“Testing the waters”

The Atlantic reports that “billionaire investor Tom Steyer, who in the past decade has been both the top Democratic donor in the country and the prime engine for pushing for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, appears ready to become Democratic candidate No. 26.”

Vanity Fair reports that “[a]fter over a year of hand-wringing and evasive answers, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich made it clear Friday that he likely won’t be entering the 2020 fray.”

The Hill reports that “[b]illionaire entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says he has not ruled out a third-party presidential run, arguing that no current Democratic candidate is capable of defeating President Trump.”

Fox Business reports that “[b]illionaire businessman and former Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz has delayed his decision on whether to run for president as an independent as he assesses the possibility of former Vice President Joe Biden capturing the Democratic nomination, FOX Business has learned.”

POLITICO reports that “Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan continued to needle President Donald Trump Tuesday, derisively referring to him in a New Hampshire speech as ‘dear leader,’ the sycophantic title given to Kim Jong Il, the father of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Hogan, who’s weighing a challenge to Trump in the 2020 Republican primary,…

New York Times reports that New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has recently traveled to three early presidential primary states, held $5,000-a-plate events for donors and hired a small-dollar fund-raising consultant. “These are the concrete steps of a man preparing to run for president. . . . When asked if he plans to run for president,…

POLITICO reports that “Stacey Abrams is set to reveal soon whether she’ll run for president or senator or something else” and in recent months “has mounted a nationwide, largely below-the-radar effort to expand her donor and political network that will make her an instant force whatever she decides.”

POLITICO reports that Colorado Senator Michael Bennet said he is “very inclined” to run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.

POLITICO reports that Stacey Abrams announced she would not “enter the Democratic primary as former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate.”