There are currently 18 people running for president in 2016. With such an overstuffed election, there’s no shortage of engaging personalities. But that didn’t stop us from coming up with our own dream candidates.
InsideGov looked through some of the most prominent leaders in the U.S. to create its hopeful list of presidential candidates. While some of these individuals could show up as serious contenders in 2020, others are more far-fetched.
Whether you’re liberal, conservative, Democrat or Republican, these individuals would certainly make the presidential election more interesting.
Note that candidates are ordered by their years of elective government experience (i.e., positions where they were publicly elected).
#25. Jon Stewart
Political Party: Unknown
Years of Elective Experience: 0
Now that he’s left the “Daily Show,” Jon Stewart should have plenty of time to run for office. He’d certainly make for an entertaining candidate.
#24. Sonia Sotomayer
Political Party: Independent
Years of Elective Experience: 0
While it would be highly unlikely for a Supreme Court Justice to resign and run for president, it’s not impossible. Although Sotomayer was appointed by Obama and is therefore affiliated with the Democratic Party, she is a self-proclaimed Independent.
#23. Elon Musk
Political Party: Unknown
Years of Elective Experience: 0
We know Musk is unable to run for president (he was born in South Africa), but one can dream. The pioneering CEO of Tesla and SpaceX would be one of the more innovative presidents in history.
#22. Samantha Power
Political Party: Democrat
Years of Elective Experience: 0
As the current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Power would bring a wealth of diplomatic experience to the White House. If she were born in the U.S., Power could have been a serious presidential contender in 2016 or beyond.
#21. Bill Gates
Political Party: Democrat
Years of Elective Experience: 0
Outside of Microsoft, Gates has proven to be one of the most influential philanthropists in the world, fighting to eradicate malaria globally. Washington could use a dose of Gates’ innovation.
#20. Stephen Colbert
Political Party: Unknown
Years of Elective Experience: 0
Like Jon Stewart, Colbert has been an important voice in American politics, satirizing both Democrats and Republicans. While Stephen Colbert the character should steer clear of office, the “real” Colbert would be an interesting candidate.
#19. Warren Buffett
Political Party: Democrat
Years of Elective Experience: 0
Buffet may lack political experience, but he would bring new business savvy to Washington. Don’t get your hopes up though for a Buffet presidency; he’s stated that politics is a “great spectator sport.”
#18. Condoleezza Rice
Political Party: Republican
Years of Elective Experience: 0
Rice may be one of the more controversial figures on this list, but there’s no doubting her wealth of experience in foreign affairs.
#17. Matt Stone and Trey Parker
Political Party: Unknown
Years of Elective Experience: 0
The odds of these two running for president are slim. But the creators of “South Park” would certainly be a disruptive force in Washington. For nearly two decades, Stone and Parker have been sharp critics of American politics, skewering liberals and conservatives alike.
#16. Elizabeth Warren
Political Party: Democrat
Years of Elective Experience: 3
The first female senator from Massachusetts, Warren is a popular figure among liberals and progressives. Although she turned down a presidential bid in 2016, the media has speculated that she could be a strong vice president pick for Bernie Sanders.
#15. Jon Huntsman
Political Party: Republican
Years of Elective Experience: 4
Huntsman is something of a black sheep in the GOP. He served in the Obama Administration as an ambassador to China and his political views are too moderate for staunch conservatives. Although he failed to win the Republican nomination in 2012, Huntsman could resurface as a viable candidate in 2020 or beyond.
#14. Mia Love
Political Party: Republican
Years of Elective Experience: 4
Congresswoman Love won over conservatives with her inspiring background and powerful rhetoric. Love may be relatively new to the political scene, but she is swiftly becoming an influential force in the GOP.
#13. Gary Johnson
Political Party: Libertarian
Years of Elective Experience: 8
Johnson has actually run for president twice as the Libertarian candidate — in 2000 and 2012. As the Libertarian movement gains more momentum, Johnson could return as a more serious presidential contender.
#12. Claire McCaskill
Political Party: Democrat
Years of Elective Experience: 8
McCaskill was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Missouri and is considered to be one of the most centrist individuals in Congress. While McCaskill declined to run in 2016, she could very well be a candidate in 2020.
#11. Kirsten Gillibrand
Political Party: Democrat
Years of Elective Experience: 9
Gillibrand is a strong supporter of female equality and has urged women to get more involved in politics. She could be a serious contender in future presidential elections.
#10. Angus King
Political Party: Independent
Years of Elective Experience: 11
An Independent senator, King has been a vocal critic of gridlock in Washington. Although it’s unlikely he’d ever run for president, King could certainly shake things up as a third party candidate. Plus, his name is downright intimidating.
#9. Bob Ehrlich
Political Party: Republican
Years of Elective Experience: 12
Ehrlich had the distinction of being the Republican governor of one of the most Democratic states: Maryland. Keep an eye out for Ehrlich in the 2020 election.
#8. Cory Booker
Political Party: Democrat
Years of Elective Experience: 14
Booker served as mayor of Newark from 2006-2013 and is now serving as the junior senator from New Jersey. As mayor, Booker spearheaded major projects to reduce crime and spur on economic development in the city.
#7. Scott Brown
Political Party: Republican
Years of Elective Experience: 15
In a surprising victory, Brown became the first Republican elected to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts since 1972. Although he only served one term before losing to Elizabeth Warren, Brown showed that he could work with both sides of the political spectrum.
#6. Rob Portman
Political Party: Republican
Years of Elective Experience: 17
Portman has been a speculated vice presidential candidate in the last two presidential elections. With his extensive political career, he could easily become a presidential candidate in 2020.
#5. Susan Collins
Political Party: Republican
Years of Elective Experience: 19
Collins is the rare politician who has won the support of both Democrats and Republicans in her home state of Maine.
#4. Al Gore
Political Party: Democrat
Years of Elective Experience: 24
After narrowly losing the 2000 election, Gore became an influential global warming activist and a successful venture capitalist. As much as environmentalists might want him to return to the White House, it is unlikely Gore will run again.
#3. Olympia Snowe
Political Party: Republican
Years of Elective Experience: 34
Snowe has no shortage of political experience and is a strong supporter of bipartisanship. In 2006, Time magazine named her one of America’s best senators.
#2. Thad Cochran
Political Party: Republican
Years of Elective Experience: 43
Cochran has been one of the most influential politicians in the South, serving as a Mississippi senator for the last 37 years. Whether you agree with his politics or not, he would bring a wealth of experience to the table as a presidential candidate.
#1. Joe Biden
Political Party: Democrat
Years of Elective Experience: 45
The current vice president is officially not running for president and it’s unlikely he’ll change his mind in future elections. Regardless, the famously outspoken Veep would have made an interesting candidate to watch.
