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Presenting the Potential President of 2020: A Rundown of Who’s Running

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

The Presidential election is more of a Presidential election process that includes primary elections and caucuses, the nomination conventions for each political party and announcements of vice-presidential running mates. While all of this is happening, candidates continue to campaign across the country to help rally support from voters sympathetic to their views and presidential plans. Citizens across the country will vote on November 3rd, 2020 at their local polling place for the next President of the United States of America.

For those asking, there is a probability that Donald Trump will remain president as per his announcement that he will run for re-election in 2020. Trump filed the paperwork to organize his re-election on his first day as President. He declared his plan to run for re-election 980 days before the actual date of elections. But Trump isn’t the only one to declare their run for President so early on. We decided that it would be a bit much to list all 537 candidates who filed to run, but here is a rundown of the most prominent candidates who have declared their run for presidency.

Kristen Gillibrand, a Democratic candidate, announced that she has formed an exploratory committee to run for President. Gillibrand has said that she wants to run for President “…because as a young mom, I will fight for your children, as my own health care should be right not a privilege.” She has stated that she wants to improve the public-school system and take on institutional racism, as well as fight corruption and greed in Washington. Gillibrand has served as a congresswoman and has become continuously more progressive, recently pushing for gun reform and denouncing the White House’s policy of separating migrant children from their parents.

Elizabeth Warren is currently a senator in Massachusetts and is another candidate in the Democratic party running for President. Warren has made a name for herself in her advocacy for rebuilding the middle class and economic fairness.  Warren has stated that “We [the American people] can’t be blind to the fact that the rules in our country have been rigged against other people for a long time— women, LGBTQ+ Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, immigrants, people with disabilities.” The Massachusetts senator has stated that her main priorities are to end corruption, change the rules in our economy and strengthen democracy by enacting voting rights laws. She has also mentioned her support for Medicare-for-All and combating climate change.

Cory Booker, a Democratic candidate and current senator of New Jersey, declared his run for presidency at the beginning of Black History Month.  Booker has continued to support the improvement of the Affordable Care Act, stating that, “I think healthcare should be a right to all”. In 2018, Booker was on the committee that helped bring forward the “Keep Families Together Act” in attempt to stop families from being separated at the U.S. – Mexico border. He has demonstrated his support of the Equal Rights Amendment by co-sponsoring a bill that fights pay discrimination. Booker has also expressed his support of a federal $15 minimum wage, affordable housing and gun safety legislation.

Kamala Harris is a current senator in California and has announced her run for presidency in the Democratic party. She has stated that she is running “…to lift those [American citizens] voices. To bring our voices together”. Harris has made a name for herself by sitting on the Judiciary Committee and dealing with issues such as criminal justice reform, issues surrounding the Supreme Court and immigration. Harris has extensive experience serving as district attorney of San Francisco, California’s attorney general and a California senator.

John Delaney has expressed that he wants to be a leader that unites America and “turn big ideas— that address present day and future challenges and opportunities—into real solutions.” John wants to end gerrymandering, end the NRA’s grip on politics, pass common-sense gun safety legislation, create universal health care system, ensure workers earn equal pay and raise the minimum wage. Delaney has also spoken on his plan to build a more just society by expanding mental health care coverage, protecting a woman’s right to choose, reforming the criminal justice system and implementing a carbon tax to address the detrimental effects of climate change.

Bernie Sanders, an Independent and current senator of Vermont, announced his run for the Presidential election in 2020. Sanders is now infamous for his 2016 presidential campaign slogan, “Feel the Burn,” and his continuous stance on progressive issues. Sanders has long been a supporter of policies like raising minimum wage, universal healthcare, fixing income inequality and tuition-free public education. Sanders has served as senator since 2007, as a representative of Vermont’s congressional district in the House for 16 years and as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont.

Now, we know that there are a lot of Democrats on this list, but that is just who has declared and who has made the biggest splash in media since their announcement. We are sure that with the coming days more government big-wigs, billionaires and everyday Americans will declare their plan to run for President in 2020.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Photo Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

 

Keely is a Psychology Major and pursing a BPHIL in International and Area Studies on a Global Studies track. She loves to visit new places in Pittsburgh and spend time outdoors. Keely hopes to one day work within the field of Global Health.
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