A 2020 GUIDE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

May 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTSPolling and FundraisingCandidates

Fmr. Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE)Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)Fmr. Secretary Julián Castro (D-TX)Fmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)Fmr. Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA)Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA)Fmr. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX)Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)Marianne WilliamsonAndrew Yang

Glossary of Key LegislationEndorsement Tracker

313131823283338434853586368727782879297100105108

POLLING AND FUNDRAISING

4

POLLING

POLLS WITH TREND LINES

POLL POLLING DATES SPREAD

CNN 4/25 - 4/28 Biden +24

Morning Consult 4/22 - 4/28 Biden +14

Morning Consult 4/15 - 4/21 Biden +6

Monmouth 4/11 - 4/15 Biden +7

Emerson 4/11 - 4/14 Sanders +5

Morning Consult 4/1 - 4/7 Biden +9

The Hill/HarrisX 4/5 - 4/6 Biden +17

Morning Consult 3/25 - 3/31 Biden +8

Quinnipiac 3/21 - 3/25 Biden +8

FOX News 3/17 - 3/20 Biden +10

Emerson 3/17 - 3/18 Tie

CNN 3/14 - 3/17 Biden +8

Morning Consult 3/11 - 3/17 Biden +8

Morning Consult 3/4 - 3/10 Biden +4

Monmouth 3/1 - 3/4 Biden +3

Morning Consult 2/25 - 3/3 Biden +4

Harvard-Harris 2/19 - 2/20 Biden +11

Morning Consult* 2/18 - 2/24 Biden +2

Morning Consult* 2/11 - 2/17 Biden +9

Emerson 2/14 - 2/16 Biden +10

Morning Consult* 2/4 - 2/10 Biden +7

Monmouth 1/25 - 1/27 Biden +13Politico/Morning Consult 1/25 - 1/27 Biden +18

Politico/Morning Consult 1/18 - 1/22 Biden +10

Source: Real Clear Politics

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1/22 1/27 1/27 2/10 2/16 2/17 2/24 2/20 3/3 3/4 3/10 3/17 3/17 3/18 3/20 3/25 3/31 4/6 4/7 4/14 4/15 4/21 4/28

Biden Booker Buttigieg Castro Gillibrand Harris Hickenlooper

Inslee Klobuchar O'Rourke Sanders Warren Ryan Yang

Perc

ent

As of 4/30, 17 candidates have qualified for the Debate stage; Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Wayne Messam and Marianne Williamson have not.

5

POLLING

NEW HAMPSHIRE POLLING 4/8 – 4/18

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

4/8/19 4/9/19 4/10/19 4/11/19 4/12/19 4/13/19 4/14/19 4/15/19 4/16/19 4/17/19 4/18/19

Sanders Biden Buttigieg Warren Harris O'Rourke Booker Klobuchar Ryan Yang Gillibrand Gabbard

Poll Date Spread

RCP Average 4/10 - 4/18Sanders +2.5

UNH 4/10 - 4/18Sanders +12

St. Anselm 4/3 - 4/8Biden +7

6

POLLING

IOWA POLLING 3/24 – 4/18

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

3/16 3/26 4/5 4/15 4/25

Sanders Buttigieg Harris Warren O'Rourke Booker Klobuchar Delaney Castro Gillibrand Yang Biden

Poll Date Spread

Gravis 4/18/19Tie

Monmouth 4/9/19Biden +11

Emerson 3/24/19Biden +1

RCP Average 3/21 - 4/18Biden +4.0

GENERAL ELECTION 2020 POLLS

EMERSON GENERAL ELECTION MATCHUP APRIL 29 (+/- 2.8%)

7

POLLING

52%

49%

51%

54%

50%

54%

48%

50%49%

46%

50%

46%

45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%

TRUMP vs. WARREN TRUMP vs. BIDEN TRUMP vs. SANDERS TRUMP vs. HARRIS TRUMP vs. O'ROURKE TRUMP vs. BUTTIGIEG

TRUMP DEMOCRAT

GENERAL ELECTION MATCHUP SPREAD

TRUMP vs. WARREN TRUMP +6TRUMP vs. BIDEN BIDEN +1TRUMP vs. SANDERS TRUMP +2TRUMP vs. HARRIS TRUMP +8TRUMP vs. O'ROURKE TIETRUMP vs. BUTTIGIEG TRUMP +8

