You really need a scorecard to know who is “in” and who is “out” of the forthcoming 2020 Democratic presidential race. While I question whether Sherrod Brown shouldn’t be on the “Definitely In” list (didn’t he already declare he was running?), this list comes to us compliments of the Sunday, February 3, 2019, “Austin American Statesman,” p. A11. I’ve never heard of 9 of these people, and I’m wondering where the Starbucks guy is? (Maybe NOT a Democrat, but an Independent, but then why is Bernie on the list). Stay tuned for further developments. One talking head says that, with the money left over from his run against Ted Cruz, Beto can afford to stay out of the race until March. Who knows who else may be “definitely in” by then?

The 2020 Democratic Presidential Field:

With Vice President Joseph Biden (then Senator Biden) at the Jefferson Jackson dinner in Davenport, Iowa, caucus season, 2008.

Definitely In the Democratic Presidential Race:

  1. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, N.J.
  2. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, South Bend, Ind.
  3. Former San Antonio Mayor & Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Julian Castro
  4. Former U.S. Rep. John Delaney, MD.
  5. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii
  6. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, N.Y.
  7. U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, Calif.
  8. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Mass.
  9. Spiritual teacher and author Marianne Williamson
  10. Former tech executive Andrew Young

Likely to Get In the Democratic Presidential Race:

  1.  Former Vice President Joe Biden
  2. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, Ohio
  3. Former Gov. Steve Bullock, Montana
  4. Former Gov. John Hickenlooper, Colorado
  5. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

May Get In the Democratic Presidential Race:

With candidate John Edwards at the Putnam Museum in Davenport, Iowa, during the 2008 caucus run (wearing an Obama sticker in the photo).

  1. Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York
  2. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York
  3. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minn.
  4. Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington state
  5. Former Mayor Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans
  6. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Virginia
  7. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, Oregon
  8. Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, El Paso
  9. U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, Calif.

If you find yourself clueless on any of these names, I have given you a convenient link to their Wikipedia.org entry, so click away! (You’re welcome!)