Oregon Sen. Jeff MerkleyJeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyQAnon believer advances to Georgia House runoff race Senate Dems press DOJ over coronavirus safety precautions in juvenile detention centers Democratic unity starts to crack in coronavirus liability reform fight MORE announced early Tuesday that he will not seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, but will run for reelection.
“I believe that there are Democrats now in the presidential race who are speaking to the importance of tackling the big challenges we face,” he said in a video announcing his decision.
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Merkley in the video denounced the “climate crisis” and said “we are in a battle for the soul of our nation.”
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He added that he felt he could contribute more in the Senate than by running for the White House.
“Over the last year, I’ve weighed whether I could contribute more to the battle by running for president or by running for reelection to the Senate,” he said.
“To win these battles, we need both strong leadership in the Oval Office and strong leadership in the Senate,” Merkley said. “My best contribution is to run for reelection and do all I can to help the Senate be a full partner in addressing the challenges before us.”
Merkley had previously said he was considering a White House bid, telling ABC News last December that his family was on board with the possibility.
“They had a veto over the project, and they have all now given it a thumbs-up,” he said at the time.
The senator would have joined a crowded field of Democratic candidates in the next election cycle.
Sens. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook McEnany says Juneteenth is a very ‘meaningful’ day to Trump MORE (D-Calif.), Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.), Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-Minn.), Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-N.J.) and Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) are just a handful of the announced candidates.
Merkley, who was the only senator to endorse Sanders in 2016, said in the video that he doesn’t have any plans to make an endorsement this cycle “for a good length of time.”
Merkley’s announcement comes after former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE told a local cable television channel on Tuesday that she’s also not running in 2020.
“I’m not running,” the 2016 Democratic nominee told News 12 Westchester. But Clinton added that she would continue “working and speaking and standing up for what I believe.”
“I want to be sure that people understand I’m going to keep speaking out,” the former secretary of State told the local news network. “I’m not going anywhere. What’s at stake in our country, the kinds of things that are happening right now, are deeply troubling to me.”
— This report was updated at 7:26 a.m.