Next Generation of Democratic Presidential Candidates

One of the complaints heard during the 2016 presidential campaign was about the lack of fresh names and faces, particularly regarding Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush

As New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd has pointed out, “There was a Bush or a Clinton in the White House and cabinet for 32 years straight.” But who else is out there, waiting in the wings for their chance to ascend to the highest office in the land? On the Republican side, you've got U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and businesswoman Carly Fiorina. The depth chart is deep for the Republicans.

But on the Democratic side, the picture is less clear. Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are getting long in the tooth. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has made a name for herself but will be over age 70 at the next election. Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley needs to build a national presence. As The Wall Street Journal's Gerald F. Seib wrote: "The list of young leaders lining up behind Mrs. Clinton isn’t a long or obvious one. It’s an unusual position for a party whose core constituencies include young voters."

But looking far down the road, but not too far, here are some young Democrats we could easily envision energizing voters the way President Barack Obama did in 2008.

01

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Julián Castro

Julian Castro picture — San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro gives the keynote address on day one of the Democratic National Convention in August 2012. Joe Raedle/Getty Images News

Julián Castro is a Hispanic politician who is considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. He served as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development and is a form mayor of San Antonio, Texas.

He is described by many in his party as having the potential to become the first Hispanic president of the United States.

Like Obama, Castro rose to prominence after he was chosen to be the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention. Castro was the first Hispanic picked for the role in the party's history. He spoke at the party's 2012 convention.

Once out of the Cabinet, Castro was free to begin commenting on politics via Twitter in 2017. Previously noted as being low key, he began to speak up on immigration issues. He's also turned in the manuscript for his memoirs, a step often seen for aspiring presidential candidates. More »

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Corey Booker

Cory Booker picture — Cory Booker is the mayor of Newark, N.J., and a potential candidate for New Jersey governor in 2013. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Entertainment

Cory Booker is a prominent member of the Democratic Party who was a two-term, celebrity mayor of Newark, N.J. He was considering a run for governor against Republican incumbent Chris Christie in the 2013 election but decided to run for U.S. Senate instead. He won and is now serving in the Senate and is often mentioned as a future presidential candidate. Some thought Clinton would tap him as a running mate, but he had to settle for a convention speech instead in 2016. More »

03

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Kirsten Gillibrand

Kirsten Gillibrand is the junior U.S. senator from New York who holds Clinton's former seat and who "is quietly building a résumé that would allow her to be taken seriously should she ever decide to run for president," as Politico has reported.

Before Clinton announced her 2016 campaign, many analysts believed Gillibrand would run if the former first lady didn't, including Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, telling The Washington Post. “Gillibrand seems to have the ambition to do it.”

She's also written a memoir, "Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World," something many presidents did before being elected. More »