Andrew Yang, a former 2020 presidential candidate whose name recognition once made him an early front-runner in the New York mayor’s race, conceded on Tuesday night after trailing badly in early vote tallies.
Mr. Yang was joined by his wife, Evelyn, and other supporters, and spoke in a somber tone that contrasted with the enthusiasm and energy that marked his campaign.
“Our city was in crisis and we believed we could help,” he told supporters gathered at a Manhattan hotel.
But as a self-described “numbers guy,” he said, the outlook for his campaign was bleak.
“I am not going to be mayor of New York City based on the numbers that have come in tonight,” he said.
Mr. Yang said he believed his campaign had influenced the debate over priorities for the city’s future, including elevating the discussion of cash relief for families, an issue he had also promoted in the 2020 presidential race.
He praised his ability to draw many small donors and cited his alliance with Kathryn Garcia, a fellow mayoral candidate and former sanitation commissioner, as a positive.
“I thought we could elevate each other,” he said.
But ultimately, he said he and Ms. Yang would seek to help the city in other ways.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
