DemDaily: The Contenders
May 9, 2017
Just four months after the most contentious presidential election in US history, is hard to start thinking about the next White House contest, but politics is not for the weary (or sometimes sane). Should the GOP's woes under Trump's presidency continue, it could be a very crowded field -- on both sides of the aisle.
On Monday,The Hill put out its list of 43 potential challengers to President Trump in 2020 (or the Republican candidate, should Mr. Trump leave office early or choose not to run again).
We made a few changes and narrowed the field, but for our readers, a convenient chart of potential presidential contenders in 2020 (just 1,273 days away)!
(Potential) 2020 Presidential Contenders
|
Contenders (Potential)
|
Background
|
State
(Home/Primary)
|
The Rundown
|
| Joe Biden |
Former US Vice President (Obama)
|
Delaware
|
Biden, 74,"regretted" not running in 2016. He stoked speculation about 2020 with his travels, but later said, "Guys, I'm not running!"
|
|
Cory Booker
|
United States Senator
|
New Jersey |
Booker's meteoric rise from a mayor of Newark, NJ, to US Senator has fueled speculation about a presidential run. While Booker, 48, won't discuss future plans, he didn't rule it out, either.
|
| Sherrod Brown |
United State Senator
|
Ohio
|
Brown, 64, was on Clinton's running mate shortlist. He may face a tough reelection in 2018, after Trump won Ohio in 2016.
|
| Julián Castro | Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary (Obama) | Texas |
Castro, 42, was on Clinton's VP shortlist. The former San Antonio mayor drew national fans w/his 2012 Democratic Convention speech.
|
| Andrew Cuomo | Governor | New York |
Cuomo, 59, is running for reelection in 2018, but hired two Florida fundraisers, a sign that he could be considering a presidential run.
|
| Mark Cuban | Dallas Mavericks Owner |
Texas
|
The billionaire businessman and "Shark Tank" star frequently clashed with Trump in 2016 and endorsed Clinton. Cuban, 58, has said "we will see" about whether he runs for president.
|
| Keith Ellison | Congressman | Minnesota |
Ellison, 53, was a prominent Sanders supporter and was a leading contender against Perez for DNC Chair. He now serves as DNC deputy chair.
|
| Eric Garcetti | Los Angeles Mayor |
California
|
Garcetti, 46, is considering a 2018 bid for Governor (CA), but NewYorkTimes reported national donors are urging a run for president.
|
|
Kamala Harris
|
United States Senator
|
California | Harris, 52, has been in the Senate for just four months, but the rising star is already floated as a potential contender. The former California AG says she's not thinking about future races. |
| Amy Klobuchar |
United States Senator
|
Minnesota
|
Klobuchar, 56, is running for reelection in 2018, but stoked speculation with upcoming travel to Iowa, a crucial primary state.
|
| Terry McAuliffe | Governor | Virginia |
The term-limited governor will be out in January 2018. McAuliffe, 60, is BFFs with the Clintons, a popular former DNC Chair, successful businessman & well connected
|
| Chris Murphy | United States Senator | Connecticut |
A vocal gun control advocate and strong Trump critic. The White House reportedly asked consultants to look into Murphy, 43, and four other possible Trump challengers.
|
| Martin O'Malley |
Former Governor
|
Maryland |
O'Malley, 54, didn't gain much traction in his 2016 run, but he's already testing the waters again. A political action committee affiliated with him polled Democratic caucus voters in Iowa, and he visited New Hampshire in April.
|
|
Deval Patrick
|
Former Governor
|
Massachusetts
|
Patrick, 60, left office in 2015 and is now at Bain Capital. He's been previously floated as a presidential contender and is close with top Obama adviser, David Axelrod.
|
|
Tom Perez
|
Democratic National Committee Chairman,
LaborSecretary(Obama)
|
Maryland
|
The former Labor Secretary, 55, was elected head of the national party this year and is looking to rebuild after the 2016 elections.
|
| Bernie Sanders | United States Senator (Independent) |
Vermont
|
Sanders, 75, emerged as a leader on the left after his 2016 presidential run, and is working with the Democratic National Committee to help unite the party. In January he said it's "much too early" to discuss another bid. |
| Howard Schultz |
Starbucks CEO
|
Washington
|
Schultz, 63, is stepping down from his role and will be executive chairman. He was urged to run in 2016, but he endorsed Clinton.
|
| Elizabeth Warren | United States Senator | Massachusetts | Warren, 67, has become one of the biggest thorns in Trump's side. In an April interview, Warren said she has no plans to run in 2020 and is focused on her 2018 reelection |
| Jim Webb |
Former US Senator
|
Virginia |
Webb, 71, ran for the Democratic nomination in 2016 but dropped out after polling in single digits. Since 2016 election, he has pitched himself as a politician who can relate to Trump's white working-class fans.
|
| Mark Zuckerberg | Facebook CEO and founder |
California
|
Zuckerberg, 32, also co-founder of an immigration advocacy organization, created buzz by pledging to visit all 50 states in 2017.
|
Others Mentioned: Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Environmental activist Tom Steyer, Media mogul Oprah Winfrey, US Senators Tammy Duckworth (Ill), Al Franken (MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Mark Warner (Va), Former Senator Russ Feingold (WI), US Reps Tulsi Gabbard (HI), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY) and Seth Moulton (MA). Also Governors Mark Dayton (MN), Jerry Brown (CA), John Hickenlooper (CO) and Jay Inslee (WA), Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (CA), NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
Former Presidential candidates Governor Howard Dean (VT) and former Vice President Al Gore are usually on the list, and (our fav) former first lady Michelle Obama. HRC running mate Senator Tim Kaine (Va) ruled out a 2020 run after the 2016 election.
DemList will keep you informed as the field develops! Let the games begin.
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Sources: The Hill, New York Times
