President & National:
Swalwell, CA-15: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) says he will not run for re-election if he mounts an ultra-long-shot run for President. Swalwell, who is known for his unhinged anti-gun rhetoric, would leave open a deep-blue seat in the suburban East Bay.
Inslee, WA-Gov: Taking the opposite tack is Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), who is not closing the door on a run for a third term in 2020 even as he is a declared candidate. Inslee has long been considered by CW to be likely to retire this cycle, but retains decent approval ratings and could probably box out most major contenders if he were to jump back in to a re-election run.
Messam: Miramar, FL Mayor and former college football player Wayne Messam (D) is taking steps toward a Presidential bid, most notably asking for an opinion on whether he would have to resign his seat to run. My personal theory is that this “run” is a non-insensitive way for Messam to get his name recognition up and raise federal money ahead of a congressional bid for FL-20, where Rep. Alcee Hastings (D) has been diagnosed with (likely terminal) pancreatic cancer…..