December 11, 2020

NEW YORK — Andrew Yang would bring celebrity status, fundraising prowess and an online army of devoted loyalists to the New York City mayor’s race, which he’s likely to jump into soon.

But the one-time presidential candidate faces a tough fight in the country’s largest city. Some candidates in the already crowded field have spent their careers cultivating relationships with voters and the city’s political machinery. Spending limits are strictly capped. And as the city emerges from one of the darkest moments in its history, the electorate may be clamoring for a more tested leader.

Yang hinted at his intention to join the race last week, as he was quietly reaching out to elected officials to gauge support for a possible bid in conjunction with the consulting firm Tusk Strategies, POLITICO first reported. A poll conducted on his behalf tested whether a third-party candidate could gain traction, but Yang has decided to run in the Democratic primary.

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