Democrats decry Shultz idea to run as independent in 2020

SEATTLE (AP) — The possibility that former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz might launch an independent run for the presidency is not playing well with Democrats in his home state.

"I have two words for Howard Schultz on a potential run for president as an independent: Just. Don't," said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington Democratic Party, in a statement, the Seattle Times reported .

"Too much is at stake to make this about the ambitions of any one person," she said. "The 2020 race for President has to be about relegating Donald Trump to the dustbin of history, and reclaiming the Oval Office for our people and our future."

Democrats fear an independent candidacy might split the anti-Trump vote in 2020 and secure Trump's re-election. Podlodowski said Schultz has claimed to be a lifelong Democrat and should run as one if he's interested in an office.

"You can even start at home, with the Washington State Democratic Party," she said.

Schultz has not cultivated substantial political connections in his home state. He's also remembered by basketball fans as the former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics.

After failing to persuade legislators to upgrade facilities with public money, Schultz and his co-owners sold the team to a group that moved the team in 2008 to Oklahoma City.

Schultz for years has hinted that he might want to enter politics as a centrist problem solver. He's promoting a new book, "From the Ground UP: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America." It will be released Jan. 28.</s>Democrats decry Shultz idea to run as independent in 2020

SEATTLE (AP) — The possibility that former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz might launch an independent run for the presidency is not playing well with Democrats in his home state.

"I have two words for Howard Schultz on a potential run for president as an independent: Just. Don't," said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington Democratic Party, in a statement, the Seattle Times reported .

"Too much is at stake to make this about the ambitions of any one person," she said. "The 2020 race for President has to be about relegating Donald Trump to the dustbin of history, and reclaiming the Oval Office for our people and our future."

Democrats fear an independent candidacy might split the anti-Trump vote in 2020 and secure Trump's re-election. Podlodowski said Schultz has claimed to be a lifelong Democrat and should run as one if he's interested in an office.

"You can even start at home, with the Washington State Democratic Party," she said.

Schultz has not cultivated substantial political connections in his home state. He's also remembered by basketball fans as the former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics.

After failing to persuade legislators to upgrade facilities with public money, Schultz and his co-owners sold the team to a group that moved the team in 2008 to Oklahoma City.

Schultz for years has hinted that he might want to enter politics as a centrist problem solver. He's promoting a new book, "From the Ground UP: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America." It will be released Jan. 28.</s>Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is considering challenging Donald Trump in the 2020 election and making a run for President in 2020 as an independent candidate.

Schultz, a Democrat and successful businessman, could be a contender Trump.

A person close to Schultz's advisers said they 'are exploring a possible independent bid for the presidency in 2020,' but the person emphasized that all options remained on the table.

'Schultz is thinking deeply about his future and how he can best serve the country,' the person said.

Schultz stepped down from his position at Starbucks last year and said at the time he was considering a White House bid, according to CNN.

Schultz has not been afraid to criticize President Trump, citing his 'vitriolic behavior'.

Speaking on CNBC last June he said, 'President Trump has given license to the fact that someone who is not a politician could potentially run for the presidency.'

In the same interview, Schultz knocked Democrats for proposals he deemed too left-wing, including single-payer health care and guaranteed income.

Late last year, Schultz, who is also preparing a book tour for his new memoir, brought on board Steve Schmidt, a former vice chairman at public relations powerhouse Edelman, who previously managed the late Republican Senator McCain's presidential campaign.

Cheryl Cook, a longtime executive vice president at Edelman, is representing Schultz currently and will remain on board through his book tour.

Meanwhile, Schultz has hired another adviser, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, who he worked with throughout his tenure at Starbucks.

Chandrasekaran was previously a senior correspondent at The Washington Post.

Political pundits say the public relations and advisory team Schultz has brought on is a signal that he is a sure sign he will run despite that he has yet to visit the places like Iowa and New Hampshire, where potential candidates have already begun campaigning in.

Schultz, 65, stepped down as Starbucks CEO in 2017, though he remains chairman emeritus. He has an estimated net worth of about $3.3 billion, according to Forbes.

However, the possibility he might run is not playing well with Democrats in his home state.

'I have two words for Howard Schultz on a potential run for president as an independent: Just. Don't,' said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington Democratic Party, in a statement, the Seattle Times reported .

'Too much is at stake to make this about the ambitions of any one person,' she said. 'The 2020 race for President has to be about relegating Donald Trump to the dustbin of history, and reclaiming the Oval Office for our people and our future.'

Democrats fear an independent candidacy might split the anti-Trump vote in 2020 and secure Trump's re-election.

Podlodowski said Schultz has claimed to be a lifelong Democrat and should run as one if he's interested in an office.

