Former Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential bid Wednesday, saying the former vice president has the ability to win swing states President Trump won in 2016, CNN reports.
Ryan Drops Out of Presidential Race
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) announced that he has dropped out of the 2020 presidential race.
There are still eighteen candidates running, though just nine have qualified for the next debate in November.
Tim Ryan Is Co-Sponsoring a Medicare for All Bill
“Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) spent a good chunk of Tuesday night’s presidential debate warning that Medicare for All would politically ruin Democrats. The day after, he predicted that the ambitious health care proposal would prompt an electoral bloodbath for the party in November 2020,” the Daily Beast reports.
“But there’s just one problem with Ryan’s role as the Democratic Party’s Nostradamus: He’s currently a co-sponsor of a House bill pushing a single-payer health care system.”
Tim Ryan Mulls Presidential Bid
“Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat who has made waves by challenging Speaker Nancy Pelosi, will visit Iowa and New Hampshire in the coming weeks as he considers a presidential run,” BuzzFeed News reports.
“Ryan represents an area where President Donald Trump converted many longtime Democratic voters and he has shown mild interest in a White House bid since 2016. The upcoming travel suggests an escalation as he nears a decision.”
Ohio Congressman Intends to Run for President
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) “has been telling political consultants and operatives that he intends to run for president of the United States in 2020, and is beginning to put together a team,” The Intercept reports.
“Ryan, who has served in Congress since 2002 as a representative from the 13th District in Ohio, which covers Youngstown and the surrounding area, has cast himself as an opportunity for the party to try and win back the Midwestern votes it has gradually shed over the last decade. A spokesperson for Ryan declined to comment.”
Moulton and Ryan Fuel 2020 Speculation with Iowa Trip
“Two House Democrats who have drawn increasing notice as potential 2020 White House hopefuls after opposing their own party’s leadership are heading to Iowa,” Politico reports.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) will join Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) “as the headliners of the annual Polk County Steak Fry of the Iowa Democratic Party in September… The trips fuel speculation that Moulton and Ryan are considering White House runs.”
Quote of the Day
“Our brand is worse than Trump. We can’t just run against Trump.”
— Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), quoted by the New York Times, explaining Democratic losses in four special elections this year.
Ryan Won’t Run for Ohio Governor
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), “whose national profile has risen in recent months, will not be a candidate for Ohio governor in 2018,” the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
“The eight-term congressman wrestled with a run for months, weighing the risk of jumping into a potentially crowded and unpredictable primary against sticking with a safe House seat.”
Pelosi Fends Off Leadership Challenge
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) beat back a challenge from Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) to win her party’s re-election to continue serving as House Democratic leader in the next Congress, the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Mrs. Pelosi prevailed despite concerns from some rank-and-file Democrats that she represented an outdated approach that neglected to see the party’s failure to connect with voters in the Midwest and South, particularly the white working-class voters who flocked to Donald Trump on Election Day and probably provided the margin for him to defeat Hillary Clinton.”
Quote of the Day
“If we don’t have Barack Obama at the top of the ticket, we can’t win elections. That is an unsustainable model.”
— Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), quoted by the Washington Post.
Ryan Will Not Run for Senate in Ohio
Although a reversal on his abortion stance last month prompted speculation that Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) would challenge Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) in next year’s election, the lawmaker said today he will not run for the seat, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
“He indicated he would seek another term in Congress.”
