Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said Thursday that Democrats in 2020 should nominate "someone who is younger," saying that his generation should "start coaching."
"I actually think the progressives are in the process of informally taking over the Democratic Party," Dean, the former head of the Democratic National Committee, said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "I think the country has moved to the left. It's shocking to me, but a majority of Americans think Medicare for all is a good idea."
Although Dean credits Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., with popularizing universal healthcare in the U.S., he didn't call on Democrats to nominate the former presidential candidate.
"I'm very much for someone who is younger. I think my generation needs to get the hell out of politics," he said. "Start coaching and start moving up this next generation who are more, I think, fiscally sane."
Dean added that "neither Republicans or Democrats can claim they are fiscally responsible anymore" and "this young generation is going to pay for that if we don't get the hell out of the way and have somebody who is 50 running the country."
He recommends several potential candidates, including Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, although he "would not be surprised if there are 17 people running" in 2020.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.