Donald Trump is the best 2020 recruiter Democrats could hope for – CNN
Hillary Clinton's defeat was stunning enough. But the fact that she lost to Donald Trump led Democrats to question whether they had fundamentally misread the American public, and whether their party and its message needed a total overhaul.
"Presidential buzz seems to be building around an unusually large and varied group of Democrats and famous names from outside of politics -- a parlor game that includes pretty much every current Democratic senator and governor, mayors and House members, barons of the business world and, of course, the occasional wild-card celebrity. The Hill newspaper recently tallied 43 people who might run against Donald Trump."
Now, simply because lots and lots of candidates are considering the race doesn't mean Democrats have solved all of the problems the 2016 campaign exposed. Democrats still have to litigate out whether it's Joe Biden's party or Elizabeth Warren's party going forward. And there are lots and lots voices who want to have a say in that debate.
Don't see your favorite candidate? Never fear! There's still (lots of) time!
1st Tier (If they run, they have a real chance to win the nomination)
"He hasn't made up his mind," former Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver told Tumulty of the Vermont independent. "He's open to it." Got it.
Warren, more so -- to my mind -- than Sanders, is the face of liberals nationally. I don't think that means Sanders would stand down for Warren, but it's hard to see how the top tier could fit both of them.
2nd Tier (Have potential to be a major contender but not there ... yet)
It remains to be seen whether Democrats in 2020 want to totally and completely move on from what happened in 2016. If they do, Kaine, who shared the ticket with Clinton, will have a hard time. If not, however, lots of the things that made him attractive as a VP -- governor and senator of a swing state, bilingual, etc. -- would also make him an appealing presidential candidate.
The Connecticut Senator won't have room to run if Sanders and/or Warren do. But, if they don't -- and neither is a sure thing -- he could well slot into the leading liberal role, given his outspokenness on gun control in the wake of Newtown and, more recently, his vocal opposition to the Trump presidency.
3rd Tier (It's not IM-possible)
Moulton is one of the young up-and-coming Democrats in the House. But, that's probably where he'll stay for now.
Tier-less (Rich businesspeople who've never run for anything before)
Continued here:
Donald Trump is the best 2020 recruiter Democrats could hope for - CNN
- In Trumps Bill, Democrats See a Path to Win Back Voters - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Trump Kicks Off Celebration of America by Declaring His Hatred for Democrats - The Daily Beast - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats frustrated over lack of a heads-up from Hakeem Jeffries on delaying Trumps spending bill - Fox News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- A dark day for our country: Democrats furious over Trump bills passage - The Guardian - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats See Trumps Big Bill as Key to Their Comeback. It May Not Be So Easy - U.S. News & World Report - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats to focus on unpopular GOP cuts in bid to take back the House - The Washington Post - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Opinion | Zohran Mamdani Won by Listening. Democrats Should Try It. - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- House Democrats filibuster but only delay the final passage of Trumps big bill - Washington Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Abundance at the fore of Democrats new ideas sweepstakes - The Washington Post - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats Denied This City Had a Gang Problem. The Truth Is Complicated. - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats Should Become the Pro-Porn Party - The Nation - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- 175+ Democrats supporting NAACP suit against dismantling Department of Education - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Pro-Israel Jewish Democrats say Mamdanis stances are cause for concern and action - The Times of Israel - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Psaki: Republicans will regret passing Trump's bill as Democrats look to reprise 2018's House flip - MSNBC News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats Bet Jobs in Red States Would Save Clean Power Projects. They Lost. - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Can the abundance movement save the Democrats? - The Washington Post - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- FBI headquarters will remain in downtown DC, roiling Washington-area Democrats - Politico - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The Big Beautiful Bill Is Massively Unpopular and Democrats Plan to Keep It That Way - Time Magazine - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Stephen A. Smith: Democrats will have no chance if they become like Mamdani - The Hill - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Senate Judiciary Democrats launch probe into whether Trump officials violated court orders - The Hill - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Frustration grows over NY Democrats' 'lack of political courage' on immigration - Gothamist - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Schumer and other Senate Democrats condemn the phrase globalize the intifada - The Jerusalem Post - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Analysis | Why Democrats are excited about Texas for real this time - The Washington Post - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Arizona Democrats will bypass struggling state party in midterms, with key races on ballot - AP News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Virginia Democrats hold town hall after Senate passage of 'Big, Beautiful Bill' - 13newsnow.