Who’s going to run for US President in 2020?

It’s never too early to begin discussing who will run for president. The 2020 election is slated to be one that not only has an impact, but will entertain the nation as well. Will Trump get reelected? Will Pence run? Can the Democrats threaten a Trump reelection? We’ll have the answers in three years, but for now, here are the best guesses.

It’s never too early to begin speculating in politics, especially when it comes to United States presidential elections. Political pundits are always eager to begin predicting who is going to be running, who will emerge as the party frontrunners, and who will ultimately be elected by the people. Experts are anxiously anticipating the 2020 presidential election as it is shaping up to not only be an election that could change the course of the country, but an entertaining one as well.

Incumbent Donald Trump will likely seek reelection in 2020, but that is not the story brewing among political connoisseurs. The current Republican Party is (on the surface) strong, united, and actively pursuing a conservative agenda in their unified Congress. However, any person with just a lick of political knowledge would deem that not the case. The “Never Trump” movement that began after his nomination is still alive and well in the party and will certainly resurface come announcement time in late 2019.

This is the real story and where the real entertainment will take place in the 2020 presidential election. Surely, the Democrats will put forth many viable options, but the focus of the primaries, like in 2016, will be on the GOP and a rebirth in the anti-Trump movement. With that, here are the individuals from all parties that potentially and practically will run in the 2020 presidential election:

For the GOP

PRES. DONALD J. TRUMP

It is likely that President Trump will seek reelection in 2020. Given the slow progress of his administration thus far on key campaign issues such as healthcare and immigration reform, Trump will certainly see pushback from his opponents since he is not “making America great again”. Trump has begun subtly campaigning and holding rallies in visits to swing states recently and this is unlike anything experts have seen before. His predecessors, from Obama to Reagan, all began their reelection campaigns during the third year of their presidency. Trump filed paperwork for reelection just 2 days after his inauguration and began advertising just 2 months ago. His reelection campaign will undoubtedly face scrutiny, not only from the Democrats but from those in his own party as well. The ultimate question for Trump is: will Americans be satisfied with these four years of Trump in order to give him another four?

V.P. MIKE PENCE

It sounds strange. The Vice President running against his President for president. But this would never be the case. Instead, should Trump be unable to run for president in 2020 (viz Russia investigation), then Pence would be the obvious frontrunner for the party. He has started his own PAC named “Great America Committee” and this is likely the beginning of his gathering of funds for a presidential bid in the future. Although it is highly unlikely that Pence would run in 2020, he is still a possibility due to the investigations surrounding Trump and his administration. Should the GOP want to change course if Trump is not yielding the results they wish or if Trump begins to jeopardize candidates down the ballot (again), Pence could be the person they turn to. The ultimate question for Pence is: can Trump stay out of trouble and provide the GOP a good chance of maintaining their unified government?

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (SC)

Senator Graham has never been a fan of Trump and according to the Washington Post, is one of the Republicans who hates Trump the most. Graham has repeatedly denounced Trump and his bad temperament, inability to lead, and poor judgment. He believes that Trump is the single reason why conservatives are beginning to divide as well as the GOP. It would not be out of the question for him to run and, in his mind, restore the GOP back to what it should be. Graham ran for president in 2016 and his campaign did not amount to much, often spending time in the “early debate” during the GOP debates. Graham running for president again is a likely possibility as many anti-Trump donors will be looking for candidates to support in 2020, and Graham could effectively fill that void. Graham did not vote for Trump in 2016 and with his moderate conservatism, he could pose as a viable alternative to Trump for Republicans still wary about Trump. The ultimate question for Graham is: do Republican voters want a change after Trump’s four years?

SEN. BEN SASSE (NE)

Like Senator Graham, Senator Ben Sasse too has never been a fan of Trump and also was on the list of top Republicans who hate Trump made by the Post. Sasse was the leader of the anti-Trump movement as a freshman senator and was the individual who many suggested run as a third-party or independent in 2016. Sasse, in my opinion, is THE senator who should run for president against Trump from the GOP side because he is a great voice of reason for the GOP and is someone that truly believes in country over party. Given that much of the American electorate is sick and tired of political parties, Sasse could be an incredible relief. His strong views of country over party and vast political potential could be a breath of fresh air for a very tense and divided American electorate. Sasse recently released a book about the middle class and how the American adult in vanishing. His presidential focus would be on the nation’s largest demographic and how it become self-reliant. Senator Sasse running for president could be the best thing that happens to this country. The ultimate question for Sasse is: will Americans embrace the country over party mentality he exudes in a time where division runs rampant?

