Election season still seems like a long ways away. There is still a year and a half to wait before the suspense of every TV ad and yard sign. As you may know, however, several (namely democratic) candidates have already announced their campaign. Here are the key democratic players who will campaign to become the nominee to face Donald Trump in the 2020 election:
Elizabeth Warren
Warren was raised in Oklahoma and has plenty of experience in politics. She taught law for 30 years, and served as Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel. She has outlined her campaign in 5 major focus areas: ending corruption in Washington, rebuilding the middle class, strengthening our democracy, promoting equal justice under the law, and creating a foreign policy for all. You can read more about Elizabeth Warren’s goals for presidency here on her website.
Kirsten Gillibrand
Gillibrand began her political career as a New York representative in the House. She currently serves as a Democrat in the Senate. In the beginning of her career, she was considered a centrist Democrat, but has shifted left during her Senate tenure. She has spoken strongly on topics such as sexual assault in the military and sexual harassment. Gillibrand supports paid family leave, a federal jobs guarantee and replacement of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Tulsi Gabbard
Raised in Hawaii, Tulsi served in the Hawaii State Legislature at age 21 and later served in the Hawaii Army National Guard. Currently, she serves as a fourth term Congresswoman and a major in the National Guard. In Congress, she has worked to end regime wars and focus military efforts to defeating terrorist groups. Tulsi believes in protecting the environment, universal healthcare, breaking up big banks, sustainable agriculture, criminal justice reform, and small business support. Her campaign focuses on using love and service to unite our country.
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris has served as a junior senator for the state of California since 2017. She worked for the city of San Diego before becoming the District Attorney of San Diego. Some of the topics Harris has supported are universal Medicare, legalization of recreational marijuana, sanctuary cities, and lowering taxes for middle and lower classes while raising taxes for the top 1%. She also believes in strong gun control.
Amy Klobuchar
As our own Minnesota state senator, Amy Klobuchar’s announcement for running in the 2020 election is especially exciting. She previously served as Hennepin County Attorney and worked at two different law firms. Klobuchar became Minnesota’s first female state senator when she was elected 2006. On her page within the senate website, she outlines her priorities as a politician: strengthening jobs and the economy, finding homegrown energy and environmentally friendly energy resources, caring for veterans, and cutting through bureaucratic red tape to serve those often overlooked by the government.
Pete Buttigieg
Yes, there are also men who have announced their campaigns for the next presidential election. Pete Buttigieg, at age 37, is among the youngest to run. If elected, he would become the youngest president to serve, as he would take office at age 38. He served in the war in Afghanistan. Today, Buttigieg serves as mayor for South Bend, Indiana and is the chair of the “Automation and the Impacts on America’s Cities” task force at the United States Conference of Mayors. He is the first openly gay man to run for president. As mayor, his accomplishments have included reimagining South Bend’s role in the global economy with job growth, major investments, and a focus on data and technology.
Cory Booker
Cory Booker currently serves as New Jersey’s first African American senator and was elected in 2011. Previously, he has served as mayor of Newark, NJ, and served on the Municipal Council of Newark. As mayor, Booker worked on urban development. Affordable housing doubled under his term, along with a $10 million reduction in the city’s budget. Some issues he strongly supports are women’s rights, affirmative action, same-sex marriage, and single payer healthcare. His campaign runs on the basis of the idea that when we work together we can rise together.
Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders has also announced his return in the presidential race. He has served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and has earned the title of the longest serving independent member of Congress in American history. Sanders has worked especially on income inequality and income gaps, the environment and sustainable energy, access to affordable healthcare, and education programs from preschool to college.
There you are—the eight officially announced democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential election! While many have similar beliefs, they all have a certain approach to governing and leading. Make sure you do your research, stay informed and stay sane during the whirlwind of this next election!