Andrew Yang hints at third race in 2024 if Biden-Trump rematch takes shape

Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang has hinted at another White House bid, this time as a third-party candidate if President Biden and former President Trump aim for a rematch in 2024.

Yang, who ran against Biden in the 2020 Democratic primary and went on to run in the 2021 Democratic primary for New York City mayor, officially left the Democratic Party and has since launched the Forward Party.

Speaking to Fox News Digital at the Libertarian FreedomFest conference in Las Vegas, Yang offered a restrained response on whether he intended to seek a position again, saying he was “super excited” to build the Forward Party nationwide, touting its “robust volunteer operations and chapters”. in every state of the country. »

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“I think Americans want more choice and freedom and options,” Yang told Fox News Digital on Saturday. “And if it allows different people to run for office and in different environments, I would love that. I think a lot of Americans would too.”

But when asked if he was considering a third-party candidacy in 2024, Yang didn’t rule it out, particularly if two unpopular candidates like Biden and Trump are on the ballot again.

“So there are a lot of people who don’t want a Biden-Trump rematch, but it looks like we could very well get it,” Yang said. “And one thing I will say is if you don’t like this game, then go to ForwardParty.com and let’s make sure Americans have more choices in your community, but also in 2024.”

President Biden has repeatedly insisted he will run for re-election, but recent reports show Democrats are increasingly worried about a 2024 campaign due to his historically low popularity and his concerns about his ability to work. Former President Trump, meanwhile, teased another bid for the White House and would wonder if he would announce his decision before the midterms, fueling concerns among some Republicans that his return to the GOP ticket could again give the presidency to his Democratic party. rival.

During the interview, Yang refrained from saying that Biden should not run for president, saying it’s up to the president and “the will of the people” to make him the Democratic nominee. He predicted that Democrats would eventually “line up” behind Biden in the likelihood of him seeking re-election and that Republicans “not enthused” about Trump would do the same for the former president.

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However, he highlighted a Harvard CAPS-Harris poll from April that showed 58% of Americans would consider supporting a “moderate independent” candidate if Biden and Trump were to face off in 2024, which he said, ” illustrates how great our two-party system has become.”

Regarding Biden’s historic low approval rating, Yang pointed to a “difficult environment” as issues such as inflation are top of mind for most Americans. He laughed at the “not [so] flattering” Biden sticker he recently saw at a gas station, claiming the president’s association with economic turmoil is on “many Americans’ minds.”

Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang speaks with Fox News Digital at the libertarian FreedomFest conference on July 16, 2022.

Yang also held back criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris, who he said was underserved by the Biden administration that gave him mountainous issues to tackle, but acknowledged she would become the “favourite” as a than a sitting vice president despite her dismal poll if Biden chooses not to run. Notably, Yang previously outlasted Harris in the 2020 Democratic primary as the then-California senator dropped out of the race weeks before the Iowa caucuses as he stepped down after the New Hampshire primary. .

When asked who should seek the Democratic nomination, Yang suggested he would back a governor in an open primary for his “executive experience,” but declined to name any in particular.

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Yang is very ambitious about the Forward Party, whose slogan is “Not left. Not right. Forward.” During the interview, he refers to it as a “political movement”.

“The Forward Party is supposed to appeal to the 62% of Americans who don’t think the two-party system works very well. And we have to face the facts that right now both parties have carved up the country like a turkey. And said ‘You have this section, I have this section,’ and many of us are outside watching in our communities,” Yang told Fox News. “We want to change that with the Forward Party to create a positive and unifying political movement to move from closed primaries that are rigged and non-competitive in 90% of districts and move to non-partisan and open primaries where anyone can vote for anyone in It would mean you would have real choice among your representatives, but it would also introduce better incentives for people who get a job, because they would have to listen to us even if we’re not in their party.”

Andrew Yang calls for the disruption of the two-party system at the libertarian FreedomFest conference on July 16, 2022.
(Digital Fox News)

The tech entrepreneur-turned-political leader insists the Forward party goes ‘far beyond’ the most prominent libertarian party, saying his movement wants a ‘more responsive and accountable’ government, citing elements of party platform such as term limits.

And he predicted his party would pass “faster than most people think” despite the obstacles ahead.

“Imagine if you were a businessman and you came to a market that had two vendors and 62% of people wanted a new option. You would run, not walk, to start that third option,” Yang said, “ and the way that we can unlock that movement is to move to open primaries through ballot initiatives in states like Nevada where we are right now It’s actually on the ballot in Nevada, November , to make the change to open primaries and rank-choice voting.And the Democrats here in Nevada, are not fans of this move because they know what it would introduce real competition…Both sides are in cahoots in the most of the country.

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“And so if you’re saying, ‘Look, this sounds like a tough job,’ well, it’s a big job because we need to modernize our politics to be really representative of the will and the desire of the American people. But we can make it happen here in Nevada in November and there are 23 other states where you can have enough ballot initiatives, let’s get together and say, ‘Look, we’re sick of being told who we can vote. Here in Nevada, when you go with a clipboard and say you wish you could vote for anyone at any party in your primary, everyone says yes! Who the hell is against that? Only someone who is like a hyper-partisan, who frankly is more about controlling their party than setting up any type of representative government. »