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- The 2020 presidential election is more than a year away, but many hopefuls are already announcing their candidacies.
- While many potential Democratic candidates have yet to announce their intentions, 15 contenders have already jumped into the field, including six US Senators, two mayors, and three members of the House.
- Here’s a list of the major party 2020 presidential candidates.
Soon after assuming the office of the presidency in January 2017, President Donald Trump filed preliminary paperwork that laid the groundwork for re-election in 2020.
With the official primaries almost a full year away, 16 Democratic contenders have already lined up to challenge Trump, with many more expected to join what could be the largest primary field in history.
So far, six US Senators, three current and former members of the House of Representatives, three mayors, two governors, one businessman, and one Hollywood spiritual guru have entered the race.
Other Democrats who have strongly indicated they’ll also jump into the race include former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Michael Bennet, and Reps. Eric Swalwell and Seth Moulton.
Trump could also face opposition within his own party. Former Massachusetts Governor and Libertarian vice presidential nominee Bill Weld is actively considering challenging Trump in the Republican primary.
Here are all the major party candidates running for president in 2020:
Miramar, Florida Mayor Wayne Messam
AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Messam announced his long-shot bid for the presidency on March 28, the 16th candidate, third mayor, and first person from the southeast to jump into the Democratic primary field.
"The American Dream my parents sought when they came from Jamaica with just a 5th-grade education is fleeting," he wrote on the day of his announcement. "Together, we can put the American Dream back within reach for all."
Messam, 44, has served as the mayor of the city of Miramar, which is located in South Florida and boasts a population of 140,000 people, since 2015.
He previously served as a city commissioner from 2011 to 2015, and founded a construction company with his wife.
Former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke
Associated Press
O’Rourke formally announced his candidacy for president on March 14, ending months of speculation over his presidential plans.
"The only way for us to live up to the promise of America is to give it our all and to give it for all of us," he said in a video announcing his candidacy along his wife Amy.
"The interconnected crises in our economy, our democracy, and our climate have never been greater," O’Rourke added. "And they will either consume us, or they will afford us the greatest opportunity to unleash the genius of the United States of America."
The three-term congressman from El Paso broke fundraising records and became a national sensation in the fall of 2018 when he came within three points of defeating Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas, a traditionally red state.
Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper
Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Hickenlooper launched his 2020 presidential campaign on March 4, making the former Colorado governor the 14th Democratic candidate to enter the field.
Hickenlooper, 66, was highly popular as governor for two terms before being succeeded by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis. Before that, he served as mayor of Denver (a nonpartisan position) and was a successful businessman who founded Colorado’s first brewery pub, helping bring jobs and economic development to Denver.
"I’m running for president because we need dreamers in Washington but we also need to get things done," he said in his announcement video. "I’ve proven again and again I can bring people together to produce the progressive change Washington has failed to deliver."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- Of all the 2020 contenders, Democrats have the most faith in Joe Biden’s ability to beat Trump
- Meet Michael Avenatti, the former professional sports car driver who represented Stormy Daniels and was just charged for attempting to extort more than $20 million from Nike
- Meet William Barr: What you need to know about the attorney general who just received Mueller’s report
SEE ALSO: Wayne Messam, a mayor in Florida, joins the 2020 Democratic race as a big-time underdog
SEE ALSO: Here’s where all the 2020 presidential candidates stand on marijuana legalization
Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Mariana Alfaro)