By Nicole Manning
As President Donald J. Trump’s first term comes to an end the 2020 presidential campaign is intensifying. With the Democratic Party considering a wide variety of nominees to compete against Trump, it is time for Americans to make a decision on which candidate is fit to be our 46th Commander in Chief. Through presidential debates and campaign rallies, Democratic and Republican candidates will be discussing the issues that face America today to prove they are worthy of being our next president.
Many controversial issues such as Gun Control, Climate Change, Foreign Policy, Impeachment of Trump, Healthcare, Immigration, ISIS, Taxes, Education, the Economy and Jobs, are important to the American people. These must be resolved so that America can continue to be ‘the land of opportunity,’ and a great place for all to live, no matter your race, gender, sexuality, religion, or cultural beliefs. But as the Presidential Debate will take place on November 3, 2019—do you think you and your family are informed enough about each candidate to make that life-changing decision that will affect your entire country?
Democratic Candidates
While there were initially 14 candidates, who started campaigning for the spot to be the next president of the United States of America, only 12 made it to the October Democratic Debate and are still fighting to make their way up the polls. Meet the twelve democratic candidates that have a chance of becoming the next Commander in Chief of the U.S.A.
Joe Biden
Former Vice President and Former Senator of Delaware
Age: 76 years old
For Joe, Biden America is, “An idea that goes back to our founding principle that all men are created equal,” (joebiden.com). Joe Biden claims he is running for three main reasons: to restore the soul of the country, to restructure the backbone of the country (meaning the middle class who shape our country), and most importantly to unite this country. Joe Biden has experience is government as former V.P for Barack Obama, which gives him a one-on-one idea of what makes a good president.
Cory Booker
Senator from New Jersey, and former Mayor of Newark, NJ
Age; 50 years old
Cory Booker’s whole campaign starts with the three main values of Justice, Opportunity, and American Leadership. This means protecting and forming a better democracy for all Americans and making sure every American gets the right to vote, no matter your race, wealth, or sexuality. Booker also wants to protect the rights of Americans with disabilities and those of the LGBTQ community. He says he has plans to keep Americans safer and to insure they have more economic opportunity. He fights to end the “gun violence epidemic,” (corybooker.com), to create better immigration policies in line with constitutional values, to secure MEDICARE FOR ALL, and to help more Americans get safe and affordable housing. Cory Booker sounds like a candidate who recognizes America’s biggest problems and has a plan to solve them.
Pete Buttigieg
Military Veteran, and Mayor of South Bend, Indiana
Age; 37 years old
When it comes to running for president Buttigieg states, “We are living through a moment of huge upheaval, but also of great opportunity. This moment demands that our policies reflect a deep understanding of Americans’ everyday lives and embody our country’s highest values — values like Freedom, Security, and Democracy,” (peteforamerica.com). Pete like many democratic candidates supports many of the basic values that help shaped this country, but what makes him different, is that he was elected as mayor of South Bend at the age of 29 in 2011 and in 2015 was re-elected, giving him more years of government experience than the current president and Vice President. Furthermore, as a military veteran, Buttigieg has more military experience than many other other presidents.
Julian Castro
Former Mayor of San Antonio, and Former Housing Secretary
Age;45
Julian Castro believes, “Today, more than ever, we must work together to build an America where everyone—no matter who we are or where we come from—can thrive. Working together, I believe we can build a new promise for ourselves and for our future,” (julianforthefuture.com). Julian Castro spending his whole life in public service, wants a way to give back to a country that gave him so much. To begin with, Castro knows that to make an impactful change for the future, America needs to reform our governmental systems so that they work for all our people.
– Julian Castro has many great ideas for our country. Just go to (julianforthefuture.com). https://www.julianforthefuture.com/ to check them out.
Tulsi Gabbard
Army National Guard Veteran; Congresswoman from Hawaii
Age;38
Tulsi Gabbard is the first female combat veteran to run for president. When you join Tulsi you are “ … bringing back a government that is truly of, by, and for the people,” (tulsi2020.com). Gabbard’s whole purpose in running for President is to reshape America and make it a safe and better place. One reason she made this decision is because, on January 13, 2018, Hawaii was hit with a false missile alert; families, friends, and neighbors felt in a matter of seconds they were going to die and had no way to prepare. Gabbard wants to make sure America stays safe from nuclear and missile threats, but if we do face such a crisis, she wants Americans properly prepared. Gabbard supports real peace, equal rights for women, healthcare for all, and is an advocate for almost everything most Americans want to happen.
Kamala Harris
Former San Francisco District Attorney; Former Attorney General of California; and Senator from California
Age;54
Kamala Harris’s motto is “Speaking Truth, Demanding Justice,” (kamalaharris.org) something she has been doing her whole political career. Harris says she wants to be a voice for the American people and restore a sense of truth and justice in America and the economy.
To understand more about the values she supports, go to: https://kamalaharris.org/
Amy Klobuchar
Senator from Minnesota; Former Attorney of Hennepin County; Minnesota Attorney
Age;59
Amy Klobuchar says, “As president, Amy will look people in the eye, tell them the truth and govern with integrity.” During Klobuchar’s first 100 days as President she wants to start building a safer world, a stronger democracy, and a fair economy for all economic classes. She is also concerned about issues such as health care, climate change, and immigration. Amy Klobuchar wants to run for president not just to solve specific problems, but also to bring people together toget things done.
