Deval Patrick Defends Decision to Enter 2020 Race at Last Minute

Democrats gather to honor Harry Reid, compete for Nevada votes
Nevada Democrats make case for state’s place in 2020 contest

Deval Patrick speaks during the Nevada Democratic’s “First in the West” event at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Nov. 17.Photographer: David Becker/Getty Images North America

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Jennifer Epstein and Tyler Pager

November 18, 2019 at 11:15 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick defended his right to join a stage with 13 other Democratic presidential candidates, telling Harry Reid and other prominent Nevada politicians that he wouldn’t be running if he didn’t see a path to the White House.

“I am not running to be president of the Democrats, I am running to be president of the United States,” Patrick told the crowd at the so-called First in the West dinner at Las Vegas’s Bellagio casino, where Reid, the former Senate majority leader, received an award.