Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has a message for progressives clamoring for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s entry into the presidential race: she’s not running, but I am.

As part of an effort to position himself as the most viable candidate challenging Hillary Clinton from the left, O’Malley traveled to New York City Monday night for an off-the-record meeting with about 30 progressive influencers and academics handpicked to meet with him by his team, multiple sources told POLITICO.


O’Malley asserted that he would be the best shot progressives have at truly challenging Clinton in a primary. “He went out of his way to mention the free trade deal,” which he — like Warren — opposes, said a source present at the meeting.

Clinton, in contrast, has failed to state her position on the trade deal, which President Obama supports and union leaders would like her to oppose.

“O’Malley’s operation sees that Warren isn’t running and that her progressive supporters can be persuaded to support him,” said one Democratic operative who was invited to the meeting. “If he does become a real candidate he can have more direct influence over Hillary than Warren. That seems to be his pitch these days.”

O’Malley did not mention Clinton or Warren by name, but “he clearly situates himself in the Warren camp of the party right now,” said the first source.

The meeting, which took place at the New School, was described as a “happy hour/pow wow with lefty leaders and operatives to show he is a serious contender for 2016,” according to one source involved.

Attendees included Fordham Law professor Zephyr Teachout, who challenged New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic gubernatorial primary last year, as well as her former running mate, Columbia Law professor Tim Wu. Also in attendance were several MSNBC contributors and hosts, sources said.

And mingling with the crowd were O’Malley operatives Bill Hyers, who served as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s campaign manager in 2013; spokeswoman Lis Smith; and Karine Jean-Pierre, O’Malley’s PAC’s new national political director.

“I’m so thrilled we’re getting a competitive primary,” Teachout said after the meeting. “I’m happy [Bernie] Sanders is in the race, but it sounds like O’Malley’s going to run and that’s important.”

O’Malley spoke for about 15 minutes and then took questions, according to attendees. “What came through very clearly was that he’s running as a strong progressive,” said one attendee who declined to be identified. “He hit on big banks and regulations and the shortcomings of the administration.”

On criminal justice issues, O’Malley spoke about decriminalizing minor drug offenses and reducing prison sentences.

“New York City is still very much a national hotbed of progressive activism and politics, so there’s no better place for O’Malley to test-drive his presidential talking points for 2016 and his urban agenda,” said the Democratic operative.

An O’Malley spokeswoman declined to comment on the meeting.