Just like Christmas, the political calendar continues to creep forward every election cycle. Potential candidates are weighing whether to run for office, and many will decide whether to announce a bid or not over the holidays. BetDSI has come up with odds on 20 potential presidential candidates, and whether or not they will declare their candidacy. Who will run for U.S. President in 2020? Let’s look at the odds.
Will Elizabeth Warren formally announce she will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -1275
No +510
Warren definitely seems to be gearing up for a run. She said as much to the New York Times back in September, and she has been building up support among her base. The only potential hang-up is if she and Bernie Sanders decide that only one of the two will run in order to prevent dilution of support.
Will Kirsten Gillibrand formally announce she will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -1275
No +510
Gillibrand has an authenticity problem. Just 10 years ago, Gillibrand held an A+ rating from the NRA, called for tighter border control and was in favor of punishing sanctuary cities, and was in favor of making English a mandatory national language. She has moved progressively left with her words, but her actions tell a different story, and it’s hard to see Gillibrand having much of a support base. Gillibrand is largely unknown outside of New York, and there are more authentic candidates with similar positions in the region, making her potential task even more formidable. She might run, but the reaction to her candidacy is likely to be tepid at best, and I think she is being told that by insiders. I would bet the ‘No’ here.
Will Kamala Harris formally announce she will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -1275
No +510
I think Harris is the frontrunner to be the Democratic candidate in 2020, and she has made all the right moves. She garnered national attention by putting Brett Kavanaugh’s feet to the fire during his Senate confirmation hearings, and she spent the midterm elections aggressively stumping for Democratic candidates throughout battleground states. She spent a decent amount of time in states with early primaries like Iowa and New Hampshire, and she has exhibited an ability to fundraise that only Hillary Clinton could match. Harris is a lock to run.
Will Joe Biden formally announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -685
No +360
In 2016, there was constant speculation that Biden would eventually throw his hat in the ring. He went back and forth agonizing over the decision before deciding not to run. Two months later, he said in an interview that he regretted his decision to stay out of the race, and he isn’t likely to pass up the opportunity again. He has more name recognition than any potential candidate outside of maybe Bernie Sanders, and that means a lot
Will Cory Booker announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -450
No +265
Booker probably doesn’t have the gravitas needed to become president, but he is certainly setting himself up for a bid. Even though Booker has yet to publicly declare his candidacy, he spent last weekend in New Hampshire shaking hands and kissing babies. You don’t do that this time of year unless you’re gunning for your party’s nomination.
Will Beto O’Rourke formally announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -325
No +205
This is the most interesting candidate on the list. Beto O’Rourke created a national stir by making Texas competitive for the Democrats, and he proved that he could be a fundraising powerhouse. However, there are a number of questions about whether he is qualified, and it’s unlikely that he declares early. If he announces a bid, it is likely to come later than most.
Will Eric Holder announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -325
No +205
It’s clear that Holder has ambitions to be president, he even said as much earlier this summer. There are a lot of potential pitfalls though, and he took some positions that are likely to really hurt him during his time as Barack Obama’s Attorney General. He repeatedly defended the military’s expanded use of drone strikes during his time in office, and that will not win him a lot of support in the primaries. I believe he’ll run, but he won’t be around long.
Will Bernie Sanders formally announce the will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -280
No +180
There are two big reasons why Sanders may decide not to run in 2020 after being such a force in 2016 — age and Elizabeth Warren. Sanders is 77 now, and he would turn 79 prior to the 2020 presidential election. That’s likely too old in the eyes of many, even though Donald Trump was elected at the age of 70. Additionally, he would split votes with Warren if they both were to run, so he may step aside to allow her to carry the progressive mantle.
Will Amy Klobuchar announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -245
No +160
In another era, Klobuchar could be a potential powerhouse. She is very popular in her state, and she has been a force in Congress, passing more legislation than any other senator in 2016. However, many Democrats want something more than ‘Midwestern Nice’, and her urging for bipartisanship is likely to fall on deaf ears. She is likely to run and ‘Yes’ is a good price on her, but the best case scenario for her is matching what John Kasich did in the 2016 Republican Primary.
Will Jeff Merkley announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -150
No +105
I like the ‘No’ on Merkley here. He is a relative lightweight, and he has very little name recognition outside the Pacific Northwest. Merkley is also an ally of Sanders and Warren, and he is unlikely to run considering the stronger brand of both senators. Keep an eye on him as a potential Vice Presidential pick though.
Will Sherrod Brown announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes -120
No -120
Brown has seen his star rise considerably over the last month. He was the only Democrat to win a statewide race in Ohio in November, and he might be the only candidate that can walk a very fine line. Brown is seen as a candidate that can appeal to both center-right voters and the more progressive elements of the party. In this increasingly polarized era, that is incredibly valuable, and I think he will announce his candidacy later on in the cycle.
Will Hillary Clinton formally announce she will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes +815
No -5400
There’s no chance that Clinton runs again. She burned far too many bridges during the Democratic primary in 2016, and her inability to beat a very weak candidate makes her persona non grata. Most candidates would go so far as to rebuff her if she offered to stump for them, and she’d only hurt her reputation if she were to run.
Will Howard Schultz announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes +265
No -450
The lion’s share of Democrats don’t want to pit a businessman with no political experience against a businessman with no prior political experience in the 2020 Presidential Election. Howard Schultz is definitely interested in becoming the next president, but he has no base of support. Unless he is willing to spend a lot of his own personal fortune he doesn’t stand a chance, and I don’t think he will end up running.
Will Michael Avenatti announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes +360
No -685
Avenatti wanted to announce a presidential bid, but after a tumultuous last few months, he declared that he would not be running last week. He loves the spotlight, so he might change his mind, but it’s pretty unlikely.
Will Mark Cuban formally announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes +635
No -2100
I think Cuban would have more of a chance than Schultz, but Cuban has repeatedly said he would likely run as a Republican. Although he has feuded with Trump dozens of times over the past few years, he is unlikely to try to unseat him in a primary barring a major fallout from the Mueller investigation.
Will Mark Zuckerberg announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes +815
No -5400
There’s no chance Zuck runs. It’s been an awful year for both Zuckerberg and Facebook, and he would get no support from anyone if he ran. At this point, he is unlikely to ever enter politics.
Will Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson formally announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes +815
No -5400
The Rock has repeatedly denied that he is planning to run for president in 2020, but he might run in the future. He has no experience, but unlike Schultz, Cuban, and Zuckerberg, he is wildly popular. That could make him a legitimate candidate in the future, but not this time around.
Will Oprah Winfrey announce she will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes +920
No -13650
The Queen of All Media knows that a run would only hurt her brand. She has relished her role as a kingmaker, and with her enormous wealth and appeal, she can bring lots of money and support to whichever candidate she backs. Oprah understands the rigors of the presidency, and she seems to have no real desire to put herself out there.
Will Kanye West announce he will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes +920
No -13650
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Will Michelle Obama formally announce she will run for U.S. President in 2020?
Yes +920
No -13650
One of the major problems with Hillary Clinton’s candidacy was the feeling that America was entering a semi-dynastic era. If Clinton would have won, Barack Obama would have been the only POTUS not to have the surname Bush or Clinton since 1989. Michelle seems very aware of her legacy, and although she is certainly more qualified than the other candidates with no political experience of their own, she is very unlikely to run.
