Perceived relevance hardly matters if you never win seats, though. Electoral margins, particularly in downballot elections, are very very slim. For City Counci

Perceived relevance hardly matters if you never win seats, though. Electoral margins, particularly in downballot elections, are very very slim. For City Council of New York, which is a fairly powerful local position, you are looking at margins in the hundreds or thousands of voters, and combined with how thin legislative majorities tend to be, can form a significant wedge to wield.