Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) is preparing to enter the crowded Democratic presidential race as soon as this week, two people with knowledge of his plans told multiple news organizations Monday. He will presumably decide by Friday, the filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary. Patrick, 63, served as governor from 2007 to 2015. Democratic voters say they are pleased with the current crop of Democratic candidates, but some wealthy donors and Wall Street executives have expressed concerns about Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) rise and the stalled prospects of more moderate former Vice President Joe Biden. Patrick is one of the candidates they have been trying to lure into the race; another candidate, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, made his own late forays into the race last last week.
Patrick brings a strong résumé and compelling biography, but he's also trying to extricate himself from Bain Capital, the private equity firm co-founded by Mitt Romney, and has some family baggage. When he announced he wouldn't run last December, Patrick cited "the cruelty of our elections process" and how it would "splash back" on people he loves. Patrick's reconsideration "is coming from Wall Street," a source tells Politico. "They're terrified of Warren. And these guys would help Biden. But they've been in a room with him up close and they have doubts. ... Deval wants this. He regrets not having done it. His wife was ill. But since then, she has gotten better. But the field has gotten worse."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks groundSpeed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resignsSpeed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aidSpeed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spiesSpeed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrikeSpeed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claimsSpeed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claimsSpeed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aidSpeed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of warSpeed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picksSpeed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
