Who's on your Ballot?
Ready or not, the California Presidential Primary Election is sneaking into our calendars in under 60 days. But before lining up at the ballot box on March 3rd, it is important to brush up on the potential candidates that voters will decide on.
These descriptions just scratch the surface of each candidate’s stance on various policies.
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Michael Bennet (Democrat) - "Building Opportunity Together"
Michael Bennet has served as U.S. Senator from Colorado since 2009. According to Bennet’s campaign site, Bennet is campaigning for better political “transparency” between the government and American people; Bennet also plans to reverse the Muslim travel ban and overturn Trump Administration policies in order to protect Dreamers and immigrant families; lastly, Bennet will combat our economic and climate crisis dually by investing in zero-emissions energy programs while also expanding the country’s electrical grid instead of investing in tax cuts and warfare.
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Joe Biden (Democrat) - “Our Best Days Still Lie Ahead.”
Joe Biden served two terms as Vice President (2008-2016) under President Barack Obama. Biden also served time in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2009 as the Senator of Delaware. According to Biden’s campaign, he is focusing on rebuilding the middle class to ensure “no one [family] is left behind.” Biden is pushing for a reformed Affordable Care Act and immediate climate action so that every American has access to healthcare as well as “drinking water and an environment free from pollutants.”
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Michael Bloomberg (Democrat) - “Rebuild America”
Michael Bloomberg was mayor of New York City, New York, from 2002 to 2013, holding office for three consecutive terms. Bloomberg also has experience as an entrepreneur, co-founding and remaining the CEO of Bloomberg L.P., a private company that provides financial software, analytics and trading programs. According to the candidate’s webpage, Bloomberg was pivitol in the state of New York’s legalization of same-sex marriage. Further, Bloomberg has experience internationally as the World Health Organization’s Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, helping communities around the globe build bridges between them and their local governments.
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Cory Booker (Democrat) - “Together, America, We Will Rise”
Cory Booker was formerly the mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 2006 to 2013. Since 2013, Booker remains the Senator for New Jersey in the Senate. According to Booker’s campaign page, Booker aims to fight for the rights of all groups of people including: LGBTQ, the disabled and those affected by mass incarceration. Booker plans to take on gun violence by banning assault weapons and limiting the amount of handguns a buyer can purchase on a regular basis. Booker believes in Medicare for All as healthcare is a “basic human right.”
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Pete Buttigieg (Democrat) - “It's time for a new generation of American leadership.”
Pete Buttigieg has served as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana from 2012-2020. According to Buttigieg’s website, his first term as mayor was halted as he was deployed to Afghanistan from 2014 to 2017 - serving as a Lieutenant in the Navy. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community himself, Buttigieg plans to make history by being the first homosexual president while also fighting for full equality of LGBTQ+ community rights. Buttigieg will work to ensure the climate challenge is met by not only pushing for a reformed Green New Deal, but also setting goals to “become a net-zero emissions society.”
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John Delaney (Democrat) - “Focus on the Future”
John Delaney is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as the representative of Maryland’s 6th Congressional District from 2012 to 2018. According to Delaney’s campaign website, Delaney is advocating for his universal healthcare plan, BetterCare, as he believes healthcare is a “fundamental right.” In addition, Delaney wants to improve the country’s infrastructure as the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the U.S. a D+ average on our infrastructure. Lastly, Delaney is determined to create a “National AI Strategy” aimed at “employment, security, and ethics.”
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Tusli Gabbard (Democrat) - “Lead with Love”
Tulsi Gabbard has served as U.S. Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd district since 2013. According to Gabbard’s official website, she is also running as the first-female combat veteran. Gabbard’s efforts in Iraq and Kuwait paved her political stance on war, ensuring that our country does not need to make history repeat itself though conflicts that have no motive or purpose. Gabbard also believes that health care should be accessible to all, whether it is through private insurance or through a single-payer system. Finally, Gabbard hopes to align state and federal drug guidelines such as legalizing marijuana in an effort to end the “War on Drugs.”
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Amy Klobuchar (Democrat) - “Let’s Get to Work”
Amy Klobuchar is the current sitting U.S. Senator of Minnesota, where she has held her seat since 2007. According to Klobuchar’s campaign site, Klobuchar is a supporter of universal health care, believing Medicare, medicaid, or a reworked Affordable Care Act that will provide “cost-sharing reductions” and lowering the cost of prescriptions. Klobuchar pledges to “invest in diplomacy, rebuild the State Dept. and modernize our [U.S.] military.” Lastly, Klobuchar aims to ensure all families “have a fair shot in today’s economy” and will make this goal come true by raising minimum wage, reworking the nation’s housing policy and tackling the child poverty crisis - Klobuchar plans to half child poverty rates within a decade.
