The Democratic Front-runners— at Least for Now

Buoyed by their historic midterm victory and Trump’s troubles, Democrats are thirsting for a shot at the White House. Let the games begin

donald trump’s unlikely ascension to the White House shattered the conventional belief in American politics that not just anyone can be president—and it has made the chance to challenge him in 2020 open to, well, anyone.

And so, even though there are nearly two years until the next presidential election, an immense field of prospective candidates is already emerging. They span decades in age and political experience, millions in net worth and across the liberal spectrum. Supposed front-runners shift week by week, jumping from billionaire megadonor Michael Bloomberg to anti–wall Street socialist Bernie Sanders and even 46-year-old Texas Congressman Beto O’rourke. But despite their differences, the dozens of Democrats pondering presidential runs are united in the belief that, after their party’s success in the midterms and Trump’s tumultuous tenure in office, the White House will be painted blue in 2020.

Democrats recorded their best midterms showing since the 1974 election that followed President Richard Nixon’s resignation amid the Watergate scandal. The party easily flipped control of the House, picking up 40 seats—including 17 districts where Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016. They also made significant gains in state legislatures, where they could redraw political boundaries in the next round of redistricting and repeal controversial voter-identification laws, both measures that would help them in upcoming national elections. All-star candidates like O’rourke, Georgia’s Stacey Abrams and Florida’s Andrew Gillum, despite losing their races, became national celebrities and proved that Democratic engagement is alive and well in Republican strongholds. While they will have to work to distinguish themselves from one another, all are certain to capitalize