2020 Elections

The Associated Press reports: If the deep field of potential Democratic presidential contenders is on pins and needles as Beto O’Rourke decides his next move, it could be a long wait. The outgoing Texas congressman’s team says he has no timeline or roadmap for deciding if he’d like to parlay a surprisingly close loss to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz into …

Politico reports: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tops the first 2020 straw poll by the progressive political action committee Democracy for America by a wide margin, followed by former Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas). Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), meanwhile, has seen her stock slide among the group‘s members, according to the poll released Tuesday and obtained first …

Indianapolis Monthly reports: Pete Buttigieg is running. Today, it’s along the St. Joseph River on a crisp and gray October morning in South Bend, as the mayor tried to clear his mind in the middle of a packed day. A meeting with the NAACP. A meeting with staff to discuss the city’s $368 million budget. In the very near future, …

Axios reports: Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), nearing the end of his time in the Senate after his decision to retire, was mum on whether or not he’d support a primary challenge against President Trump in 2020 during an interview on MSNBC’s “Kasie DC,” saying instead, “We’ve got to remember what the Republican Party is.” He added, “What is happening right …

The Dallas Morning News reports: TMZ trails him around the capital. Fans still check his Facebook page to see if he’s going live again anytime soon. Democratic activists keep trying to lure him to Iowa and New Hampshire, and campaign operatives are sending him resumes, uninvited. U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke is getting more buzz as a potential White House contender …

The Associated Press reports: Past and current advisers to Biden have held frequent conversations about options to alleviate concerns about age, including teaming him with a younger running mate. One option that has been floated, according to a source with knowledge of the talks, is outgoing Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who at 46 has become the subject of intense 2020 …

The New York Times reports: Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders met Wednesday night at her condominium in Washington to discuss their political intentions but did not reach any accord about coordinating their dueling presidential ambitions, according to two Democrats briefed on their discussion. Only the two senators were present and they stated what has become abundantly clear: that …

Buzzfeed News reports: Tom Steyer posted a job listing on LinkedIn last week for several high-ranking positions on his potential 2020 presidential campaign, a spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday afternoon. Steyer, a San Francisco–based billionaire and the Democratic donor behind the national “Need to Impeach” effort aimed at President Donald Trump, published the job openings under an anonymous account. The listing …

Axios reports: Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro announced today he’s forming an exploratory committee to run for president in 2020. He will make his final decision about running on Jan. 12, per AP. This gives Castro an early start for courting donors, potential campaign staffers and media attention. The 44-year-old former San Antonio mayor will have more …

The Hill reports: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who is openly considering a 2020 presidential bid, said he does see a path for someone from a younger generation to win the Democratic Party’s nomination to win despite a primary field that is projected to be packed with established, high-profile candidates. “I actually do see a path, I am considering it,” Swalwell, …

NBC News reports: An early straw poll of members of the progressive group MoveOn.org shows a wide-open competition for liberal voters in the forthcoming 2020 Democratic presidential contest, with Beto O’Rourke narrowly beating out Joe Biden. The poll, obtained by NBC News, shows a plurality of respondents — 29 percent — either said they did not yet know whom they …

Politico reports: Sen. Elizabeth Warren has the core of her 2020 team in place if she runs for president. She has the seed money — there’s $12.5 million ready to go, left from her recent Senate run — and a massive email list she’s amassed over years, boosted by a $3.3 million investment in digital infrastructure and advertising in the …

The New York Times reports: Representative Beto O’Rourke of Texas has emerged as the wild card of the presidential campaign-in-waiting for a Democratic Party that lacks a clear 2020 front-runner. After a star-making turn in his close race against Senator Ted Cruz, Mr. O’Rourke is increasingly serious about a 2020 run — a development that is rousing activists in early-voting …

Just posted to his Facebook page: After a lot of conversation, reflection and prayer, I’ve decided that a 2020 campaign for president is not for me. I’ve been overwhelmed by advice and encouragement from people from all over the country, known and unknown. Humbled, in fact. But knowing that the cruelty of our elections process would ultimately splash back on …

Vanity Fair reports: On Monday, Trump hosted a 2020 strategy meeting with a group of advisers. Among the topics discussed was whether Mike Pence should remain on the ticket, given the hurricane-force political headwinds Trump will face, as demonstrated by the midterms, a source briefed on the session told me. “They’re beginning to think about whether Mike Pence should be …

CNBC reports: Controversial lawyer Michael Avenatti announced Tuesday he will not run for president in 2020. Avenatti, who first gained fame and infamy for his representation of porn star Stormy Daniels in multiple legal cases involving President Donald Trump, said, “I do not make this decision lightly — I make it out of respect for my family.” “But for their …

“I’ll be as straight with you as I can. I think I’m the most qualified person in the country to be president. The issues that we face as a country today are the issues that have been in my wheelhouse, that I’ve worked on my whole life. No one should run for the job unless they believe that they would …

The Associated Press reports: An insurgent underdog no more, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is laying the groundwork to launch a bigger presidential campaign than his first, as advisers predict he would open the 2020 Democratic presidential primary season as a political powerhouse. A final decision has not been made, but those closest to the 77-year-old self-described democratic socialist suggest that …

The Hill reports: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Tuesday ruled out a potential bid for the presidency in 2020, saying that he has a “full plate” in his current role. “I am ruling it out. I ran for governor. I have a full plate. I have many projects. I’m going to be here doing the job of governor. …

The Washington Post reports: Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who built a national following and a deep fundraising base during his unsuccessful bid for the Senate, would not rule out a run for the presidency, telling constituents at an El Paso town hall that he and his wife were considering next steps. “Amy and I made a decision not to rule anything …