First lady of New York City Chirlane McCray said Friday that Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) wouldn’t rule out the possibility of running for president, emphasizing that “nothing is off the table.”
“He wouldn’t rule it out, and that’s wise when you see what’s happening in this country,” McCray told Hill.TV’s Buck Sexton when asked whether de Blasio will launch a 2020 White House bid. “Who would rule anything out? Nothing can be off the table.”
She added that “people have to do the right thing if they’re called to serve.”
McCray’s comments come after de Blasio said this month that he remains focused on his job as mayor but would “never rule things out.”
“I never rule things out because you never know what life brings,” de Blasio told CNN. “But I am focused on the work I am doing now.”
De Blasio was floated early on as a potential candidate to challenge President Trump in 2020.
The list of possible contenders includes current and former lawmakers like Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D).
Hickenlooper on Thursday told Hill.TV that he is “leaning” toward throwing his hat into the ring, but said he still has a “long list” of considerations to make before deciding.
Booker, meanwhile, posted an Instagram Live video on Sunday alongside former President Carter, who urged him to run.
The New Jersey Democrat thanked Carter, telling him his encouragement “means more to me than you can imagine.”
The 2020 Democratic race is shaping up one of the most crowded primaries in decades.
So far, seven Democratic candidates have officially announced their presidential bids, with more than a dozen more expected to make their intentions known in the coming months.
–Tess Bonn
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