The co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee suggested Tuesday that the 2020 presidential race may draw up to 40 Democratic candidates.
“Look, we’ll have between 30 and 40 great candidates running for president,” Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., said Tuesday on MSNBC. “Everyone recognizes how urgent this moment is in our country’s history.”
“[T]here are a lot of U.S. senators, a lot of governors … a lot of people outside of politics,” Cicilline added. “We’re gonna have a big field of great candidates who will get an opportunity to sort of test their mettle during the primaries. There are a lot of great names.”
Cicilline’s estimate came a day after former Vice President Joe Biden, considered the front-runner for the Democratic nomination in 2020, said he believes he’s the most qualified person in the country to be president.
Other non-politicians, such as prominent lawyer Michael Avenatti and daytime talk show superstar Oprah Winfrey have flirted with a possible presidential run in 2020.
[NEW: Michael Avenatti won’t run for president in 2020]
Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., another name being floated for a 2020 run, said she has not set a timetable on announcing her candidacy.
“The vice president has many wonderful qualities and I’m glad to hear he’s out and talking about it,” Warren said of Biden. “I said I would take a hard look after the election and I’m doing that right now.”