52%

47%

48% 48%

49%

51%

48%

53%52%

50%

51%

49%

45%

46%

47%

48%

49%

50%

51%

52%

53%

54%

TRUMP vs. WARREN TRUMP vs. BIDEN TRUMP vs. SANDERS TRUMP vs. HARRIS TRUMP vs. O'ROURKE TRUMP vs. BUTTIGIEG

TRUMP DEMOCRAT

EMERSON GENERAL ELECTION MATCHUPAPRIL 15 (+/- 2.8%)

GENERAL ELECTION MATCHUP SPREAD

TRUMP vs. WARREN TRUMP +4TRUMP vs. BIDEN BIDEN +6TRUMP vs. SANDERS SANDERS +3TRUMP vs. HARRIS TIETRUMP vs. O'ROURKE O'ROURKE +2TRUMP vs. BUTTIGIEG TRUMP +2

$6.30 $6.10 $5.90

$1.50 $1.00

$0.30

BidenO'RourkeSandersHarrisKlobuchar*Warren

8

FUNDRAISING

Data From Candidate Campaigns, FEC*First 48 hours

DEMOCRATIC 2020 FUNDRAISING First 24 Hours of Campaign Launch

(in millions)

9

FUNDRAISING

$18,200,000

$12,000,000

$9,400,000

$7,000,000

$6,000,000

$5,200,000

$5,000,000

$3,000,000

$2,300,000

$2,000,000

$1,900,000

$1,800,000

$1,500,000

$1,100,000

$404,000

$44,000

$0 $2,000,000 $4,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000 $12,000,000 $14,000,000 $16,000,000 $18,000,000 $20,000,000

Bernie Sanders

Kamala Harris

Beto O'Rourke

Pete Buttigieg

Elizabeth Warren

Amy Klobuchar

Cory Booker

Kirsten Gillibrand

Jay Inslee

John Hickenlooper

Tulsi Gabbard

Andrew Yang

Marianne Williamson

Julian Castro

John Delaney

Wayne Messam

FIRST QUARTER REPORTED FUNDRAISING

Delaney: **Does not include $12.1 million candidate contribution.

Klobuchar : *Includes some funds only available for the general election.

10

FUNDRAISING

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Berni

e San

ders

Andrew

Yang

Elizabe

th W

arren

Pete

Buttigie

g

Marianne

Willia

mson

Beto O

'Rourke

Tulsi G

abbard

Kamala

Harr

is

Amy Klob

uchar

Jay Ins

lee

Julian

Castro

Wayn

e Mess

am

John Dela

ney

Kirste

n Gillib

rand

Cory Boo

ker

John Hick

enloop

er

PERCENTAGE OF FUNDS RAISED FROM INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL

CANDIDATES THAT WERE $200 OR LESS

11

FUNDRAISING

CANDIDATES CASH ON HAND

$15,700,000

$11,200,000

$10,600,000

$10,200,000

$9,000,000

$7,000,000

$6,900,000

$6,400,000

$6,100,000

$2,800,000

$1,400,000

$1,300,000

$1,200,000

$678,000

$550,000

$42,000

$0 $2,000,000 $4,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000 $12,000,000 $14,000,000 $16,000,000 $18,000,000

Bernie Sanders

Elizabeth Warren

John Delaney

Kirsten Gillibrand

Kamala Harris

Amy Klobuchar

Beto O'Rourke

Pete Buttigieg

Cory Booker

Tulsi Gabbard

Jay Inslee

John Hickenlooper

Andrew Yang

Julian Castro

Marianne Williamson

Wayne Messam

12

SOCIAL MEDIA

0

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

14,000,000

16,000,000

18,000,000

20,000,000

Sand

ers

War

ren

Biden

Book

er

Harris

O'R

ourk

e

Gillibr

and

Klobuc

har

Gabba

rd

Delane

y

Mou

lton

Castro

Inslee

Hicken

loope

r

Buttig

iegRyan Yan

g

Swallw

ell

Gravel

Mess

am

Candidate

2020 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

FMR. VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN (D)

Fmr. Vice President Joe Biden (D)

14

• United States Vice President (2009-2017)• United States Senate: Senator from Delaware

(1973-2009)

Age: 76 years-old

Website: https://joebiden.com/

Book: Promise Me, Dad

Relevant ExperienceCandidate Overview

• Declared his run for president on April 25, 2019.