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Deval Patrick (Democrat) - “Deval for All”
Deval Patrick served as the 71st governor of Massachusetts between 2007 and 2015. Prior to his governing career, Patrick served as the U.S. Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division (1994-1997) under Pres. Bill Clinton. According to Patrick’s official website, the campaign is aimed at educational reform, believing children everywhere “should have ready access to first-rate education.” Patrick promises reforms to immigration with better, “more secure and predictable visa application processes and enforcement.” Lastly, Patrick vows to end private prisons, bring back a reformed parole and implement measures so the incarcerated are rehabilitated. “Treating those with substance use disorders as patients instead of criminals,” Patrick said.
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Bernie Sanders (Democrat) - “Not me. Us.”
Bernie Sanders has not only political experience, but has also lived through historical events as well. At the age of 78, Sanders experienced the Civil Rights movement as a young man, and from 2007, Sanders has represented Vermont in the U.S. Senate. According to Bernie Sanders official site, Sanders is an advocate for “College for All,” an Act set to make public, four-year institutions tuition free while “canceling the entire $1.6 trillion outstanding student debt.” Sanders is also claiming to create a projected 20 million jobs necessary to evaluate and find a solution to the climate crisis.
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Tom Steyer (Democrat) - “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”
Tom Steyer is an American philanthropist, environmentalist and liberal activist. According to his campaign site, Steyer is a self-made billionaire after founding his investment firm, Farallon Capital, in 1986. In 2013, Steyer founded NextGen America which focuses on solving climate issues and increasing community involvement in politics through “voter registration and grassroots organizing.” Steyer aims to support labor union privileges including worker protective sanctions, a $15 minimum wage projection and “increased earned income tax credit, and expanded retirement benefits.”
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Donald Trump (Republican) - “Keep America Great”
Donald Trump is the 45th and current sitting President of the United States of America. According to President Trump’s campaign page, Trump has helped cut taxes for small businesses by 20% while his administration’s policies have been able to “generate 6 million new jobs” and drop the unemployment rate to the lowest it has been (3.7%) in over five decades. President Trump has also allowed low-income college students the opportunity to receive Pell grants during the summer and winter breaks “so they can earn their degrees faster with fewer loans.”
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Joe Walsh (Republican) - “Be Brave”
Joe Walsh served one term in the House of Representatives as a Representative for Illinois’ 8th District from 2011 to 2013. According to Walsh’s political webpage, Walsh claims he will ensure that the government is “limited and supports American innovation and growth” by tackling the Trump Administration's national debt crisis. Walsh is also advocating for those struggling financially on a daily basis, hoping to create more jobs through the “benefits of free trade” and sweep aside the “tariffs that punish American industries and families.”
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Elizabeth Warren (Democrat) - “Together, We Will Dream Big And Fight Hard”
Elizabeth Warren was elected into the U.S. Senate in 2012, and is an active Massachusetts Senator. According to Warren’s campaign page, Warren is committed to investing the military budget back into supporting the servicemen and women, a better cybersecurity infrastructure and climate change solutions. “It means reinvesting in diplomacy and standing with our allies to advance our shared interests,” Warren said. Warren also plans to transform how America conducts trades internationally, favoring trades that see the fruits return back to the American people rather than the big or private corporations. These fruits will be in the forms of increased wages, lowered drug prices and the creation of American jobs.
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William Weld (Republican) - ”America Deserves Better”
Though no stranger to the office, William Weld last held a political position as 68th governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997. According to Weld’s official campaign page, Weld is in favor of “zero-based” budgeting, a form of budgeting aimed at starting at zero every year for programs and deciding “what can be eliminated and what is absolutely vital to maintain or increase.” Weld also vows to follow in President Ronald Reagan’s footsteps when it comes to immigration. “During his term in office, he promptly and succinctly created a pathway to citizenship for millions living in our country,” Weld said. Weld believes immigrants play an essential role in America and that each has something unique to offer.
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Marianne Williamson (Democrat) - “Join the Evolution”
Marianne Williamson is a self-help author with over 10 published works, four of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. According to Williamson’s political webpage, Willimson plans to strengthen democracy by implementing automated voter registration and reforming immigration. Additionally, Williamson pledges to reinstate Temporary Assistance for Needy Families “to previous funding levels” while also providing paid family and medical leave. If elected, Williamson will also increase funding “in the number of community outreach workers,” workers aimed to help with the rehabilitation of “gang members” and other various offenders.
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Andrew Yang (Democrat) - “Make America Think Harder”
Andrew Yang is the founder of Venture for America, a nonprofit organization - started in 2012 - aimed at the creation of jobs in low income areas of the United States. According to Yang’s website, if elected, he is determined to achieve his universal basic income plan, the Freedom Dividend, which will see $1,000 per month, or $12,000 per year, “for every American adult over the age of 18. This would enable all Americans to pay their bills, educate themselves and start businesses.” Yang cites that with a universal basic income, not only is the economy project to grow from 12.56% to 13.10%, but it will also increase the labor force by 4.5 million workers to 4.7 million. Aside from the finances, Yang wants to ensure that individuals are thriving in all aspects of life, including mental health, childhood success rates, social and economic mobility.