We’re into the second full week of 2019, and already the 2020 buzz is at a fever pitch. One major candidate is already in the race, another is expected to make a decision within the next two weeks, and teams are staffing up in early states across the country. Can’t believe it? This is the new normal for presidential politics in America.
Check out the list below for the latest on some of the Democrats most likely to run in 2020:
Former VP Joe Biden
Associates close to Biden told the New York Times he’ll likely make a decision about running within the next two weeks. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll make that decision publicly known, but he admitted to several sources that he knows “he must move quickly in this primary.”
According to those sources, Biden is leading toward running. “If you can persuade me there is somebody better who can win, I’m happy not to do it,” Biden said, according to the Times. “But I don’t see the candidate who can clearly do what has to be done to win.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Fresh off her announcement that she launched a presidential exploratory committee, Warren set off for Iowa, where she met with future primary voters in towns and cities across the state. In Sioux City, Warren a voter asked Warren why she took a DNA test to prove her very distant Native American ancestry. The question took 10 seconds to ask, but the answer went on for more than two minutes:
Warren also made news for several key hires she made recently. She brought on Joe Rospars, who was President Obama’s chief digital strategist in 2008 and 2012, as well as Richard McDaniel, who has experience in southern politics, according to CNN reporter MJ Lee.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
The New York senator has been reaching out to Wall Street executives, according to CNBC, about a potential 2020 presidential run. “Gillibrand has gotten a mixed response from the executives, however,” the story read. Several of the executives who are less eager to help Gillibrand are holding back due to their concern over her role in ousting fellow Democratic Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) from the Senate over allegations of sexual misconduct.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
The editorial board of a major Vermont newspaper is urging their native son, Sanders, not to run for president in 2020. The reasons they give? He focuses too much on national politics and not enough on the needs of Vermont voters; his campaign could further divide the Democratic Party; and he has not adequately addressed the allegations of sexual misconduct that took place during his previous presidential campaign in 2016.
Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX)
After losing to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in last year’s Texas Senate contest, O’Rourke finds himself without a job. But a shadow campaign, “Draft Beto,” is beginning to staff up. Their goal is to raise $1 million to show the former El Paso representative that grassroots liberals support his potential presidential candidacy. The group hired Boyd Brown of South Carolina to serve as a senior adviser and Michael Soneff of Nevada as political consultant. The group is also looking to staff up in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)
What’s the clearest sign that someone is planning to run for president? They write a book, and that’s exactly what Harris has done. “The Truths We Hold” will hit bookshelves Tuesday, and the former California attorney general is hitting the road to promote it. She’ll appear on ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday and attend events to promote her latest literary effort in Washington, D.C., New York City, and both northern and southern California. Harris previously published a book in 2009, “Smart on Crime,” that may not age very well in today’s Democratic Party.
Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro (D-TX)
Castro is expected to announce that he’s running for president at an event in San Antonio this week. Prior to serving in President Obama’s Cabinet as the HUD secretary, Castro served as mayor of San Antonio. He is considered a longshot presidential candidate.