Democratic presidential candidate John Delaney called on Republicans to challenge Donald Trump in the 2020 election, adding that few in the party have dared to stand up to the president. | Scott Olson/Getty Images 2020 Elections Delaney calls for a Republican to challenge Trump in 2020

Democratic presidential candidate John Delaney on Thursday said a Republican, such as former Ohio Gov. John Kasich or Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, should challenge President Donald Trump in 2020.

"Unless Republicans believe that Donald Trump is a fair and accurate representation of the Republican party as a whole, they should put up a challenger to run against him in the primary election," Delaney said in a statement, adding that few Republicans "have shown the courage to stand up to Trump."


"We can’t go very far as a country if only one political party is committed to decency, honesty, and character," he continued.

The former Maryland congressman then called on Kasich or Hogan, who are both weighing a run, to challenge Trump.

“Voices like John Kasich and Governor Hogan, from my state, would do an enormous service to not just their party, but to their fellow Americans to stand up and challenge this President," Delaney said.

Kasich, currently a CNN senior political contributor, has been a prominent critic of Trump. Hogan, who has also expressed doubt about Trump's chances of being reelected, may not make a decision to run for president until the fall, The Washington Post reported Monday.

Delaney, who was one of the first to announce his candidacy for president, has yet to qualify to be one of the many Democrats on the debate stage.

“I believe that we need a Democrat in the White House and that we will have a Democrat in the White House in 2021," Delaney said. "But step one in repairing our democracy is having two political parties committed to truth and decency."