While not directly announcing a presidential run, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) says he’ll tour the key 2020 primary states spreading the message of what he’s calling the “Dignity of Work.”
Brown says this emphasizes the idea that hard work should pay off for everyone “no matter who they are or what kind of work they do.”
Brown won re-election to the U.S. Senate by nearly 7 points. He was one of the only bright spots for Ohio Democrats, as Republicans won most of the major offices. President Donald Trump won Ohio by eight points in 2016.
Brown stopped short of officially announcing a run for the White House, but says every Democrat should focus on what he says is a narrative that’s critical to winning the presidential race.
“National Democrats - too much - see this false choice that you either speak to progressives or you speak to workers, and I think you do both,” Brown said.
The five-state tour will begin in Cleveland. From there, Brown will go to Iowa then work his way to New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina.
Brown says the trip will help him gather more input on what hard work means as it relates to issues like health care, education, and housing. He told NPR's Morning Edition on Wednesday that he'll likely make a decision in March.
Brown says “Dignity of Work” means, “They have power over their schedules and the economic security to start a family, pay for daycare and college, take time off to care for themselves or their families when they are sick, and save for retirement.”
Brown says he will likely reach a decision on a potential presidential run by March.