'You can even start at home, with the Washington State Democratic Party,' she said.

Schultz has not cultivated substantial political connections in his home state.

Schultz for years has hinted that he might want to enter politics as a centrist problem solver. He's promoting a new book, 'From the Ground UP: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America.' It will be released January 28.

Meanwhile, the Democratic field appears to be ever-widening. On Monday, California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris announced she would enter the race.

Another billionaire businessman, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has also said he is considering a bid as well but has said that he would run as a Democrat, believing it unlikely that an independent candidate could succeed.

During the 2016 election, third party and independent candidates failed to break out and no independent candidate has broken into the double digits since businessman Ross Perot won nearly 20% of the popular vote in 1992</s>Democrats decry Shultz idea to run as independent in 2020

SEATTLE (AP) — The possibility that former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz might launch an independent run for the presidency is not playing well with Democrats in his home state.

"I have two words for Howard Schultz on a potential run for president as an independent: Just. Don't," said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington Democratic Party, in a statement, the Seattle Times reported .

"Too much is at stake to make this about the ambitions of any one person," she said. "The 2020 race for President has to be about relegating Donald Trump to the dustbin of history, and reclaiming the Oval Office for our people and our future."

Democrats fear an independent candidacy might split the anti-Trump vote in 2020 and secure Trump's re-election. Podlodowski said Schultz has claimed to be a lifelong Democrat and should run as one if he's interested in an office.

"You can even start at home, with the Washington State Democratic Party," she said.

Schultz has not cultivated substantial political connections in his home state. He's also remembered by basketball fans as the former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics.

After failing to persuade legislators to upgrade facilities with public money, Schultz and his co-owners sold the team to a group that moved the team in 2008 to Oklahoma City.

Schultz for years has hinted that he might want to enter politics as a centrist problem solver. He's promoting a new book, "From the Ground UP: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America." It will be released Jan. 28.</s>Democrats decry Shultz idea to run as independent in 2020

SEATTLE (AP) — The possibility that former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz might launch an independent run for the presidency is not playing well with Democrats in his home state.

"I have two words for Howard Schultz on a potential run for president as an independent: Just. Don't," said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington Democratic Party, in a statement, the Seattle Times reported .

"Too much is at stake to make this about the ambitions of any one person," she said. "The 2020 race for President has to be about relegating Donald Trump to the dustbin of history, and reclaiming the Oval Office for our people and our future."

Democrats fear an independent candidacy might split the anti-Trump vote in 2020 and secure Trump's re-election. Podlodowski said Schultz has claimed to be a lifelong Democrat and should run as one if he's interested in an office.

"You can even start at home, with the Washington State Democratic Party," she said.

Schultz has not cultivated substantial political connections in his home state. He's also remembered by basketball fans as the former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics.

After failing to persuade legislators to upgrade facilities with public money, Schultz and his co-owners sold the team to a group that moved the team in 2008 to Oklahoma City.

Schultz for years has hinted that he might want to enter politics as a centrist problem solver. He's promoting a new book, "From the Ground UP: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America." It will be released Jan. 28.</s>SEATTLE (AP) — The possibility that former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz might launch an independent run for the presidency is not playing well with Democrats in his home state.

"I have two words for Howard Schultz on a potential run for president as an independent: Just. Don't," said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington Democratic Party, in a statement, the Seattle Times reported .

"Too much is at stake to make this about the ambitions of any one person," she said. "The 2020 race for President has to be about relegating Donald Trump to the dustbin of history, and reclaiming the Oval Office for our people and our future."

Democrats fear an independent candidacy might split the anti-Trump vote in 2020 and secure Trump's re-election. Podlodowski said Schultz has claimed to be a lifelong Democrat and should run as one if he's interested in an office.

"You can even start at home, with the Washington State Democratic Party," she said.

Schultz has not cultivated substantial political connections in his home state. He's also remembered by basketball fans as the former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics.

After failing to persuade legislators to upgrade facilities with public money, Schultz and his co-owners sold the team to a group that moved the team in 2008 to Oklahoma City.

Schultz for years has hinted that he might want to enter politics as a centrist problem solver. He's promoting a new book, "From the Ground UP: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America." It will be released Jan. 28.</s>Democrats decry Shultz idea to run as independent in 2020

SEATTLE (AP) — The possibility that former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz might launch an independent run for the presidency is not playing well with Democrats in his home state.

"I have two words for Howard Schultz on a potential run for president as an independent: Just. Don't," said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington Democratic Party, in a statement, the Seattle Times reported .

"Too much is at stake to make this about the ambitions of any one person," she said. "The 2020 race for President has to be about relegating Donald Trump to the dustbin of history, and reclaiming the Oval Office for our people and our future."

