By Daniel Bui, Staff Writer
On Nov. 3, 2020, elections will be held for the United States presidency. Currently, 24 Democrat and two Republican candidates are vying to become head of the Executive Branch. Below are a few of the candidates from each party.
Republican Candidates
Donald J. Trump
As current president of the United States, Donald Trump is running for re-election to retain his position for an additional four years. Policies that President Trump intends to pursue include stricter border laws and enforcement, an increase for the defense budget, and a “better deal” with Iran in light of heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. President Trump will likely continue the U.S.-China trade war if re-elected until negotiations are made for a new trade agreement.
William F. Weld
Opposing Donald Trump in his run for re-election is former Governor of Massachusetts William F. Weld, who previously ran alongside Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in the 2016 presidential election. Contrary to conservative viewpoints traditionally held by Republican candidates, Weld advocates for same-sex marriage and retains a pro-life stance. Weld has also voiced his support for the STATES Act, which would allow States to enforce their own laws regarding cannabis. He does however retain a conservative viewpoint on economics in his proposal to cut back on government spending.
Democratic Candidates
Joseph R. Biden
Former Vice President Joe Biden, who previously ran for president in 1987, is running again for the 2020 election year. As part of his presidential bid, Biden has promised to rejoin the Paris Climate Accords, which the Trump administration withdrew the United States from in 2017. Additionally, Biden hopes to introduce a climate change plan that will dedicate 400 billion dollars over ten years to reduce U.S carbon emissions through research, infrastructure and terminating government subsidies for fossil fuel drilling. Biden has also expressed interest in expanding the Affordable Care Act passed under the Obama administration.
Elizabeth Warren
Current Senator of Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren officially announced her bid for presidency on February 9th. As president, Senator Warren vows to enact a three part plan to help reduce the United States’s effect on the environment. By halting fossil fuel production on federal lands, dedicating money to new research and technological development to reduce the carbon footprint of the United States military and funding poorer countries in order to purchase emission-free technology, Senator Warren intends to combat climate change with her Green Marshall Plan. Additionally, Senator Warren has shown interest in repealing laws that criminalize unauthorized immigration and investing in gun-violence research. In regards to cannabis, Senator Warren has advocated for the STATES Act, which would permit states to create their own marijuana regulation.
Bernie Sanders
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is running for the presidency again, after a defeat to Hillary Clinton in 2016. To alleviate wealth disparity between the wealthy and poor, Sanders has endorsed revoking tax breaks and patching long exploited tax loopholes. To address the staggering cost of college tuition, Senator Sanders has backed up a plan to allocate funds to states in order to provide free tuition to families that make less than $125,000 annually. In imitation of other developed countries, Senator Sanders has advocated for a universal healthcare system to provide all Americans with affordable healthcare.
Other Democratic Candidates
Democratic candidates that are officially running for the presidency but are not elaborated upon are listed below (with policies linked).
Amy Klobuchar– Minnesota Senator
Andrew Yang– Venture for America Founder
Beto O’Rourke– Former Texas Congressman
Bill de Blasio– New York City Mayor
Cory Booker– New Jersey Senator
Eric Swalwell– California Congressman
Jay Inslee– Washington State Governor
Joe Sestak– Former Pennsylvania Congressman
John Delaney– Former Maryland Congressman
John Hickenlooper– Former Colorado Governor
Julián Castro– Former Housing Secretary
Kamala Harris– California Senator
Kirsten Gillibrand– New York Senator
Marianne Williamson– Author
Michael Bennet– Colorado Senator
Pete Buttigieg– Mayor of South Bend, Indiana
Seth Moulton– Massachusetts Congressman
Steve Bullock– Montana Governor
Tim Ryan– Ohio Congressman
Tulsi Gabbard– Hawaii Congresswoman
Wayne Messam– Mayor of Miramar, Florida
