2020 Democratic Presidential Nominee Weekly Power Rankings - July 17, 2019

This list looks at who I believe currently has the best chance of winning the 2020 Democratic Party nomination for President. Only notable individuals who have announced they are running or have formed an exploratory committee are included. I am not a political expert, so don’t take this too seriously. Feel free to provide feedback.


Notes for This Week:

The big political story that dominated the week was President Trump's racist tweet rant against the four new progressive congresswomen known as "The Squad".

Yesterday was the deadline for polls to determine who would qualify for the second debates later this month, and it looks like we will have basically the same line-up as the first debate. The only change is the removal of Eric Swalwell, who recently dropped out of the race, and the addition of Steve Bullock. Tonight, CNN will do a live draw to see which night each candidate will appear.

1. Joe Biden

Previous Ranking: 1 (-)
Credentials: Vice President of the United States (2009–2017); U.S. Senator from Delaware (1973–2009)
Notes: Biden confirmed that he is against the "Medicare for All" plans that many of the other candidates have supported.

2. Elizabeth Warren

Previous Ranking: 2 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (2013–Current); Assistant to the President for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2010–2011); Congressional Oversight Panel Chair for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (2008–2010)
Notes: The Huffington Post has a good write up of the Senator.

3. Kamala Harris

Previous Ranking: 3 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Senator from California (2017–Current); Attorney General of California (2011–2017); District Attorney of San Francisco (2004–2011)
Notes: Harris finally took the lead in recent polling for her own state of California.

4. Bernie Sanders

Previous Ranking: 4 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Senator from Vermont (2007–Current); U.S. Representative from Vermont (1991–2007); Mayor of Burlington, Vermont (1981–1989)

5. Pete Buttigieg

Previous Ranking: 5 (-)
Credentials: Mayor of South Bend, Indiana (2012 — Current)

6. Beto O'Rourke

Previous Ranking: 6 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Representative from Texas (2013–2019); El Paso City Council (2005-2011)
Notes: We finally have O'Rourke's second quarter fundraising numbers, and it's not good. After starting out his race as a frontrunner and out-pacing Sanders in first 24 hour donations back in March, Beto was out-fundraised in Q2 by the likes of Booker and Klobuchar. He's still mostly polling over the two, but we'll have to see how long his downward slide continues.

7. Cory Booker

Previous Ranking: 7 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Senator from New Jersey (2013-Present); Mayor of Newark, NJ (2006-2013); Newark City Council (1998-2002)

8. Julian Castro

Previous Ranking: 8 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2014-2017); Mayor of San Antonio (2009-2014)

9. Amy Klobuchar

Previous Ranking: 9 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Senator from Minnesota (2007-Present)
Notes: Klobuchar's fundraising is keeping her in this, but her national polling is virtually identical to Castro, if not a bit worse.

10. Andrew Yang

Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention
Credentials: Entrepreneur
Notes: Yang's bold tech policy could help him gain traction in the race.

Honorable Mentions

Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator from Colorado
Steve Bullock, Governor of Montana
Bill De Blasio, Mayor of New York
John Delaney, Former U.S. Representative from Maryland
Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Representative from Hawaii
Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator from New York
Mike Gravel, Former U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative from Alaska
John Hickenlooper, Former Governor of Colorado
Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington
Seth Moulton, U.S. Representative from Massachusetts
Tim Ryan, U.S. Representative from Ohio
Joe Sestak, Former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania
Tom Steyer, Billionaire
Marianne Williamson, Motivational Speaker & Self Help Author

Let me know what you think about my rankings! Leave a comment below.