After months of rumors, Baltimore Mayor Jack Young confirmed on Tuesday he will formally announce a 2020 mayoral race this weekend.

The mayor confirmed his run to the Baltimore Sun after the Baltimore Brew published an article with alleged details of the Saturday campaign announcement. 

Young, formerly City Council President, automatically took Baltimore’s top office after former Mayor Catherine Pugh resigned amid a self-dealing scandal in May. Nearly immediately, Young was tasked with dealing with a ransomware attack that stunted citywide services. 

Young, 65, has decades of experience throughout City Hall, where he has served as a councilman, council president and as mayor. 

His first job in politics was in the office of then-City Council President Mary Pat Clarke. He served as her aide on nights and weekends, during time off from his day job as an administrator at Johns Hopkins. 

Young served as a city council member from 1996 to 2010, and was then voted by his council peers to the office of City Council President after former Mayor Shelia Dixon’s resignation amid corruption charges sent former City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to the top office.

He hails from East Baltimore. Young graduated from Northern High School and attended Baltimore City Community College.

City Council President Brandon Scott declared his mayoral run in mid September. Scott and Young are the only elected officials gunning for mayor. Other Democratic candidates include Baltimore activist Carlmichael “Stokey” Cannady and Thiru Vignarajah, a former state Deputy Attorney General and former candidate for Baltimore City State's Attorney.

Former Mayor Sheila Dixon and former Baltimore Police Department spokesman T.J. Smith, both Democrats, are also considering runs for the top office.  

Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 10-1 in Baltimore, meaning the winner of the April 24 primary will likely win the citywide general election. The filing deadline to run for office is Jan. 24.