Candidates associated with the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries for the 2020 United States presidential election:
Major candidates Candidates who are on the ballot in a minimum of fifteen states. former Vice President Joe Biden became the presumptive presidential nominee by amassing enough delegates to secure the nomination. The nomination was made official at the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Nominee Name Born Experience Home state Campaign announced Article Ref.Joe Biden(age )Scranton, PennsylvaniaVice President of the United States (2009–2017)U.S. senator from Delaware (1973–2009)Candidate for President in 1988 and 2008CampaignFEC filing
Withdrew during the primaries Candidates who were major candidates who withdrew or suspended their campaigns after the Iowa caucuses or succeeding primary elections.
CandidateBornExperienceStateCampaign announcedCampaign suspendedArticleRefsBernie Sanders(age )Brooklyn, New YorkU.S. senator from Vermont (2007–present)U.S. representative from VT-AL (1991–2007)Mayor of Burlington, Vermont (1981–1989)Candidate for president in 2016 April 8, 2020 Campaign FEC filingTulsi Gabbard(age )Leloaloa, American SamoaU.S. representative from HI-02 (2013–2021) Member of the Honolulu City Council (2011–2012)Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives (2002–2004) Campaign FEC filing Elizabeth Warren (age )Oklahoma City, OklahomaU.S. senator from Massachusetts (2013–present)Exploratory Committee: December 31, 2018 CampaignFEC filingMichael Bloomberg(age )Boston, MassachusettsMayor of New York City, New York (2002–2013)CEO of Bloomberg L.P.CampaignFEC filing Amy Klobuchar (age )Plymouth, MinnesotaU.S. senator from Minnesota (2007–present) CampaignFEC filing Pete Buttigieg (age )South Bend, IndianaMayor of South Bend, Indiana (2012–2020)Campaign FEC filingTom Steyer(age )Manhattan, New YorkHedge fund managerFounder of Farallon Capital, Beneficial State Bank, and NextGen America CampaignFEC filing Deval Patrick (age )Chicago, Illinois Governor of Massachusetts (2007–2015) CampaignFEC filing || || Michael Bennet (age )New Delhi, India U.S. senator from Colorado (2009–present) CampaignFEC filing Andrew Yang(age )Schenectady, New YorkEntrepreneur Founder of Venture for AmericaPresidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (2015–2017) CampaignFEC filing
Withdrew before Iowa caucuses, but remained on ballots Candidates who withdrew too late to remove their names from several state ballots and remained on at least two:
Candidate Born Experience State Campaignannounced Campaignsuspended Article Ref. John Delaney (age )Wood-Ridge, New Jersey U.S. representative from MD-06 (2013–2019) CampaignFEC filing Cory Booker (age )Washington, D.C. U.S. senator from New Jersey (2013–present)Mayor of Newark, New Jersey (2006–2013) CampaignFEC filing Marianne Williamson (age )Houston, Texas AuthorFounder of Project Angel FoodIndependent candidate for U.S. House from CA-33 in 2014 Campaign Julián Castro (age )San Antonio, Texas Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2014–2017)Mayor of San Antonio, Texas (2009–2014) Campaign Kamala Harris (age )Oakland, California U.S. senator from California (2017–2021)Attorney General of California (2011–2017) (endorsed Biden, who later chose her as vice presidential running-mate) CampaignFEC filing Steve Bullock (age )Missoula, Montana Governor of Montana (2013–2021)Attorney General of Montana (2009–2013) CampaignFEC filing Joe Sestak (age )Secane, Pennsylvania U.S. representative from PA-07 (2007–2011) Former Vice Admiral of the United States Navy CampaignFEC filing
Withdrew without appearing on primary ballots Candidates who were major candidates who withdrew or suspended their campaigns before the 2020 Democratic primary elections began and were not on the ballot for the presidential primaries anywhere.
Candidate Born Experience State Campaignannounced Campaignsuspended Article Ref. Wayne Messam (age )South Bay, Florida Mayor of Miramar, Florida (2015–present) CampaignFEC filing Beto O'Rourke (age )El Paso, Texas U.S. representative from TX-16 (2013–2019) CampaignFEC filing Tim Ryan (age )Niles, Ohio U.S. representative from OH-13 (2013–2023)U.S. representative from OH-17 (2003–2013) CampaignFEC filing Bill de Blasio (age )Manhattan, New York Mayor of New York City, New York (2014–2021) CampaignFEC filing Kirsten Gillibrand (age )Albany, New York U.S. senator from New York (2009–present)U.S. representative from NY-20 (2007–2009) CampaignFEC filing Seth Moulton (age )Salem, Massachusetts U.S. representative from MA-06 (2015–present) CampaignFEC filing Jay Inslee (age )Seattle, Washington Governor of Washington (2013–2025)U.S. representative from WA-01 (1999–2012) CampaignFEC filing John Hickenlooper (age )Narberth, Pennsylvania Governor of Colorado (2011–2019)Mayor of Denver, Colorado (2003–2011) CampaignFEC filing Mike Gravel (age )Springfield, Massachusetts U.S. senator from Alaska (1969–1981)Candidate for president in 2008Candidate for vice president of the United States in 1972 CampaignFEC filing Eric Swalwell (age )Sac City, Iowa U.S. representative from CA-15 (2013–present) CampaignFEC filing Richard Ojeda (age )Rochester, Minnesota West Virginia state senator from WV-SD07 (2016–2019) CampaignFEC filing
Other candidates
On the ballot in at least one state Over 1,200 people filed with the FEC declaring that they were candidates; however, very few actually made the effort to get their names on the ballot anywhere. The following persons were listed on at least one primary ballot:
Mosie Boyd, Arkansas Total votes: 2,062 Steve Burke, New York Total votes: 252 Nathan Bloxham, Utah Total votes: 69 Jason Evritte Dunlap, Maryland Total votes: 12 Michael A. Ellinger, California Total votes: 3,634 Roque De La Fuente III‡, California Total votes: 13,584 Ben Gleib, California Total votes: 31 Mark Stewart Greenstein, Connecticut Total votes: 3,330 Henry Hewes, New York Total votes: 315 Tom Koos, California Total votes: 72 Lorenz Kraus, New York Total votes: 52 Rita Krichevsky, New Jersey Total votes: 468 Raymond Michael Moroz, New York Total votes: 8 David Lee Rice, West Virginia Total votes: 15,470 Sam Sloan, New York Total votes: 34 David John Thistle, Massachusetts Total votes: 53 Thomas James Torgesen, New York Total votes: 30 Robby Wells, Georgia Total votes: 1,960
‡Roque De La Fuente III is the son of perennial candidate Rocky De La Fuente and is not the same individual.
