President Trump has his first Democratic challenger in the 2020 presidential election: Rep. John Delaney of Maryland, who announced his bid Friday.
“The current administration is making us less prosperous and less secure,” Delaney wrote in an op-ed in the Washington Post on Friday. “I’m running because I have an original approach to governing and economic policy that can put us on a different course.
Delaney was first elected to the House in 2012 and represents Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, which spans Western Maryland and part of the Washington suburb of Montgomery County. In announcing his decision to seek the Democratic nomination for president, Delaney said he will not seek re-election to his House seat.
A former businessman, Delaney co-founded Health Care Financial Partners and CapitalSource, and is the only member of the House to formerly serve as the CEO of a publicly traded company.
In his op-ed, Delaney said he plans to focus on building new infrastructure, presenting new ideas “on the future of job and work,” reducing the barriers for small businesses and start-ups, and strengthening social safety net programs.
The Maryland Democrat also called for reforms to education and healthcare, and said there is a need for focus on public service and volunteerism.
“My focus is on preparing our country for the future,” he said. “Technological innovation and globalization are the most powerful forces in the world today. These forces have been enormously positive; they will continue to make life better, enhance productivity, solve some of the world’s most difficult problems, and open societies.
“Sadly, these forces will also eliminate certain jobs and require workers to learn new skills more quickly. They will create security risks and strain our resources. We need to respond to these large-scale opportunities and challenges by thinking about policy from a fresh perspective. What are the resources we have, how do we compete and create jobs, how can we ensure that everyone has a fair chance, and how do we protect ourselves?”
Delaney argued the Democratic Party “cherishes opportunity over birthright” and said he believes the government can “do transformative things.”
But he also admonished the current political climate and warned the “excessive partisanship” is leading to missed opportunities for improvement.
“My approach goes beyond party and partisanship; I am first and foremost an American. I believe in a common national identity. I love our ambition, our values, what we represent to the world and our ability to use our greatness for a good and noble purpose,” Delaney said. “It is my love of country that compels me to behave differently in politics — work to do big things, seek solutions and compromise, respect the privilege of public service and be optimistic about the world.”
America Rising PAC, a Republican superPAC, is already pushing back against Delaney’s presidential bid.
In a one-word statement about Delaney’s announcement, America Rising PAC president Alexandria Smith simply said, “who?”
