Democratic congressman is planning to run for president in 2020, focusing on the 'yoga vote'
Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan (D) is hoping to mobilize an untapped fountain of political power: yoga lovers.
The Democrat has been telling people that he is planning to run for president in 2020, The Intercept reported Monday, and he thinks he can capitalize on a growing base of voters who want to bring mindfulness into the Oval Office.
"The so-called yoga voters are the kind of folks who realize that while they grew up with their mom saying, 'pay attention,' nobody trained them in how to pay attention and use their mind to focus on what's important," Mindful magazine publisher James Gimian told The Intercept. “That's a growing population — it's no longer just Lululemon yoga women."
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Ryan, who launched a "Quiet Time Caucus" in Congress and is an avid fan of meditation, has reportedly already begun to assemble a team for a 2020 bid. He has spoken with political consultants and is planning his future campaign while still in office as the representative for Ohio's 13th District, a majority-white working-class area.
While the pool of potential Democratic presidential candidates is still a crowded one, Ryan has told friends he's not deterred by his liberal competition. "I'm gonna win," he reportedly told a friend. Read more at The Intercept.
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Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
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