All it took for Andrew Yang to receive gushing media attention in the 2020 race was to drop out. While the ex-candidate spent a part of his campaign under a self-imposed MSNBC blackout, chiding establishment types for dismissing him on the campaign trail and the debate stage, Yang returned to the network the morning after the New Hampshire primary, drawing compliments from the Morning Joe crew for his signature scarf and speculative questions about his hypothetical interest in running for New York mayor. “Well, it’s incredibly flattering to be thought of in that role,” Yang said. “I am a New Yorker...We haven’t ruled anything out at this point.”

Questions about Yang entering the 2021 mayoral contest emerged after top Bloomberg 2020 adviser and former New York deputy mayor Howard Wolfson responded to Yang’s exit by tweeting that he “would make a very interesting candidate for NYC Mayor in 21.” When prompted for his 2020 endorsement plans, Yang, who noted that he is “certainly open to looking at other races,” told MSNBC that if a Democratic contender wants him on their side, all they “have to do is come out for universal basic income”—his signature issue, once confined to fringe libertarian wonks and Silicon Valley types who fear an impending techno-dystopia—“and then I will be there with you on the trail the next day.”

A little-known tech entrepreneur, Yang pioneered a plan to give every American $1,000 a month, a novelty proposal shared by none of his competitors, but which resonated with a subset of very passionate and very online supporters—thus the Yang Gang was born. Despite lacking political experience, celebrity, and overly deep pockets, Yang, who, other than the still-remaining Tulsi Gabbard, was the last nonwhite candidate in the race, warned that automation and offshoring would hinder the economic futures of American workers, and yet still managed to keep his demeanor upbeat. Thanks to an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast—a nearly two-hour-long interview in early 2019 that first spurred his virality—and an entire subgenre of memes, Yang’s online support soared, prompting the New York Times to label him “the internet’s favorite candidate.”

While he’s out of the 2020 race, his movement may not be over. A senior Yang aide said the ex-candidate is interested in launching a new political organization focused on bolstering candidates who share his “humanity-first” worldview, according to a postmortem campaign report by BuzzFeed News. Yang also logged a Wednesday appearance on CNN, during which anchor Poppy Harlow applauded him for “chang[ing] the party” and “chang[ing] the race” and inquired about his interest in serving as the Democratic nominee’s vice presidential candidate. “I would certainly be honored to serve as someone’s running mate,” Yang told CNN Newsroom. “I’m happy to do my part. I’m also happy to do my part to campaign for the nominee and beat Donald Trump in the fall.”

In a Tuesday night interview with the Atlantic, Yang expressed determination to unseat Trump and his willingness to join a Democratic administration—though in a candid fashion not permitted on cable news. “I’ll go fight for it,” he said of his plans to help rid America of President Trump. “What are we doing here otherwise? What am I going to do, just watch Trump get reelected? That would be terrible.” He then tossed out his interest in serving in a hypothetical “secretary of technology” position or in “one of the existing departments,” adding, “You know, I’m not a dick. Like, obviously someone like offers me something serious and impactful but we can help do some good work, I’m not going to be like, ‘Fuck that.’”

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