There is no such thing as an uneventful political campaign, especially when the presidency hangs in balance. It seems like the closer the election date gets, the more outrageous the race becomes. And with over twenty candidates across both parties vying for their shot at the presidency, it can become confusing keeping track of each candidates’ beliefs.
So in expansive, in fact, that the GOP debate that occurred in early August needed to be divided into two different debates; one that was held at 5pm for the less known and public candidates, and one during prime time held for the apparent “contenders” for the Republican Party’s presidential nominee. Talk about, “you can’t sit with us”.
To help you differentiate one from the other (and the relevant from the “that guy is running?”), we’ve created a handy dandy candidate cheat sheet, designed to help you exercise your right to vote (because that’s kind of like cardio, right?).
Republican:
Jeb Bush
Who are they? Other than our former president’s little brother, Bush served as the governor of Florida from 1999-2007.
What’s their stance? Bush looks to expand gun owners’ rights and is a supporter of the ability to carry concealed weapons. Bush also looks to strengthen the military, not only building up the United State’s new base in Anbar (located in Iraq), but also touching on the potentially of putting ground troops in Russia. In more domestic issues, Bush feels that each state should decide on the laws of marijuana within that jurisdiction.
Who supports them? A more moderate Republican, Bush receives both backlash and support based on his name only. Trump has made Bush his number one target during the race for the Republican nomination.
Ben Carson
Who are they? Carson is the former head pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins. He even remarked on this during the first GOP debating, noting that he was the only one on stage who has ever “separated conjoined twins”.
What’s their stance? Carson has quite the different take on the Affordable Care Act than his fellow running mates. While he is in favor to replace Obamacare, he wants to change it with a savings fund for every American to put towards their health costs. Carson also wants to eliminate the IRS and establish a flat tax that has every American paying the same rate.
Who supports them? Carson’s support comes from a lot of grassroot voters who are just as big of fans of his humble story, that they are his non -political background.
Donald Trump
Who are they? Better question—what hat does Donald Trump not wear? Other than a real estate mogul, he’s a former TV host, brand owner and billionaire.
What’s their stance? Honestly, no one really knows. He thinks that climate change is a hoax and that we need to cut government spending, yet hasn’t specified an area to make the cuts. He’s also made statements calling Obamacare a “catastrophe”, and moving to appeal it as a whole. Trump also wants to allow more European immigration into the U.S.
Who supports them? Trump’s outspoken personality, shall we say, has grabbed the attention of American’s who want to “make America greater”. In turn, he’s made a lot of enemies due to recent comments about the Mexican ethnicity being full of “drug dealers”, and a sexist attack launched at Fox newswoman Megyn Kelly.
Mike Huckabee
Who are they? Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas as well as an ordained minister.
What’s their stance? Many, including fellow Republicans, feel Huckabee is too extreme for this day and age. He not only wants to ban all abortion (most candidates want to ban abortion after 20 weeks of gestation), but he also aggressively against same sex marriage. Huckabee wants to eliminate income tax and instead impose a national sales tax. He also wants to raise the retirement age for newer workers.
Who supports them? Evangelicals.
Carly Fiorina
Who are they? Fiorina was the CEO of Hewlett-Packard from 1999-2005, but left due to controversy. On top of being the first women to run a Fortune 20 company, she was also John McCain’s presidential campaign advisor in the 2008 elections.
What’s their stance? Fiorina is in support of the DREAM Act, giving citizenship to those who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. However, for the rest of illegal immigrants in the country, it would be “unfair” to offer them citizenship, in regards to those who did come to the country legally. Fiorina also has looked to overturn Roe vs. Wade. She is completely in favor of easy gun access and believes that those on the “No Fly List” should still have the right to own guns and assault weapons.
Who supports them? Fiorina appeals to large business owners and those who long for a president with a heavier economic background as opposed to political.
Chris Christie
Who are they? The current governor of New Jersey, recently wrapped in controversy over using government funding for personal expenses.
What’s their stance? Despite the Supreme Court ruling, Christie is still vocal on his opinions of marriage being between a man and a woman. When it comes to gun control, Christie wants mental health records to be a key factor in gun purchases. Do with that what you will.
Who supports them? Christie has found a huge amount of support in the businessmen department, especially his friend, Ken Langone, the founder of Home Depot. This is partially due to his previous career as a Wall Street lobbyist.
Scott Walker
Who are they? The former governor of Wisconsin.
What’s their stance? Walker wants to secure the border, proving very limited options to obtain outside citizenships. He also wants to ban all talks regarding any nuclear powers, and is vocally opposed to the Iranian nuclear deal. Walker wants to increase support to another nuclear power, Israel. In that same vein, Walker wants to deploy ground troops to help battle the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.
Who supports them? Walker has done a lot in his time as governor of Wisconsin, proving his capabilities when it comes to a small and socially conservative government. This has won him a fair share of supporters.
Ted Cruz
Who are they? Cruz served as the assistant attorney general during the second Bush Administration.
What’s their stance? One of Cruz’s first actions if he is elected president is to push Congress to passes an amendment that forces a balanced budget. If that can happen, it will cut back greatly on the nation’s debt. Cruz isn’t the biggest fan of Obamacare, giving a 23 hour filibuster speech on the senate floor, back in 2013, in opposition of it. However, veering away from some of the other candidates, Cruz doesn’t think it is a smart idea for the U.S. to send troops into Iraq to fight ISIS.
Who supports them? The infamous Tea Party and very intense conservatives.
