Will we ever have a stetwide officer beyond governor elected president?

[Sir Mohamed]

Just a wild thought: Will we ever see a statewide officer beyond governors who never held a federal office elected president? A lieutenant governor, state attorney general, state secretary of state, state senator or state representative for example.

I think that’s very unlikely. Even big city mayors are very rare (I don’t remember a president who was ever mayor since Andrew Johnson). At least we saw a state senator being elected vice president. Garret Hobart in 1896.

(Or will somebody bring up Jason Kander, LOL ).

[Kingpoleon]

Of those, I think a state attorney general is most likely - I. E. If Preet Bharara or Robert Duffy became NY Attorney General, I could see them becoming well-known prosecutors.

[Mister Mets]

It's possible but unlikely.

It's kind of like asking if anyone from the Dakotas or Nebraska will become President. It's possible, but so few people do end up becoming President.

There are a few potential scenarios.

1. A rising star explodes as a lower-level statewide officeholder, and gets elevated White House before becoming Governor or Senator. This could happen with increasing partisanship, if you have an AG who is instrumental in stopping Presidents. Prosecutors can often be involved in fights against national boogeymen.

2. Someone in lower office comes very close in a major statewide race and gains a lot of credibility. Imagine a one term Republican California Attorney General or Texas Attorney General who gets a lot of attention as a candidate for Senate/ Governor. Tom Dewey came pretty close to securing the Republican nomination for President back in 1940 on the strength of a close loss in the 1938 New York gubernatorial race. There's a bit of chatter about Jason Kander in this way.

3. Someone in lower office goes on to major celebrity. There are plenty of politicians who become major media figures (Jerry Springer, Joe Scarborough) and Trump showed that celebrity can help in presidential races. A TV show can make a former comptroller as well known as any Governor, while the stint as comptroller would provide an appearance of experience.

It would be especially helpful if there's a political environment in which one party took a major shellacking, so that there are less incumbent statewide officeholders for the former state treasurer to compete against.

[Dr. MB]

Of those, I think a state attorney general is most likely - I. E. If Preet Bharara or Robert Duffy became NY Attorney General, I could see them becoming well-known prosecutors.

Bharara couldn't run because he was born in India (he moved to USA when he was two).

[Kingpoleon]

Of those, I think a state attorney general is most likely - I. E. If Preet Bharara or Robert Duffy became NY Attorney General, I could see them becoming well-known prosecutors.

Bharara couldn't run because he was born in India (he moved to USA when he was two).

I think you can't see the forest for the trees.

[SamTilden2020]

Possible for a notable statewide AG, preferably from somewhere big (Becerra comes to mind)

Kander cannot and will not win the DEM primary.

[Kingpoleon]

Ellen Rosenblum, Lori Swanson, Xavier Becerra, and Eric Schneiderman are the only ones I know of with anything like enough experience and credibility to run for President in 2020. I find it extremely, extremely doubtful any of them will run.

[Tekken_Guy]

De Blasio's the only mayor who can really go straight from the mayor's office to the presidency. Maybe Emanuel too. I doubt Garcetti will be able to make it.

[Sir Mohamed]

De Blasio's the only mayor who can really go straight from the mayor's office to the presidency. Maybe Emanuel too. I doubt Garcetti will be able to make it.

I think Garcetti is at least possible. Mitch Landerieu has also been discussed. May be an option for the VP slot.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Jason Kander seems like the likeliest non-gov statewide officer to get elected. Non-statewide officers like mayors of big cities are also viable, maybe even more than Kander, and Garcetti stands out to me for his huge popularity in his city