• Has notable name recognition after serving alongside President Barack Obama in the White House for eight years.

• Polls show Biden leading the field despite only recently announcing his candidacy.

• Biden is seen as a pragmatist who is friendly to Republicans. He has broad appeal to moderate voters who previously voted for Trump.

• Biden’s campaign was immediately endorsed by Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) and all three members of Delaware’s congressional delegation.

• Not accepting donations from corporate PACs or federal lobbyists.

“Our country is being put to the test... but I’ve never been more optimistic about America.” -Campaign launch video

Sources: New York Times, Campaign site

Fmr. Vice President Joe Biden (D)

15

Criminal Justice• Biden believes there needs to be reform to the criminal justice system to prioritize prevention, eliminate racial disparities, get rid of

sentencing practices that do not fit the crime and help make sure formerly incarcerated individuals who have served their sentences are able to fully participate in our democracy and economy. [Biden Campaign Website Accessed 04.25.19]

• One of the most contentious elements of Biden’s record is his involvement in the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which many Democrats revile for contributing to mass incarceration, especially among people of color.

• This month, he also said he regretted supporting the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, which increased prison sentences for crack cocaine offenses. [NYT Accessed 04.25.19]

Economy and Jobs• Biden seeks to enforce existing trade laws and invest in the competitiveness of American workers and communities here at home so that they

compete on a level playing field. [Biden Campaign Website Accessed 04.25.19]• Biden has outlined an economic agenda focused on income inequality and workers’ rights. He endorsed a $15 minimum wage and free four-year

public college in 2015.• He has called for a ban on noncompete agreements that prevent workers from taking jobs at competitors and has advocated policies that would

let workers discuss how much they are paid without retaliation.• He has pushed for higher taxes on the rich and on investment income, along with more generous tax credits for the middle class. [NYT Accessed

04.25.19]

ON THE ISSUES

16

Environment and Climate Change• Biden believes efforts must be made to address climate change and ensure that every American has access to clean drinking water,

clean air and an environment free from pollutants. [Biden Campaign Website Accessed 04.25.19]• Biden introduced the Senate’s first climate change bill in 1986.• As a senator, he supported tax credits for renewable energy; as vice president, he supported a series of emission reduction regulations

that have since been reversed. [NYT Accessed 04.25.19]

Gun Safety• Biden backs action to reduce gun violence and hate crimes, strengthen the landmark Violence Against Women Act and supports community

policing. [Biden Campaign Website Accessed 04.25.19]• He supports gun control measures including assault weapons ban, a ban on high-capacity magazines and universal background checks. [PBS

Accessed 04.25.19]

Foreign Affairs• Biden believes that the military must be modernized to prepare for the wars of tomorrow, while ensuring that American troops are deployed

only when it is vital national security interest. He thinks that the US must reaffirm commitment to its allies. [Biden Campaign Website Accessed 04.25.19]

• Biden has spoken extensively about the importance of the United States engaging with the world and cooperating with America’s allies.• Biden served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-chairman of the NATO Observer Group. [PBS Accessed 04.25.19]

ON THE ISSUESFmr. Vice President Joe Biden (D)

17

Immigration• As vice president, Biden championed the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. • Since leaving office, Biden has not commented on whether US Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be revised or abolished. [PBS

Accessed 04.25.19]

Housing and Poverty• As a senator, Biden supported amendments to the Fair Housing Act. [The Cut Accessed 04.25.19]

Health Care• Biden seeks to defend and build upon the Affordable Care Act. He continually emphasizes the importance of addressing public health

challenges including cancer, opioid addiction and mental health. [Biden Campaign Website Accessed 04.25.19]• Unlike other candidates to his ideological left, Biden has not endorsed Medicare for All. [NYT Accessed 04.25.19]• As Vice President, Biden helped launch the Cancer Moonshot, a $1.8 billion initiative aimed at making more cancer therapies available and

prevention and detection a priority. [Cancer.gov Accessed 04/28/2019]

ON THE ISSUESFmr. Vice President Joe Biden (D)

Education• Biden called for 16 years of free public education, including community college and four-year public colleges. He has also backed

universal pre-Kindergarten, paid for by closing some loopholes in the tax code. [PBS Accessed 04.25.19]

SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ)

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

19

• United States Senate: Senator from New Jersey (2013-Present)

• City of Newark, NJ: Mayor (2006-2013)• City of Newark, NJ: Council member

Age: 49 years-old

Website: https://corybooker.com/

Book: United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good

Relevant ExperienceCandidate Overview

• Declared his run for president February 1, 2019.

