Former Rep. John Delaney John DelaneyCoronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Rep. Rodney Davis Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer says Trump right on China but wrong on WHO; CDC issues new guidance for large gatherings The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what 'policing' means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight MORE (D-Md.) said Tuesday that the 2020 Democratic presidential primary is a "a choice between socialism and a more just form of capitalism." 

“By any measure, we are going to have a very strong field of candidates running and that’s good for the country and good for the Democratic Party," Delaney, who declared his candidacy in 2017, said in a statement. " Democrats are actually pretty united on our policy goals: we want everyone to have health care, we want everyone of every background to have a chance to live the American Dream, and we know that we have to act on climate change.  The debate before us is how we get there." 



ADVERTISEMENT

“This primary is going to be a choice between socialism and a more just form of capitalism.  I believe in capitalism, the free markets, and the private economy.  I don’t believe socialism is the answer and I don’t believe it’s what the American people want.  I don’t believe top-down, government-only approaches are the right answer." 

Delaney's statement came the same day self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Bernie Sanders warns of 'nightmare scenario' if Trump refuses election results Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE (I-Vt.)  announced his 2020 presidential campaign. 

Since Sanders placed second in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary, the party has moved to the left on issues like minimum wage and universal health care, which the senator has championed. 

Support of democratic socialism, which is difficult to accurately or consistently define, has become an issue for several 2020 candidates. 

The Democratic Socialists of America say the term indicates support for the notion that the economy and society should be democratically run "to meet public needs." 

Sanders has embraced the political identifier, while some moderate candidates like Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice First presidential debate to cover coronavirus, Supreme Court Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE (D-Calif.) have disavowed it. 

"The people of New Hampshire will tell me what’s required to compete in New Hampshire, but I will tell you I am not a democratic socialist,” Harris said at a campaign stop in the state on Monday.  Sanders won New Hampshire's Democratic primary in 2016.