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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hofstra chapter.

Let’s get a brief history lesson in. I’m going to introduce you to Margaret Chase Smith and Shirley Chisholm. Smith, a Senator from Maine, became the first woman ever to run for the nomination of a major political party. Smith ran, unsuccessfully, for the Republican bid. Smith was also the first woman to serve as both a member of the House and the Senate, nbd. And then we have Shirley Chisholm. In 1968, she became the first African American woman to win a seat in Congress, where she absolutely kicked ass. She also became the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 1972, although she did not receive the bid. 

Thank you. Let’s proceed.

There are now six (6) women who have entered the race for the 2020 presidency!!! Without further ado, I am honored to introduce each of these candidates to you, listed in alphabetical order. 

 

Tulsi Gabbard (D)

 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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  • Bio: Gabbard grew up in Hawaii in what she describes as an “interfaith [and] interracial family.” She was elected to the Hawaii State House of Representatives when she was 21. Gabbard cites her activism in cleaning up Hawaii’s beaches as motivation for her early political start. Following 9/11 Gabbard enlisted in the Army National Guard and volunteered to deploy to Iraq when her combat team was called up. She served at a base in the Sunni Triangle. Upon her return, Gabbard ran for Congress and won, despite being considered an underdog. 
  • Issues: Gabbard has taken a strong stance against what she calls “regime wars” that she believes are severely harming the nation. She supports a noninterventionist approach. According to Gabbard’s campaign website, she is also passionate about protecting our environment, ensuring clean water and air for generations to come, investing in infrastructure and a green energy economy, healthcare for all, civil liberties and privacy, support for small businesses, criminal justice reform, sustainable agriculture, and breaking up the big banks. 
  • Website: https://www.tulsi2020.com/ 
  • Unbiased List of Views: http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Tulsi_Gabbard.htm 
  • More Information: https://ballotpedia.org/Tulsi_Gabbard_presidential_campaign,_2020

 

Kirsten Gillibrand (D)

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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  • Bio: Gillibrand was born and raised in upstate New York. She cites her grandmother and mother as inspirations for her choice to go into politics. Gillibrand first served in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and then decided to run for Congress in 2006. Her run was successful, and she beat an incumbent Republican. Gillibrand has served on many committees while on the Senate, including the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Committee on Armed Forces. She has been vocal about her opposition to President Trump.
  • Issues: According to her campaign website, Gillibrand’s life mission is to “support and empower more women to step up and run for office.” She lists her main issues for her campaign as restoring values, fighting for women and families, getting corruption and greed out of the government, improving the economy, and keeping America safe.
  • Website: https://kirstengillibrand.com/issues/ 
  • Unbiased List of Views: http://www.ontheissues.org/NY/Kirsten_Gillibrand.htm 
  • More Information: https://ballotpedia.org/Kirsten_Gillibrand_presidential_campaign,_2020 

 

Kamala Harris (D)

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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  • Bio: Harris was born and raised in Oakland, California. She began her career in the District Attorney’s Office of Alameda County and eventually served as the Attorney General for California. She joined the Senate in 2017. Harris serves on on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Select Committee On Intelligence, and the Committee On Budget.
  • Issues: While Harris’s campaign website does not have a list of issues, she has been public about her ideas for economic reform with a focus on the middle class. Harris has also been an outspoken proponent of women’s rights, immigrant’s rights, civil rights, and voting rights. 
  • Website: https://kamalaharris.org/ 
  • Unbiased List of Views: http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Kamala_Harris.htm
  • More Information: https://ballotpedia.org/Kamala_Harris_presidential_campaign,_2020 

 

Amy Klobuchar (D)

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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  • Bio: Klobuchar was born and raised in Minnesota. She often cites her family’s working class background in speeches. Klobuchar attended law school and became the head of Minnesota’s largest prosecutor’s office. She later became the first woman elected to the Minnesota Senate.  Klobuchar is part of the Joint Economic Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee, as well as serving as a Ranking Member on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. 
  • Issues: While Klobuchar’s campaign website does not have a list of issues she cites “the disruptive nature of new technologies, income inequality, the political and geographic divides, the changing climate, the tumult in our world” as issues that need to be addressed. She also wants to unify what she sees is an ununified nation. 
  • Website: https://amyklobuchar.com/ 
  • Unbiased List of Views: http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Amy_Klobuchar.htm 
  • More Information: https://ballotpedia.org/Amy_Klobuchar_presidential_campaign,_2020 https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/about-amy  

 

Elizabeth Warren (D)

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Marianne Williamson (D)


  • Bio: Williamson was born and raised in Texas in what she describes was a liberal household. She attended college but dropped out after her junior year. Williamson spent her twenties on a “search for spiritual understanding.” Williamson has since published thirteen books on non denominational spirituality and other philosophies. She unsuccessfully ran for the California House of Representatives in 2014. 
  • Issues: Williamson has an extensive list of issues on her campaign website. Issues include getting the environment back on track, health care in America, racial reconciliation & healing, and providing veterans with more support. 
  • Website: https://www.marianne2020.com/
  • Unbiased List of Views: not available
  • More Information: https://ballotpedia.org/Marianne_Williamson_presidential_campaign,_2020 https://ballotpedia.org/Marianne_Williamson 

 

These are all of the women running! Do some more research, watch their speeches, and delve into their websites. One of them might be our next president!

 










Becca Lo Presti is a junior at Hofstra University, where she is pursuing a BA in History with minors in Art History and French. She interns at the Nassau County Museum of Art and is also an on-campus Fellow at the Center for Civic Engagement. Huge fan of podcasts, dislikes the fact that she had to start drinking coffee this semester.
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