Not on the ballot anywhere The following individuals who did not meet the criteria to become major candidates either formally terminated their campaigns or did not attempt to get on the ballot in a single contest: Harry Braun, renewable energy consultant and researcher; Democratic nominee for U.S. representative from AZ-01 in 1984 and 1986 Ami Horowitz, conservative activist and documentary filmmaker (endorsed Donald Trump) Brian Moore, activist; Green nominee for U.S. Senate from Florida in 2006; Socialist and Liberty Union nominee for president in 2008 Ken Nwadike Jr., documentary filmmaker, motivational speaker, and peace activist Scott Walker, Republican nominee for Delaware's at-large congressional district in 2018
Declined to be candidates
These individuals had been the subject of presidential speculation, but publicly denied or recanted interest in running for president.
Neil Abercrombie, former Governor of Hawaii (endorsed Biden) Stacey Abrams, former Georgia state representative; Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia in 2018 (endorsed Biden) Michael Avenatti, attorney from California (endorsed Biden) Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Senator from Wisconsin Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator from Connecticut since 2011 Jerry Brown, former governor of California (Endorsed Biden) Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator from Ohio (Endorsed Biden) Cheri Bustos, U.S. Representative from Illinois since 2013, former journalist and health executive Bob Casey Jr., U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (endorsed Biden) Lincoln Chafee, Governor of Rhode Island 2011–2015; U.S. Senator 1999–2007; candidate for President in 2016 Chelsea Clinton, First Daughter of the United States 1993–2001 Hillary Clinton, former secretary of State, former U.S. Senator from New York, former first lady of the United States, presidential candidate in 2008, Democratic nominee for president in 2016 (endorsed Biden) George Clooney, actor, filmmaker, activist, businessman, and philanthropist from Kentucky Tim Cook, business executive, industrial engineer, and developer from California Stephen Colbert, comedian, television host, actor, and writer; candidate for President in 2008 Roy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina (ran for re-election) Mark Cuban, businessman, investor, author, television personality, and philanthropist from Texas Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York (endorsed Biden) Mark Dayton, former Governor of Minnesota Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont, former DNC Chair Jamie Dimon, business executive from Illinois John Bel Edwards, Governor of Louisiana since 2016 Rahm Emanuel, former mayor of Chicago, former White House Chief of Staff Russ Feingold, former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin Al Franken, former U.S. Senator from Minnesota Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, California (endorsed Biden) Andrew Gillum, former mayor of Tallahassee, Florida; Democratic nominee for governor of Florida in 2018 Al Gore, former vice president of the United States; former U.S. Senator from Tennessee; Democratic nominee for president in 2000 (endorsed Biden) Luis Gutiérrez, former U.S. representative from Illinois Eric Holder, former United States attorney general Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Dwayne Johnson, actor and former professional wrestler Doug Jones, U.S. Senator from Alabama since 2018 Tim Kaine, U.S. Senator from Virginia; former governor of Virginia; Democratic nominee for vice president in 2016 (endorsed Biden) Jason Kander, Secretary of State of Missouri 2013–2017; Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2016 John Kasich, former Governor of Ohio, former Representative from Ohio's 12th congressional district, 2016 Republican presidential candidate Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Japan 2013–2017 Joe Kennedy III, U.S. representative from Massachusetts(ran for U.S. Senate) (endorsed Warren (candidate withdrawn)) John Kerry, former secretary of State; former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts; Democratic presidential nominee in 2004 (endorsed Biden) Mitch Landrieu, former mayor of New Orleans; former lieutenant governor of Louisiana Sean Patrick Maloney, United States Representative for New York's 18th congressional district Terry McAuliffe, former governor of Virginia (endorsed Biden) William H. McRaven, United States Navy Admiral 1977–2014 Jeff Merkley, U.S. Senator from Oregon (ran for re-election) Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator from Connecticut Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey (endorsed Booker (candidate withdrawn)) Gavin Newsom, Governor of California (endorsed Harris (candidate withdrawn)) Michelle Obama, former first lady of the United States from Illinois Martin O'Malley, former governor of Maryland; candidate for President in 2016 (endorsed O'Rourke (candidate withdrawn), then Biden) Ron Perlman, actor Gina Raimondo, Governor of Rhode Island (endorsed Bloomberg (candidate withdrawn), then Biden) Joe Sanberg, entrepreneur and investor from California (endorsed Sanders) Joe Scarborough, talk show host; former Republican U.S. representative from Florida Adam Schiff, U.S. representative from California (ran for re-election) Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks from Washington Jon Tester, U.S. Senator from Montana (endorsed Bullock (candidate withdrawn)) Richard Vague, businessperson, venture capitalist, author, and Secretary of Banking and Securities of Pennsylvania