Beto O’Rourke
Former Congressman of Texas; Ran in 2018 for Senate
Age;47
Beto O’Rourke comes from a diverse cultural background learning, “The idea that no matter our differences—who you love or who you pray to, what you look like, whether you’ve been here for generations or just got here yesterday—you’re in the right place,” (betoorourke.com). Beto O’Rourke’s campaign currently centers on Gun Control and how to fight the gun violence epidemic, but his plan also includes improving educational opportunities at the high school and college levels. Beto wants to make America a better place for future generations.
Bernie Sanders
Senator from Vermont; Former Congressman
Age;78
Bernie Sanders’s previous slogan, “Feel the Burn” is still the case now. He is running for President because he wants, “to defeat Donald Trump and transform our economy into one that works for all of us, and not just the one percent,” (berniesanders.com). Bernie Sanders wants to make a better America by addressing issues such as Medicare, the Green New Deal, College for All, and Democratic fairness not just in the workplace, but in day to day society.
Tom Steyer
Climate Change and Impeachment Activist; Billionaire
Age;62
“Together we can break the corporate stranglehold on our government(tomsteyer.com).” Tom is working to bring Americans together to break corporate control, climate, the wealth tax, people over profits, Gun Reform, Climate Change, Healthcare, Criminal Justice Reform, and Impeachment and Removal. He wants to make the welfare of the American people more important than profits. As a self-made billionaire, Tom Steyer wants to work for you.
Elizabeth Warren
Senator from Massachusetts; Former Harvard Professor
Age; 70
For Warren, “It’s time for women to go to Washington and fix our broken government, and that includes a woman at the top,” (Elizabeth Warren). Warren wants to end corruption in Washington. Her talking points include: Rebuild the Middle Class, Strengthen American Democracy, Equal Justice Under the Law, and Foreign Policy. Elizabeth has been at the top of the polls, and has proposed plans that appeal to many Americans.
– Website:https://elizabethwarren.com/
Andrew Yang
Former Tech Executive; Founded an Economic Development Non-Profit
Age;44
Andrew Yang said, “Universal basic income is an old idea, but it’s an old idea that right now is uniquely relevant because of what we’re experiencing in society” (Andrew Yang). Yang is proposing reforms in the areas of Economy, Jobs, Environment, Democracy/Governance, Criminal Justice, Healthcare, Education, Family/Social, Foreign Policy, Immigration. As the U.S is modernizing, many jobs are being taken by technology, Yang wants to find solutions to this crisis, ensuring Job Opportunities for all.
Republican Candidates
Do Republicans have a real chance in this election, or will Republicans surprise us with a win? Meet your republicans who are not as high in the polls.
Mark Sanford
Former Congressman from South Carolina; Former Governor of State
Age; 59
Mark Sanford believes, “America is made stronger by the fact that we all have different starting points in viewing the challenges that confront America and how best to make more real the American dream for each one of us and those we love.” (marksanford.com). He is not high in the polls but he wants to make clear the issues he is concerned about, which are Debt and Deficits, Government Spending, Taxes, Healthcare, Immigration, Conservation, Education, Climate Change, Foreign Policy.
– Learn more about his position and policy website:https://www.marksanford.com/
Donald J. Trump
U.S President; Real Estate Developer; Reality Star
Age; 73
He is a candidate on the Republican side and our current U.S President. He has very specific views on immigration, where America stands, and that America should only be concerned with America. Trump has led us on a very crazy journey these past three years.
Learn more about Trump’s views at, https://www.donaldjtrump.com/
Joe Walsh
Conservative Radio Show Host; Former Congressman from Illinois
Age;57
Walsh believes, “We’re tired of the lies, We’re tired of the drama, We won’t take four more years.” (joewalsh.org). As a Republican, Walsh doesn’t want to be in the shadow of Donald Trump, and he wants to make the Republican party better with his views on American issues. Some of the things he stands for are: Reducing the national debt; restraining executive power; securing the border; and defeating Mr. Trump, who he says “can’t be trusted.”
– Website:https://www.joewalsh.org/
William F. Weld
Former Governor of Massachusetts; Former Federal Prosecutor
Age; 74
For Weld, to be a good American President, you need to be experienced, effective, truthful,open, hardworking, and dedicated to serving ALL AMERICANS no matter their race, gender, or sexual orientation. Weld is mounting his campaign to fight issues such as, “Favors, fiscal restraint, free trade, and moderate immigration reform”. He has also endorsed steps to legalize marijuana (nytimes.com).
– Website:https://weld2020.org/
For those of you who want more information, try the following links:
1. Cillizza, Chris. “This Election Model Says 2020 Is ‘Trump’s to Lose’.” CNN, Cable News Network, 17 Oct. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/17/politics/trump-moodys-analytics-2020-election-model/index.html.
2. Burns, Alexander, et al. “Who’s Running for President in 2020?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 21 Jan. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/politics/2020-presidential-candidates.html.
3. Peoples, Steve. “6 Questions Looming over the Crowded 2020 Democratic Debate.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 15 Oct. 2019, https://www.apnews.com/9a200774753c40438e45270008ea849f.
4. Peoples, Steve. “6 Questions Looming over the Crowded 2020 Democratic Debate.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 15 Oct. 2019, https://www.apnews.com/9a200774753c40438e45270008ea849f.
5. Behrmann, Savannah. “12 Candidates, One Night: Here’s Who Has Made the October Debate.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/09/27/democratic-debate-who-made-october-debate-stage/3790609002/.
(Photo Credits: slideshow group photo courtesy of U.S. News and World Report. All other candidate photos are courtesy of Google Images)