Inslee: ‘Enormous mistake’ for Schultz to make 2020 bid as independent

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) on Monday said he has discouraged former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz from launching an independent presidential bid in 2020.

“I feel it would be an enormous mistake by Howard,” Inslee, who is mulling a 2020 bid himself, said in an appearance on CNN’s “New Day.”

“He has had a successful legacy as a businessperson, and it would be tarnished beyond imagination if he does the only thing that his candidacy would do would be to help the reelection of Donald Trump,” Inslee added.

{mosads}The governor pushed back against the suggestion that Schultz might not hurt a Democratic candidate, and could pull votes from Trump given his more conservative views on abortion, “Medicare for all” and government spending. 

“Virtually every Democrat alive who can count votes” believes Schultz’s candidacy would help Trump, the governor said.

“This would be a disastrous event,” he added. “I have strongly suggested to Howard to keep your legacy intact as a businessperson who’s done some decent things, and not engage in this ruinous project which only has one potential outcome.”

Democratic @GovInslee says Howard Schultz running as an Independent would be an “enormous mistake” and a “ruinous project which only has one outcome.” https://t.co/cCmVyeFPh0 pic.twitter.com/keQzQA22ZJ

— New Day (@NewDay) February 4, 2019

Schultz, who served as Starbucks’s CEO from 1986-2000 and again from 2008-2017, said late last month that he’s “seriously thinking of running for president” as a “centrist independent.”

Schultz told The New York Times he will make his final decision on a campaign after a three-month book tour. His announcement has drawn criticism from Democrats who have voiced concerns that he would pull votes away from the party’s nominee in 2020 and boost Trump’s reelection chances.

A number of Democrats have already entered the 2020 race or announced exploratory committees, including Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

The field is expected to grow larger and more progressive heavyweights, including former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), are said to be mulling White House bids.