Conventional wisdom will be put to the test in the 2020 Democratic primaries, according to Columbia, S.C., Mayor Stephen Benjamin (D).
"I think all bets are off the table in [that] no one who's smart will take anything for granted," Benjamin told Hill.TV's Jamal Simmons on "Rising."
"They'll come and spend the time learning the state, talking to them about what's important," he added in a Tuesday interview that aired the following day.
"I think some of the conventional wisdom will be tested this time," he said, referring to the primary season as a whole.
South Carolina's will be the third primary contest in 2020, after the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
"Everyone is going to have to come and grind it out," he said. "Julián Castro was a fantastic HUD [Housing and Urban Development] secretary. He was very good, I will tell you, to the people of Columbia during his tenure in the Obama administration."
Castro launched his White House bid earlier this month.
Benjamin also praised other candidates and potential contenders, including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten Elizabeth GillibrandCory Booker has a problem in 2020: Kamala Harris Booker to supporter who wanted him to punch Trump: 'Black guys like us, we don't get away with that' 2020 Dems ratchet up anti-corporate talk in bid to woo unions MORE (D-N.Y.) and Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth Ann WarrenTim Ryan doesn't back impeachment proceedings against Trump Schiff: Democrats 'may' take up impeachment proceedings Trump claims Democrats' plans to probe admin will cost them 'big time' in 2020 MORE (D-Mass.), former Vice President Joe Biden Joseph (Joe) Robinette BidenCory Booker has a problem in 2020: Kamala Harris 2020 Dems ratchet up anti-corporate talk in bid to woo unions Resurfaced Buttigieg yearbook named him 'most likely to be president' MORE and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The field of presidential hopefuls is expected to grow in the coming weeks.
A Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll survey released exclusively to The Hill on Tuesday found that 43 percent of respondents said they would cast their vote for a Democratic candidate in 2020.