Starting gun sounds on 2020 race
‘‘We need to think about how we reassemble a new progressive coalition that pulls in independents and moderate Republicans and independent women and workingclass people, and makes it a coalition we can sustain for a decade,’’ Ryan said.
Sanders, who is considering another presidential bid, pushed the party and Clinton to the left in 2016 on signature issues such as universal healthcare, a $15 minimum wage and free tuition at public colleges.
The most successful Democrats during the midterms were able to talk about checking Trump while also offering an alternative liberal vision, Democrats said.
‘‘Figuring out who can thread that needle is going to be a key part of the Democratic primary process,’’ said Charles Chamberlain, executive director of the progressive Democracy for America political action group.
The crowded Democratic field, which could be bigger than the 17 Republicans who ran in 2016, could have plenty of familiar faces such as Biden, Warren and Sanders — aged 75, 69 and 77 respectively.
Biden was the early leader for the Democrats in a Reuters/ Ipsos election day opinion poll at 29%. He was ahead of Sanders, who registered 22%. Both beat Trump in a hypothetical headtohead matchup.
The field also should have plenty of lessknown contenders such as Governor Steve Bullock, of Montana; former governors Deval Patrick, of Massachusetts, and Terry McAuliffe, of Virginia; and Mayor Eric Garcetti, of Los Angeles, and former mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu. announced a bid so far.
Trump, who filed for reelection the day he was inaugurated, is primed for the fight. He has taken to belittling potential Democratic rivals during his frequent political rallies to support Republican candidates, and has been building his supporter lists for nearly two years.
He already has a campaign slogan, ‘‘Keep America Great’’ — following ‘‘Make America Great Again’’ in 2016 — and has raised $106 million for reelection, financial reports show.
He is unlikely to face a serious Republican primary challenge, and any longshot bid would be a largely symbolic one from the party’s narrow antiTrump wing, led by Ohio Governor John Kasich, who lost to Trump in 2016, and Arizona Senator Jeff Flake. Both are frequent Trump critics who are leaving office.
‘‘I would seriously doubt’’ there will be a challenge to Trump, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said, adding Republicans felt good about their political standing.
‘‘From a rightofcentre point of view, it doesn’t get any better than this Congress. And I think the President has many things to feel good about,’’ McConnell said.
Democrats have no illusions about the race. Trump has repeatedly shown his ability to dominate opponents and turn controversies into rallying cries for his base.
The 2020 campaign will be Trump’s first time on a ballot since his shocking 2016 upset of Clinton, when he used his fame as a businessman and former reality TV star with no experience in elected office to cast himself as the change candidate who would smash the status quo.
This time, Democrats say they must be the agents of change.
‘‘If we are in a race where voters are deciding between Trump and someone who is defending the Obama years, we’ll be in trouble,’’ Tanden said.