Possible 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls gather for progressive ideas conference
By David Weigel May 15 at 7:35 PM
Don’t call it a “cattle call.” Don’t call it the “CPAC of the left.” On Tuesday morning, the Center for American Progress will host a daylong “Ideas Conference” — its third, as CAP President Neera Tanden points out. It’s just different from the last two in that at least 140 reporters have signed up to cover it, and they’re not shy about calling it a 2020 scouting session.
“We’re focused less on the politics of the moment and more on, ‘What’s the alternative?’ ” Tanden said in an interview. “I expect there’ll be some criticism of Trump, but we expect most of our speakers to provide a positive vision.”
For much of its existence, CAP was designed to feed a future Hillary Clinton administration with staffers and ideas. (Former Bill Clinton chief of staff and 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta was CAP’s first president.) But Clinton is not on this year’s agenda. Neither is Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and neither is former vice president Joe Biden.
“We were trying to emphasize a new generation,” Tanden said.
The conference, which as in the past will take over the St. Regis hotel, will kick off with a speech from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and end with a speech from Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), both in their 40s and elected to their high-profile jobs in 2013. About half of the rest of Tuesday’s speakers are considered potential 2020 presidential candidates: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Gov. Terry MacAuliffe (D-Va.). Gov. Steve Bullock (D-Mont.), whose 2016 reelection victory gave Democrats one of their few reasons to cheer in a rural state, will also get a set piece speech.
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