Sen. Bob Casey will not run for President

The Pennsylvania Democrat, who won re-election in 2018 by 13%, told reporters after his win that he was considering a 2020 run at the Democratic nomination and some of his close aides had begun contemplating what Casey would have needed to make a run possible.

But Casey said Friday that he believes the best way for him to be of service is in the Senate.

"With all of these challenges confronting us and with our Commonwealth playing a potentially decisive role in the 2020 vote, I believed it was important for me to at least consider the monumental undertaking of running for President," Casey said. "After two months of considering it, I have concluded that the best way for me to fight for the America that so many of us believe in is to stay in the U.S. Senate and not run for the presidency in 2020."

Casey told the Washington Examiner in November 2018 that he was considering a run, in part, because of his success in Pennsylvania, a swing state that went for Donald Trump in 2016.

"I do think Pennsylvania is a crucial state for the next president to win and Democrats should nominate someone who can win our commonwealth without a doubt," he said. "I've won the state by an average of 13 points over three Senate elections, so I have an obligation to consider it."

Casey is far from the only Senate Democrat who has spent the last few months considering a 2020 bid.

Both Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have announced exploratory committees and intend to run. Sens. Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Michael Bennet of Colorado are all also considering running.

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