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrats will force out-loud reading of 940-page megabill - Politico - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Play It Safe or Burn It All Down? Democrats Are Still Deciding - Bloomberg - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- The Anniversary That Democrats Would Be Wise to Forget - The Atlantic - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Commentary: By stooping to conquer, Sacramento Democrats show their pettiness and arrogance - Los Angeles Times - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats respond to Senator Tillis retirement announcement - WITN - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Fetterman continues to frustrate Democrats as potential rivals focus on party's fight against Trump - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Schumer says Democrats will force reading of 940-page megabill on Senate floor - Reuters - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- NC Democrats approve resolution calling for embargo on US military support of Israel - Raleigh News & Observer - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats push to ban ICE agents masking shows whose side theyre really on - New York Post - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- WATCH: Karoline Leavitt Admits Trump is Behind the GOPs Medicaid Cuts - Democrats - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats are trying to figure out what to do about John Fetterman. One of them is stepping up - WHYY - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Mamdani and AOC are the Democrats of the future - JNS.org - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats Are Failing to Adapt to Trumps New World - The Daily Beast - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats are trying to figure out what to do about John Fetterman. One of them is stepping up - AP News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Done Waiting My Turn: Younger Democrats Are Eager to Seize the Car Keys - The New York Times - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Oregon Democrats move revamped road funding bill toward crucial floor votes - Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Opinion | The generational shift coming for Democrats - The Washington Post - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Top Texas Democrats ponder the states future at forum amid questions about whats next for their party - The Texas Tribune - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Zohran Mamdani's primary win and the Democrats' Tea Party moment : It's Been a Minute - NPR - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Zohran Mamdani puts Democrats on notice, and fast food giants part ways: The news quiz - NBC News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Full List of Democrats Voting to Condemn Los Angeles Anti-Trump Riots - Newsweek - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Democrats Cheer Hollywood Tax Breaks They Once Called Corporate Welfare - The New York Times - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- House Democrats join Republicans to kill vote impeaching Trump over Iran strikes - Axios - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- What the New York Mayoral Primary Means for Democrats - The Atlantic - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Democrats Forge Ahead With Efforts to Reach War Powers Vote Amid Shaky Cease-Fire - The New York Times - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Democrats generational rift just got harder to ignore - The Washington Post - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Mamdanis defeat of Cuomo offers Democrats a path out of the wilderness - The Guardian - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Democrats are trying to figure out what to do about John Fetterman. One of them is stepping up - Yahoo - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Progressive Rep. Greg Casar has a playbook he wants Democrats to use in 2026 - The Texas Tribune - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Kevin McCarthy: Democrats are on the wrong side of history - Fox News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrats struggle to come up with a unified response to Trump's Iran strikes - NBC News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats Are Getting Richer. Its Not Helping. - The New York Times - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- With Andrew Cuomo, Democrats are doing a disastrous imitation of Trump | Moira Donegan - The Guardian - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Three years after Roes overturn, Democrats less focused on abortion - The Washington Post - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrats undermined their response to Trumps strikes on Iran - MSNBC News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Trump is winning on immigration and Democrats are falling right into his trap | Opinion - USA Today - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- US Democrats introduce resolution to check Trump's use of military against Iran - Reuters - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrats to choose new House Oversight Committee leader to take on Trump - NBC News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Murkowski leaves door open to scenario of caucusing with Democrats - Axios - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- An Iran Cease-Fire, and Why N.Y.C.s Mayoral Race Matters for Democrats Everywhere - The New York Times - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Virginia Democrats sue university heads over Youngkin appointees - The Washington Post - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Republicans and Democrats Agreed on Iran's Nuclear Weapons Threat - Newsweek - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- House Democrats needle the GOP over Jan. 6 with replica plaques - Politico - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- New York City Democrats vote in tight mayoral primary - Semafor - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Letters to the Editor: Gov. Newsom isnt the 2028 presidential candidate the Democrats need - Los Angeles Times - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Fetterman again at odds with Democrats over Iran attack - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Virginia Democrats race to replace Rep. Connolly is a weeks-long sprint - The Washington Post - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Leader of WA Democrats wins leadership post with national party - Washington State Standard - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Senator Anderson Joins Lawsuit Over Democrats Violation of Legislative Process - Radio Monmouth, IL - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Exclusive / Murkowski opens up about pressure to caucus with Democrats and her call with Trump - Semafor - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Opinion | Why Democrats Need Their Own Trump - The New York Times - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrats have regrets about confirming Kristi Noem to Trump's Cabinet. If only they'd been warned. - MSNBC News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrats are at odds over response as Trump announces the US has entered Israel-Iran war - AP News - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats are at odds over Israel-Iran war as Trump announces U.S. strikes on Iran - PBS - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Republican Party has nearly five times more cash on hand than the Democrats - CNBC - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]