Oprah_Winfrey

Oprah Dashes Our Hopes of a 2020 Presidential Run—So Who Should We Be Backing?

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There was a very hype segment of the public that was game for the idea of Oprah Winfrey running for office after her impressive and inspiring Golden Globe speech. But Oprah has made it clear, once again, that she has no intention to run for office.

Winfrey told InStyle editor-in-chief, Laura Brown, in a new interview that “I don’t have the DNA for it.” She also said, “I’ve always felt very secure and confident with myself in knowing what I could do and what I could not. And so it’s not something that interests me.”

“Gayle [King] — who knows me as well as I know myself practically — has been calling me regularly and texting me things, like a woman in the airport saying, ‘When’s Oprah going to run?’” she continued. “So Gayle sends me these things, and then she’ll go, ‘I know, I know, I know! It wouldn’t be good for you — it would be good for everyone else.’ I met with someone the other day who said that they would help me with a campaign. That’s not for me.”

While I personally would love it if The Boondocks had correctly predicted our first black female president in Oprah Winfrey, I also am glad that Oprah will have an opportunity to become a part of this political system. She does a lot of good in the world and I do not think she would want to be a part of the military-industrial complex. Still, the fact that people were so excited about her potential run shows the thirst for leadership on the left.

So if Oprah isn’t the one, who will it be? I asked my fellow TMS writers who they think should be running and here were the top candidates, I linked to their On the Issues page if you want a broader look at

Kamala Harris

  • Against the death penalty.
  • Pro-choice.
  • Advocated for strong enforcement of environmental protection laws.
  • Has consistently supported gun control.
  • Supporting Sanders’ single-payer health care.

Cory Booker

  • He supports a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
  • He supports ending the War on Drugs.
  • In favor of single-payer healthcare.
  • Was previously criticized for embracing charter schools and voucher programs.
  • Believes in tackling climate change.
  • Pro-choice.

Kristen Gillibrand

  • Has been at the forefront of the #MeToo movement.
  • Experienced in being successful in a more conservative environment.
  • Pro-choice.
  • Is for gun control, but also a gun owner herself.
  • In favor of single-payer healthcare.

Adam Schiff

  • Pro-choice.
  • Voted for more funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes.
  • Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence.
  • Is for an open-border stance on immigration.
  • Did vote to invade for Iraq, but has said that he deeply regrets it.

Tammy Duckworth

  • Pro-choice.
  • Is fiscally conservative in some ways when it comes to spending.
  • Asian-American/Veteran/ first female double amputee from the Iraq war.
  • Supports comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for those in the country illegally.
  • Participated in the 2016 Chris Murphy gun control filibuster.

Who has your attention when you think longingly ahead to the 2020 election?

(via EW, image: Adult Swim)

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Princess Weekes
Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. Still lives in Brooklyn with her over 500 Pokémon that she has Eevee trained into a mighty army. Team Zutara forever.