their power accountable. I believe in love and compassion for people seeking asylum and parents who are fighting to protect their children from violence and war."

"I would like to thank my family, loved ones, and community for supporting my ACTUAL beliefs and my vision for a better world."

West referred to the conservative commentator Candace Owens, who said that he had designed clothing for her campaign Blexit, encouraging black Americans to quit the Democratic party.

"I introduced Candace to the person who made the logo and they didn’t want their name on it so she used mine. I never wanted any association with Blexit. I have nothing to do with it," he tweeted.

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