Democrats fear an independent candidacy might split the anti-Trump vote in 2020 and secure Trump's re-election. Podlodowski said Schultz has claimed to be a lifelong Democrat and should run as one if he's interested in an office.

"You can even start at home, with the Washington State Democratic Party," she said.

Schultz has not cultivated substantial political connections in his home state. He's also remembered by basketball fans as the former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics.

After failing to persuade legislators to upgrade facilities with public money, Schultz and his co-owners sold the team to a group that moved the team in 2008 to Oklahoma City.

Schultz for years has hinted that he might want to enter politics as a centrist problem solver. He's promoting a new book, "From the Ground UP: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America." It will be released Jan. 28.</s>Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, is exploring running for president as an independent candidate, two people familiar with his thinking told CNN.

A person close to Schultz’s advisers said they “are exploring a possible independent bid for the presidency in 2020,” but the person emphasized that all options remained on the table.

“(Schultz) is thinking deeply about his future and how he can best serve the country,” the person said.

Schultz stepped down from his position at Starbucks last year, and he said at the time he may consider a White House bid.

He went on to criticize President Donald Trump, citing both “vitriolic behavior” from the Trump administration and a cut to corporate taxes during an interview with CNBC in June. At the time, he said, “President Trump has given license to the fact that someone who is not a politician could potentially run for the presidency.”

In the same interview, Schultz knocked Democrats for proposals he deemed too left-wing, including single-payer health care and guaranteed income. Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders said in response that Schultz’s remark was “dead wrong.”

Schultz is one of many around the country said to be considering a bid to challenge Trump in 2020, and the prospect of an independent candidacy would come as the Democratic field grows ever wider. On Monday, California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris announced she would enter the race.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is also a billionaire businessman, said previously he was considering a bid as well, but that if he did so, he would run as a Democrat, not believing a candidate outside the two major parties could succeed.

Third party and independent candidates failed to break out in the 2016 election, and no independent candidate has broken into the double digits since businessman Ross Perot’s 1992 independent bid garnered nearly 20% of the popular vote.</s>Democrats decry Shultz idea to run as independent in 2020

SEATTLE (AP) — The possibility that former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz might launch an independent run for the presidency is not playing well with Democrats in his home state.

"I have two words for Howard Schultz on a potential run for president as an independent: Just. Don't," said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington Democratic Party, in a statement, the Seattle Times reported .

"Too much is at stake to make this about the ambitions of any one person," she said. "The 2020 race for President has to be about relegating Donald Trump to the dustbin of history, and reclaiming the Oval Office for our people and our future."

Democrats fear an independent candidacy might split the anti-Trump vote in 2020 and secure Trump's re-election. Podlodowski said Schultz has claimed to be a lifelong Democrat and should run as one if he's interested in an office.

"You can even start at home, with the Washington State Democratic Party," she said.

Schultz has not cultivated substantial political connections in his home state. He's also remembered by basketball fans as the former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics.

After failing to persuade legislators to upgrade facilities with public money, Schultz and his co-owners sold the team to a group that moved the team in 2008 to Oklahoma City.

Schultz for years has hinted that he might want to enter politics as a centrist problem solver. He's promoting a new book, "From the Ground UP: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America." It will be released Jan. 28.</s>(CNN) — Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, is exploring running for president as an independent candidate, two people familiar with his thinking told CNN.

A person close to Schultz’s advisers said they “are exploring a possible independent bid for the presidency in 2020,” but the person emphasized that all options remained on the table.

“(Schultz) is thinking deeply about his future and how he can best serve the country,” the person said.

Schultz stepped down from his position at Starbucks last year, and he said at the time he may consider a White House bid.

He went on to criticize President Donald Trump, citing both “vitriolic behavior” from the Trump administration and a cut to corporate taxes during an interview with CNBC in June. At the time, he said, “President Trump has given license to the fact that someone who is not a politician could potentially run for the presidency.”

In the same interview, Schultz knocked Democrats for proposals he deemed too left-wing, including single-payer health care and guaranteed income. Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders said in response that Schultz’s remark was “dead wrong.”

Schultz is one of many around the country said to be considering a bid to challenge Trump in 2020, and the prospect of an independent candidacy would come as the Democratic field grows ever wider. On Monday, California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris announced she would enter the race.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is also a billionaire businessman, said previously he was considering a bid as well, but that if he did so, he would run as a Democrat, not believing a candidate outside the two major parties could succeed.

Third party and independent candidates failed to break out in the 2016 election, and no independent candidate has broken into the double digits since businessman Ross Perot’s 1992 independent bid garnered nearly 20% of the popular vote.
Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, is reported to be exploring an independent candidacy for President of the United States in 2020.