Michael Bloomberg re-registers as a Democrat amid 2020 speculation

Michael Bloomberg is not yet officially running for president, but he's sure acting like it.

The former mayor of New York City announced Wednesday that he has registered as a Democrat, meaning he's rejoining the party he left behind when he ran for mayor. He said he did so because "we need Democrats to provide the checks and balance our nation so badly needs." He also said that the Democratic Party now serves as a "bulwark against those who threaten our Constitution."

While Bloomberg didn't mention anything about his next political step, the move comes after months of speculation that he will run in 2020. He told The New York Times last month that if he did so, he'd run as a Democrat. The Times also reported last month that Bloomberg was actively considering a 2020 bid.

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Bloomberg notes in his announcement that he was a Democrat for most of his life. But he was a Republican when he was elected mayor of New York City in 2001, and became an independent in 2007. We won't have to speculate over Bloomberg's future for much longer, as he told The New York Times he'd make a decision after the midterms.