In a race where new candidates seem to be emerging daily, a couple of political stars have opted not to join in the 2020 presidential race: Hillary Clinton and Michael Bloomberg. Each have long political histories and are especially familiar to New Yorkers, but decided last month that 2020 will not be their time to run for the presidency.
Many remember Hillary Clinton, 71, for her presidential run in 2016 as the Democratic nominee. A former first lady, New York senator, and Secretary of State for the Obama administration, Clinton has held a long and accomplished political career, but does not plan to run for any office as of now, reports News 12.
In an interview with News 12 Clinton said, “I’m not running, but I’m going to keep on working and speaking and standing up for what I believe.”
Clinton is not calling it quits on politics. According to The New York Times, it appears she is acting as an advisor to other candidates or potential candidates, including Kamala Harris and former Vice President, Joe Biden, and has inspired other females to declare their own candidacies.
On the other hand, former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, 77, was also saying ‘no’ to a 2020 run. A recurrent “flip-flop” when it comes to his party registration, Bloomberg recently re-switched his party to Democrat in October after almost running as an independent in 2016. According to the New York Times, Bloomberg is vehemently anti-Trump and spent approximately $112 million on behalf of Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections.
According to a piece Bloomberg himself wrote for Bloomberg News, his decision ultimately came down to whether or not he would be a viable candidate to clench the Democratic nomination. Bloomberg wrote, “Should I devote the next two years to talk about my ideas and record, knowing that I might never win the Democratic nomination or should I spend the next two years doubling down on the work that I am already leading and funding, and that I know can produce real and beneficial results for the country, right now?”
Bloomberg is considered a political moderate, being pro-business and in favor of tough policing when he was mayor. However, he supports gun-control and is concerned with climate change, reports The Times. In a country that has become more polarized and with an upcoming primary that will feature multiple liberal candidates, Bloomberg might have been one of the only moderate candidates. Now that he has chosen not to run, he has left the door wide open for Biden to run on a moderate Democratic platform.
Senior and political science major Esti Ness believes Clinton and Bloomberg were smart for avoiding the 2020 competition. “I think it’s good they’re not running because sometimes a household name could hurt you,” she said. “Clinton running again would cause people to question her . . . it could be a repeat of 2016, and Bloomberg [just] looks like all the other rich white men who have won the presidency before. People want something fresh and different.”
Both Clinton and Bloomberg said they will focus on their other agendas. According to News 12, Clinton plans to continue supporting her party and is living happily writing and being a grandmother. Bloomberg, according to The New York Times, is focusing on climate change with his new initiative, Beyond Carbon, and working to expand the number of gun-control regulations around the country.
