Who has the best shot of beating Trump in 2020? That’s the question The Hollywood Reporter posed to dozens of women featured on the annual Women in Entertainment Power 100 this year.
Predictably, Oprah ranked as a favorite among the industry insiders, as presidential buzz has engulfed the mogul and star ever since her memorable 2017 Golden Globes speech. “I think about Oprah, the power of women and the power she personally brings,” says Time’s Up CEO Lisa Borders. “The platform that she has used so beautifully, she’s built over 30 years. When you think of people running for president and the values they hold dear and how they would represent you as an individual and us as a collective, I think she brings all of the talent and values to bear.”
Other top mentions lean Democratic, including Texan superstar Beto O’Rourke and California’s own Kamala Harris. From potentially serious contenders (i.e. former Vice President Joe Biden) to more wishful thinking (celebrity power couple Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, anyone?), here’s who Hollywood’s top-ranking women are hoping to cast their vote for in the next election.
“A version of Kamala Harris and Beto O’Rourke. Or Beto and Kamala.” — Victoria Alonso, executive vp physical and postproduction, Marvel Studios
“Chrissy Teigen and John Legend.” — Sarah Barnett, president of rntertainment networks, AMC Networks
“Oprah and Michelle Obama.” — Lorrie Bartlett, partner, co-head of talent, ICM Partners
“A ticket that is dedicated to uniting this country.” — Kristine Belson, president, Sony Pictures Animation
“I’m too afraid to jinx it!” — Gail Berman, president, Producers Guild of America
“Beto O’Rourke and a strong woman, maybe Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren or Amy Klobuchar.” — Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive vp and head of programming, A&E
“George Clooney/Beto O’Rouke.” — Nicole Clemens, president, Paramount TV
“I had a dream Snoop Dogg was my running mate, but we couldn’t decide who would be president and who would be vice president, so we went and got pizza instead. Is that what you mean?” — Ellen DeGeneres, TV host, executive producer
“Michelle Obama. A strong and diverse woman and mother in the White House would be awesome.” — Rita Ferro, president of ad sales, Disney-ABC
“Still searching, but love Beto.” — Lucy Fisher, president, Producers Guild of America
“It’s my dream that Obama comes back with a waiver on term limits and Lincoln comes back from the other side as his VP. P.S. Oprah is Senate majority leader and Rachel Maddow is speaker of the House. They both take over as president and VP in 2024.” — Stephanie Gibbons, president, multiplatform marketing, FX Networks
“Oprah and Ellen. Seriously. If I had said Trump to you five years ago, would you have believed it could come true?” — Lisa Gregorian, president and chief marketing office, Warner Bros. TV
“Michael Bloomberg, and then I’d have to think [about the running mate].” — Toni Howard, partner, ICM Partners
“Any two qualified adults.” — Dawn Hudson, CEO, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences
“Kamala Harris and anyone.” — Pearlena Igbokwe, president, Universal TV
“Beto O’Rourke for president and Stacey Abrams for VP.” — Tracey Jacobs, board member, partner, talent agent, UTA
“Michelle Obama and Beto O’Rourke.” — Aleen Keshishian, Lighthouse Media & Management
“Biden or Beto — and ideally with both of them on the same ticket!” — Blair Kohan, board member, partner, motion picture literary agent, UTA
“O’Rourke/Gillum? O’Rourke/Abrams? Always love Elizabeth Warren. There was a time I would have said Gillibrand somewhere on the ticket — but after she threw Al Franken under the bus, she lost me.” — Jenji Kohan, dhowrunner
“Joe Biden as president with Kamala Harris as vice president.” — Debbee Klein, Paradigm
“Kathy Kennedy/Frank Marshall.” — Kristie Macosko Krieger, producer, Amblin
“Andrew Shepherd [from The American President, played by Michael Douglas] and Rachel Maddow.” — Julie McNamara, executive vp original content, CBS All Access
“Michelle Obama and Joe Biden. I think they make a great team.” — Andrea Miloro, co-president, Fox Animation
“I would be excited about two people to emerge who are fresh and new with amazing ideas about inclusivity and kindness.” — Vanessa Morrison, president, Fox Family
“Kamala Harris and Beto O’Rourke.” — Jeanne Newman, talent attorney, Hansen Jacobson
“My dream 2020 presidential ticket is Oprah Winfrey and Bryan Stevenson.” — Dawn Olmstead, president, Universal Cable Productions and Wilshire Studios
“Beto and Kamala!” — Evelyn O’Neill, Management 360
“Oprah and Elizabeth Warren.” — Amy Pascal, producer
“Oprah.” — Theresa Peters, partner, talent agent, UTA
“Joe Biden, because he is the only sure thing to beat Trump. Look at any poll. My ticket is Joe Biden and LeBron James, who is everything and a slice of pie.” — Terry Press, president, CBS Films
“I recently saw a bumper sticker that said: Any Functioning Adult 2020. But the dream ticket … Kamala Harris and Beto O’Rourke.” — Blair Rich, president of worldwide marketing, Warner Bros.
“Beto O’Rourke! I think it’s too soon to think about running mates.” — Nina Rosenstein, executive vp programming, HBO
“Oprah Winfrey and Dolly Parton — I actually have asked them both to run, I even made T-shirts. Unfortunately, I don’t think I convinced either of them.” — Susan Rovner, executive vp development, Warner Bros. TV
“Kathleen Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey.” — Elyse Scherz, partner, WME
“Stacey Abrams and Lisa Borders: two women who know how to get things done.” — Nina Shaw, attorney, Del Shaw
“Joe Biden 20 years ago and Beto.” — Christine Smith, Rise Management
“Kamala Harris/Elizabeth Warren. Supporters of the Paris Agreement.” — Beatrice Springborn, vp content development, Hulu
“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. That would be exciting to me.” — Sandra Stern, president, Lionsgate TV
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Eleanor Roosevelt.” — Beth Swofford, motion picture agent, CAA
“Kamala Harris and who’s the other chick that people — Warren? I’ll say Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. Can he get on the ticket again? Fuck it, I’ll be really black: Kamala Harris and Cory Booker. That’s the Willie Brown ticket.” — Lena Waithe, actor-writer-producer
“Anyone but the incumbents.” — Meredith Wechter, partner, WME
“Michael Bloomberg and Oprah Winfrey because both have unwavering commitment to making education accessible to everyone.” —Marci Wiseman, co-president, Blumhouse TV
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