Joe Sestak announced that he is dropping out of the 2020 presidential race, leaving the total number of Democrats left in the field at 17, Axios reports.
Joe Sestak Announces White House Bid
“Joe Sestak, a former Navy admiral and congressman from Pennsylvania, said he was joining the crowded field of Democratic candidates running for president in 2020,” the New York Times reports.
“With an announcement on his website on Saturday, Mr. Sestak became the 24th Democratic candidate running for president.”
“His announcement came later than those of the other Democratic candidates. He said the delay had happened because he had wanted to spend time with his daughter, who had been battling brain cancer but had since beaten it.”
Democrats Seek Alternative to Sestak in Pennsylvania
Top Democrats are pressuring Josh Shapiro (D) to run for the U.S. Senate, “a reflection of the party’s unease with second-time candidate, Joe Sestak (D),” the AP reports.
“Two people familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press this week that Democratic Senate leaders, including New York’s Chuck Schumer and the head of the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, Montana’s Jon Tester, have spoken with Shapiro.”
Democrats Look for Someone Better Than Sestak
“Anxious about a candidate considered to be an unreliable maverick and a political liability, Democratic Party leaders have undertaken a quiet, intensive search in recent months to recruit a serious primary challenger to former Rep. Joe Sestak, the party’s Senate nominee in 2010 who is again running for the seat,” National Journal reports.
“The effort has involved former congressman, state senators, county leaders and, recently, even a prominent district attorney. Their anxieties are being driven by party officials, who are concerned that Sestak could cost Democrats a must-win state in 2016. They’ve yet to turn up a successful alternative, but in their telling, it’s only a matter of time before a new challenger—one with the backing of the party establishment—enters the race.”
Toomey Holds Solid Lead Over Sestak
A new Quinnipiac poll in Pennsylvania finds Sen. Pat Toomey (R) well ahead of likely challenger Joe Sestak (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 45% to 35%,
Toomey Holds Narrow Lead in Pennsylvania
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Pennsylvania finds the U.S. Senate race is picking up pretty much where the 2010 Senate race left off with Sen. Pat Toomey (R) holding a narrow edge over challenger Joe Sestak (D), 40% to 36%.
Sestak Could Avoid Primary Challenge
Former Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) “never really stopped running against Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) after his narrow 2010 loss,” The Hill reports.
“Sestak announced in 2013 that he was already seeking another shot against Toomey. The former congressman has remained active in Pennsylvania politics since his loss, helping Democrats locally and statewide. And his strong, early signals that he would run again might have helped scare off many other potential opponents.”
Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
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