Marco Rubio
Who are they? Florida’s Speaker of the House
What’s their stance? While Rubio acknowledges climate change and that it is an issue, he does not believe it is due to mankind. He is also opposed to net neutrality. Rubio has also vowed to not view a Cuba still led by the Castro family as anything but a terror threat.
Who supports them? Rubio could be a wildcard and steer the vote away from some other, more vocal, candidates. He finds a lot of support in blue collar workers and immigrants, especially because he is a second generation Cuban American.
Rand Paul
Who are they? Paul has some duality to him; aside from being a senator for Kentucky, he’s also an ophthalmologist.
What’s their stance? Paul has taken a neutral outlook in most of the issues discussed among candidates, causing his campaign to lose steam. Yet, the sides he has chosen to taken, border on extreme. Paul has said that he would close the Department of Education and distribute their funding amongst state departments. He would also shut down the Travel Security Administration (TSA) and look to a more privatized and specific form of security.
Who supports them? Paul’s father, Ron Paul, is a favorite political figure among libertarians. His son is now lapping up that residual support.
Bobby Jindal
Who are they? Jindal has served in the United States House of Representatives, as well as the current governor of Louisiana. He is also a Rhodes Scholar.
What’s their stance? Jindal is in full support of repealing of the Common Core educational system and increase the funding of community colleges. Jindal, like some of his running mates, is vehemently against same sex marriage. He disagrees to the point of wanting to pass an amendment that overturns the Supreme Court’s decision. While he doesn’t have that power yet, Jindal did pass a bill in Louisiana that allows businesses to refuse services when there is an association with same sex marriage.
Who supports them? Jindal is the son of Indian immigrants, as well as a social conservative and devout Roman Catholic. He has a lot of facets going for him that makes him ideal to a variety of people.
John Kasich
Who are they? The current governor of Ohio.
What’s their stance? Kasich doesn’t fit any particular “Republican” mold, as his opinions on issues bridges across both parties. While he believes in allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the country legally, he wants to ban abortion. He also feels the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) should have the federal Medicaid expansion kept, while the rest is repealed.
Who supports them? Those who are fiscally conservative. Plus, Kasich has shown in previous elections that he has a powerful hold over the blue collar demographic.
Democrat:
Hillary Rodham-Clinton
Who are they? Just in case you didn’t know—Clinton is a former New York Senator as well as served as the Secretary of State under the Obama Administration. Clinton is currently under investigation in regards to her confidential electronic communications.
What’s their stance? It’s almost easier to discuss the issues Hillary hasn’t talked about. She’s dedicated to the improvement of women’s rights, the reform of Affirmative Action to be more effective, and the legalization of medical marijuana. Clinton is also a supporter of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), saying that it should be strengthened going forward, not neglected.
Who supports them? While Hillary is still currently the Democratic frontrunner, the investigation being held about her has caused many of her supporters to side with Bernie Sanders. Speaking of which…
Bernie Sanders
Who are they? Sanders has very publically (and to some, controversially) proclaimed himself a Socialist. He served as a U.S. Congressman from 1991 – 2007, and is the current senator from Vermont (2007-present).
What’s their stance? Sanders has based his campaign on the fact that he is not taking large donations from corporations. Every dollar funding his campaign has been donations made by the people he is rallying for, the America middle class. Sanders also looks to fix the very real problem of racial injustice and violence that our country is facing.
Who supports them? Garnering the campaign slogan “Feel the Bern,” from the masses, Sanders’ approach has won him the hearts of the millennial generation, as well as Democrats who are terrified of a second Clinton administration.
Lawrence Lessig
Who are they? Lessig follows the trend of contenders who are not politicians by trade. Instead, he’s a professor at Harvard Law School and an influential political activist.
What’s their stance? He doesn’t have a whole lot to say in way of other political issues, as Lessig’s main platform is the reformation of campaign financing. In addition to that, he rallies behind looser copyright restrictions and the modernization of the Constitution. His single goal is to sign his bill, the Citizens Equality Act 2017, into law, and then step down from the presidency and let his vice president take over. The CEA is what it sounds like; giving every citizen an equal playing ground in areas such as the right to vote, equal representation, etc.
Who supports them? Essentially, if you’re upset about the influence of money in the government and politics, Lessig is a candidate you can get behind. Also, if you’re a Neil deGrasse Tyson super fan and want him to be president (he’s one of Lessig’s VP options).
Jim Webb
Who are they? Other than being a Vietnam War veteran and secretary of the Navy, Webb was also the Virginian senator from 2007 – 2013.
What’s their stance? He supports military funding and wants to cut the national budget by reviewing the need for other programs. Webb is also in support of gun ownership being a basic human right, and the building of the Keystone Pipeline. Webb also recently made a political blunder in a statement he gave, supporting the usage of the Confederate Flag.
Who supports them? Democrats who lean to the more socially conservative category.
Lincoln Chafee
Who are they? The former senator from Rhode Island. What’s their stance? Interestingly enough, one of the topics Chafee is passionate towards is the introduction of the metric system into the U.S. (i.e, teaching it, and then using it). Chafee also supports raising minimum wage and the privatization of Social Security. His support of same sex marraige almost goes without saying; in 2010 he signed a bill into law legalizing same sex marriage in his state of Rhode Island. Who supports them? Fellow ecomnomic populists.
Wild Card:
Vermin Supreme
Who are they? A political jokester determined to make a mockery of the system.
What’s their stance? Supreme runs in every election he can. In the 2012 presidential race, he promised every American a free pony.
Who supports them? People who like ponies.