Jared Polis' political stock rises amid talk of replacing Biden
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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, right, with President Biden and Vice President Harris in the East Room of the White House in February. Photo: Leigh Vogel/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Gov. Jared Polis is one of a handful of top Democrats under consideration as a possible replacement for President Biden on the 2024 ticket.
Why it matters: The popular two-term governor's political stock is rising as calls for Biden to withdraw from the race — including from top Colorado Democrats — mount.
State of play: Polis' name is frequently mentioned as a White House contender, alongside the governors of California, Michigan and Pennsylvania — all states with much greater political importance.
- In recent months, he has voiced opinions on major national issues and didn't shy away from criticizing Biden's debate performance as "not a good night" for Democrats.
- Polis' agenda parallels the national conversation and he's demonstrated success in lowering health care and prescription drug costs; standing strong on a woman's right to an abortion and LGBTQ issues; and focusing on education by making preschool and college free to some families.
- He also talks optimistically about the future, providing a stark contrast in vision to former President Trump's focus on the past.
What they're saying: "Like anybody getting attention, it's attractive and interesting," Rick Ridder, a longtime Polis consultant, tells Axios Denver.
Yes, but: Polis is adamant that he's happy in his current job and not looking for a new one, Ridder added. He's also publicly standing by the president and virtually attended a meeting this week with Biden and Democratic governors to talk about the party's 2024 prospects.
What he's saying: Polis declined to comment for this story.
The other side: Colorado's governor is not a dyed-blue Democrat. His conservative bent on fiscal issues — he wants to abolish income tax — angers members of his own party in Colorado. And his recent vetoes drew a protest from the state's organized labor groups, which typically align with Democrats.
- Moreover, he wouldn't enter a presidential race with national name recognition or a built-in constituency backing him. Polis is the first openly gay man to hold the governor's office in the U.S., but it's not a point he likes to accentuate.
Reality check: All White House contenders stand in line behind Vice President Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee if Biden steps aside. And it would take a concerted effort to get Polis off the sidelines.
- Polis is savvy and only would enter the fray if he knew he had a path to win.