Michael Bloomberg Files Paperwork for Democratic Primary in Arkansas Following Alabama Entry

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at a news conference at a gun control advocacy event in Las Vegas, Nevada on Feb. 26, 2019. John Locher, File/AP Photo

Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg filed paperwork on Nov. 12 to appear on the Democratic primary ballot in Arkansas, the latest indication he expects to mount a run for the White House.

Bloomberg, 77, filed paperwork in Alabama on Nov. 8 to appear on the ballot there; that state’s Nov. 8 deadline for candidates to file is the first deadline in the nation. Arkansas also has an early deadline.

Bloomberg traveled to Little Rock to file the paperwork at the Arkansas state Capitol, TV11 reported. Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston confirmed the filing in a tweet.

While in Little Rock, Bloomberg planned to dine with Mayor Frank Scott Jr. at Sims BBQ.

Jason Schechter, Bloomberg’s spokesman, told the New York Post that it would be accurate to call the Arkansas filing “another step” toward officially joining the 2020 race.

Despite the filings, Bloomberg’s team isn’t committing to saying the mogul is actually running.

Former President Bill Clinton and Michael Bloomberg attend the 2019 Common Sense Awards at The Shed in New York City on Oct. 29, 2019. Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Common Sense Media

“If Mike runs, he’s going to go to states that Democratic candidates don’t often visit. That starts today in Little Rock,” Schechter said.

Former President Bill Clinton was the last Democrat to win Arkansas. Clinton was born and raised in the state and his presidential library is located in Little Rock.

Bloomberg spokesman Howard Wolfson said in a statement that Bloomberg’s entry, if it comes, would be late and that the candidate would be forced to focus outside Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, where the first four Democratic primaries will be held in February 2020.

“If we run, we are confident we can win in states voting on Super Tuesday and beyond, where we will start on an even footing,” said Wolfson.

“But the late timing of our entry means that many candidates already have a big head start in the four early states, where they’ve spent months and months campaigning and spending money. We have enormous respect for the Democratic primary process and many friends in those states, but our plan is to run a broad-based, national campaign.”

Wolfson said Bloomberg sees an opening in the Democratic field.

“We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated—but Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well-positioned to do that,” Wolfson said.

“If Mike runs he would offer a new choice to Democrats built on a unique record running America’s biggest city, building a business from scratch and taking on some of America’s toughest challenges as a high-impact philanthropist.”