GOV. JOHN KASICH (OH)

Yet another anti-Trump individual makes the list and yet another former presidential candidate that could take on Trump for the GOP nomination in 2020. Governor Kasich was the last hope for the anti-Trump movement in 2016 before he ultimately conceded and Trump won the nomination. Kasich is another moderate Republican who could save the GOP from an ultra-conservative shift in party ideology that is slowly happening in the Trump era. His candidacy is not as likely as the ones previously stated, but Kasich running would not be out of the question given that he too has former donors that could fund another sustainable campaign. The ultimate question for Kasich is: should he run again and does if have enough resources to go up against Trump?

For the Democrats

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (VT)

Obviously the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in 2020, Senator Sanders built an impressive following during the 2016 primaries. His “political revolution” was very popular among younger generations and has begun a “resistance” against President Trump and his very conservative agenda. Sanders was overshadowed by 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton but still managed to win a good amount of primaries and caucuses. His ideology of democratic socialism may frighten some, but this is not the socialism that was practiced by Stalin, Mao, and other authoritarian leaders. The ultimate question for Sanders is: will Democrats vote for him this time around or will they seek someone younger and more moderate?

FMR. V.P. JOE BIDEN

Former VP Biden shot down rumors early in the 2016 election season regarding him running for president, and to the disapproval of many. When the presidential election came down to Trump and Clinton, many were not happy that the election came down to the “lesser of two evils” and wished an individual who was likable like Biden had run. The 2020 election could be Biden’s time to shine. Should he run in 2020, he would immediately become a frontrunner among Democrats and a massive threat to the GOP. Nicknamed “Middle Class Joe”, Biden is renowned for being someone who has fought for the nation’s largest demographic his entire political career and someone who is well-liked in DC. He is also well-liked internationally as he aided Obama’s lack of foreign policy knowledge through his presidency. The ultimate question for Biden is: will he run?

SEN. CORY BOOKER (NJ)

A rising star in the Democratic Party, Senator Booker has been making headlines lately and it seems like an obvious attempt to gain some popularity and name-recognition before running for president. He testified against the nomination of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, an act never done before and against Senate tradition. He gave an impassioned keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2016. He campaigned closely with Clinton and Obama. He is looking to run in 2020. His campaign, that would mainly be centered on social injustices, racial relations, and promoting love in American society, would be Obamaesque in the rhetoric, strategy, and funding. He repeatedly gives passionate speeches on injustice, love, and duty which would draw an attentive ear. He would use the strategies of Obama, having worked very close with him in the past, which would create unease for the GOP. He is a rising star in the party, and his wallet will grow as he begins to tap into the immense political potential he has. The ultimate question for Booker is: will he be able to distinguish himself from his Democratic predecessors in order to have a chance at the presidency?

GOV. MARTIN O’MALLEY (MD)

Governor O’Malley’s campaign in 2016 was short-lived as the Democratic side of the primaries was dominated by Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. O’Malley was quickly drowned out by the rivalry between the two and never amounted to much. However, the 2020 election could prove to be an opportunity for O’Malley to shine. Having run in 2016, he would already have the donors and funding set up to kick off a campaign that could gain viable traction, a problem he faced in 2016. He and his PAC have already begun polling Iowa caucus voters and he seems to be doing quite well. However, he is doing well in polls where likely Democratic candidates (Sen. Sanders, VP Biden) are not included. This leaves the ultimate question for O’Malley to be: do Democrats want O’Malley as their nominee above all other options?

Overall, I see the GOP primaries being just as contentious as the Democrats, something rarely seen in a year where an incumbent is running for reelection. Notables left out are Senator Elizabeth Warren (who should not run for president due to older age), Julian Castro (who should not run due to younger age), Andrew Cuomo (who should not run due to shady past), and Sherrod Brown (who should not run due to the fact that if he did he would forfeit a secure Ohio seat for Democrats in 2018 in order to run for a president, a position much more vulnerable and unpredictable).

The 2020 presidential election is already shaping up to be a good one even if it is three years in the future. Not only will Democrats and Republicans run, but since Trump’s victory, many celebrities have expressed interest in running. Those possible candidates include Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kanye West, and Jeff Bezos. Like I said before, this election will change the course of country, and obviously entertain us all as well.