- The 2020 presidential election is more than a year away, but many hopefuls are already announcing their candidacies.
- While many potential Democratic candidates have yet to announce their intentions, 12 contenders have already jumped into the field, including six US Senators, two mayors, and two members of the House.
- Here's a list of the major party 2020 presidential candidates.
Soon after assuming the office of the presidency in January 2017, President Donald Trump filed preliminary paperwork that laid the groundwork for re-election in 2020.
With the official primaries almost a full year away, 13 Democratic contenders have already lined up to challenge Trump, with many more expected to join what could be the largest primary field in history.
So far, six US Senators, two current and former members of the House of Representatives, two mayors, one governor, one businessman, and one Hollywood spiritual guru have entered the race.
Other Democratic heavyweights who could jump into the race include former Vice President Joe Biden, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke.
Trump could also face opposition within his own party. Former Massachusetts Governor and Libertarian vice presidential nominee Bill Weld is actively considering challenging Trump in the Republican primary.
Here are all the major party candidates running for president in 2020:
SEE ALSO: An early look at the 2020 presidential contenders
SEE ALSO: Here's what the 2020 Democratic presidential contenders looked like in their school-age days
Washington Governor Jay Inslee
Inslee, who has served as governor of Washington since 2012, has held some form of public office for most of the past 30 years. The long-time lawmaker is billing himself as the "climate candidate."
"I'm Jay Inslee and I'm running for president because I am the only candidate who will make defeating climate change our nation's number one priority," Inslee said in a video released March 1.
While governor, Inslee has made reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy a top priority.
The video also shows Inslee in the aftermath of wildfires as he says in a voiceover: "We are the first generation to feel the sting of climate change. And we're the last that can do something about it."
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders
Sanders will be competing for the Democratic nomination for the second time, he announced on February 19.
The 77 year-old Vermont senator, who is officially an independent but caucuses with Democrats in Congress, and former Burlington mayor has been a progressive stalwart for decades and built up a strong base of support for his platform in 2016 despite falling short to Hillary Clinton in the primary.
"Our campaign is about more than beating Donald Trump," he said in his announcement video. "It's about transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial, and environmental justice."
This time around, Sanders will face much stiffer competition in a Democratic field that could hold over 20 candidates — many of whom are running on platforms that emphasize his signature issues of reducing income inequality and the power of big corporations in America.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar
On February 10, the three-term US Senator from Minnesota became the 12th Democratic candidate and 6th woman to jump into the 2020 field.
In true Minnesota fashion, Klobuchar announced her candidacy at an outdoor event during a blizzard, giving her speech without a hat, gloves, or a teleprompter.
Klobuchar is counting on her reputation as a measured, pragmatic moderate with a "Minnesota nice" demeanor to dominate among Midwestern voters — and pose a stark contrast to President Donald Trump.
Her campaign rollout may be hampered, however, by recent reports published in BuzzFeed News and the Huffington Post detailing alleged mistreatment and humiliation of her staff. According to one report, three people turned down the job of running her campaign over those allegations.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider