Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.) said on Monday that after the midterm elections he will consider running for president in 2020.
"Let's talk about where you've been standing a lot, congressman, and that is in Iowa – 10 times over the last year and a half. Now I like Iowa ... People running for president also like Iowa," CNN anchor Poppy Harlow said.
"Are you going to run for president?" Harlow asked.
"I'm going to do all I can do first to win my way back to Congress. I'm helping a lot of colleagues. Particularly, there's three seats in Iowa where we have two of our candidates under the age of 40. Then after the midterms, I'm going to consider it," Swalwell said. "Right now, I'm helping candidates who are stepping up to protect our health care, paychecks and protect the democracy. I'm inspired by so many new candidates who are bursts of new energy, ideas and leadership."
"There was the news in there, 'I am considering it.' So not a denial. You are thinking about running for president. Why do you think that you would be (a) your party's best shot at the Oval Office and (b) the single best person to lead this country?" Harlow asked.
"Poppy, this president has just taken a wrecking ball to so many freedoms that give me, a first generation person in my family to go to college, an opportunity," Swalwell said of President Donald Trump. "I was raised to believe if you work hard, it means something. I think that having experience and energy to give Americans a health care guarantee, invest in modern schools, to make sure we green our grid and infrastructure, that that is the path forward – and that the future for our country is a page forward. I'm going to consider [running for president]."
"Right now, the best way to cut our time in Hell in half is to win Congress. We shouldn't look beyond that," he added.
Swalwell's comments reflect those made last week when he indicated he would make a decision after the midterms.