Seeking the 2020 Democratic Presidential Nomination

At last count, I think, there are 15 or 16 Democrats running for the presidential nomination for the 2020 election (or maybe as many as 40, according to the article I cite). And it’s only March.

Contrast this with the last election cycle, 2016, when Donald Trump, one of the early players, threw his hat into the ring in a June 16, 2015 speech.

None of this matters right now, and everyone is jockeying for position. As a service to Triablogue readers, I’ve prepared the following overview, which will be helpful from our perspective in understanding who’s riding what horse(s).

I’m starting with this Yahoo News story, which gives the following names (ordered in Yahoo’s opinion from most likely to least likely to win the nomination.

Interestingly, this is in the Entertainment section of their news site:

Joe Biden (former VP; has not yet announced, but leads all current polls. His campaign is “expected to launch next month.”)

Bernie Sanders (Announced via “social media” on February 19, and raised $6 million within 24 hours of announcing, “a figure that puts him well ahead of his opponents in the 2020 race” according to an MSN account, although “it will be months before the fundraising figures can be independently confirmed”. Promoting “real change” “from the bottom up” in an “unprecedented grass roots campaign”. Said in an interview, “Our campaign is not only about defeating Donald Trump. Our campaign is about transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice.” Keep in mind that what Bernie means by “justice” is not what we understand Biblical justice to mean.

Beto O’Rourke (Lost a US Senate election in Texas to Ted Cruz. Has not yet announced.)

Jay Inslee (Two-term Governor of Washington State; key issue is “Climate Change”.)

John Hickenlooper (Former Two-Term Governor of Colorado; key issue: “bringing people together to effect progressive change”. “A more robust policy agenda should begin to take form later in March.”)

Cory Booker (Senator from New Jersey. Calls himself “an innovative and bipartisan problem-solver committed to developing collaborative solutions that address some of our most complex challenges”.)

Amy Klobuchar (Senator from Minnesota. Sponsors lots of bills “more than any Democrat” and gets things done in a bipartisan way. Ate a salad with a comb and treats staffers badly.)

Elizabeth Warren (“ Pocahontas” according to Donald Trump; Senator from Massachusetts. Wants to break up “big tech companies”. Proud minority; 1/1024 Native American; drinks a beer on Instagram with her tagalong husband.)

Kamala Harris (Pretty lady; Junior Senator from California. One of the “Hell-No Caucus” of Dems that voted “no” on virtually every Trump appointee (Along with Bernie and Elizabeth Warren). Former prosecuting attorney; wants tougher legislation to prevent gun violence; wants to raise tax on wealthiest; supports “Green New Deal” and universal health care.)

Steve Bullock (Governor of Montana; apparently has a Republican fan club. Not from Washington. The Republican legislature in Montana, he says “we are neighbors”, and “we treat one another with respect, even when we disagree”.)

John Delaney (Former US Representative, Maryland. “Focus on the Future”. “Unite our divided nation”. Climate change, universal health care.)

Terry McAuliffe (Former Governor of Virginia; “I’d like to run”; probably will announce by March 31, 2019.)

Kirsten Gillebrand (Junior Senator from New York since 2009; “unabashedly feminist”; made the fuss that persuaded Al Franken to resign.)

Tim Ryan (US Representative from Ohio; hasn’t announced, “keeping options open”. Challenged Nancy Pelosi in 201 for “Minority Leader” but lost.)

There are some Democrats who have announced but who aren’t listed here. There’s also the former Starbux CEO Howard Schultz, who’s running against these folks as an Independent. Schultz suggests that a far-left candidate could help to re-elect Trump. He fails to note that his own (probably well-funded) candidacy could take away votes from any eventual Democrat nominee.

All of the above, of course, reflects my own biases. The Yahoo article concludes:

The longest shots: Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet is heading to Iowa to test the waters. Julian Castro, who was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Obama as well as also mayor of San Antonio, is officially running, as are Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. But we don't see them registering. California Rep. Eric Swalwell is also thinking of getting in, but he would be a very long shot.

"Dream on" candidates: Many Democrats would like to see Michelle Obama run. But her husband's last days in office couldn't come fast enough for the former first lady. She's content speaking out and touring the country promoting her book, causes and candidates.

Americans love the idea of an Oprah Winfrey candidacy, but she has made clear that while she is happy to stump for certain candidates, she has no interest in becoming one herself. And finally, the young Democratic voters and activists who are trying to promote Rep. Ocasio-Cortez of New York need to read the Constitution. Again: she won't be old enough to take office until 2024.

Perhaps they all should read the Constitution, and maybe some un-revised American history to boot.