• Championed criminal justice reform, advocated for scaling back federal criminal penalties for marijuana and pushed for civil rights as a senator.

• Promises to run a relentlessly positive and unifying campaign, preaching love as an antidote to the nation's ills.

• Has one of the more liberal voting records in the Senate, but has faced criticism for his ties to Wall Street, defense of private equity, his stance on the pharmaceutical industry and charter schools.

• Developed an image as mayor as being a personable politician– shoveling driveways for constituents and rescuing someone from a burning building.

• Not accepting donations from corporate PACs or federal lobbyists.

“I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind… where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame.” -Campaign launch video

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

20

Criminal Justice• In the 2020 Democratic primary, criminal justice reform is the one issue that could make him stand out. [VOX 2.1.19]• Booker has introduced at least ten separate bills regarding criminal justice, including legislation intended to end the prohibition on

marijuana, reduce discrimination in the hiring of former convicts, bring transparency and data to police shootings and improve funding for the offices of public defenders, who are often overworked and underfunded. [WashPo 2.1.19]

• In 2017, Booker introduced the Reverse Mass Incarceration Act, which would authorize $2 billion a year to encourage states to cut prison populations while keeping crime rates low. He has also backed more traditional criminal justice bills, ranging from the First Step Act to ending welfare bans for drug offenders, public defender reforms to “ban the box.” [VOX 2.1.19]

Economy and Jobs• Booker supports a $15 minimum wage. He also backs a pilot program that would provide grants to local governments to guarantee

everyone a job and paid sick leave.• In 2018, Booker sponsored the American Opportunity Accounts Act to eliminate the income gap by creating a savings account for

every child that could grow to as much as $46,000 by their 18th birthday. The “opportunity account” could be used to pay for home ownership or higher education.

• Booker has said little recently about President Trump’s re-negotiation of trade deals with Canada and Mexico, but he once said such agreements need to be “much more fair to US companies.” He opposed giving the Obama Administration fast-track trade authority during early negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). [PBS 2.1.19]

• Booker introduced the Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act, which would provide 15 metro areas federal money to provide alltheir residents with jobs. [VOX 04.20.18]

ON THE ISSUES

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

21

Education• Booker is a longstanding advocate for charter schools. [NY Times 2.1.19]• He has joined with other Senators to support innovative ideas that would allow students to refinance college loans and simplify the

student loan process to make college more accessible and affordable. [Booker Senate Website 2.8.19]

Environment and Climate Change• Booker announced that “environmental justice” will be one of his top policy issues of his campaign. [NY Times 2.1.10]• He has endorsed the Green New Deal. [NY Times 2.1.10]

Gun Safety• Booker introduced the Assault Weapons Ban of 2017 to ban high-capacity and assault weapons and he supported the Background

Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all gun sales. [PBS 2.1.19]

Foreign Affairs• Booker has criticized US policy and airstrikes in Syria and believes the 2001 military authorization passed by Congress after the 9/11 terror

attacks should not be used to justify continued action in Syria. Booker has stated that President Trump’s planned withdrawal of troops from Syria is “reckless and dangerous” but also voted against a Senate resolution that warned against a hasty withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan. [PBS 2.1.19]

• Booker has been a strong proponent of US-Israeli relations and co-sponsored a bill that would prohibit US companies from joiningthe movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. [NJ.com 12.31.18]

ON THE ISSUES

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

22

Immigration• Booker supports protection for “Dreamers” and is a vocal critic of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies. • Booker co-sponsored the REUNITE Act, a bill to reunite separated immigrant families. He visited the border to see the impact of President

Trump’s immigration policies and later objected to the Pentagon sending troops to the US-Mexico border in the run-up to the 2018midterms.

• Booker has stopped short of calling for the abolition of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and instead believes Congress should take a “serious look” at the agency. [PBS 2.1.19]

Housing and Poverty• Booker has introduced the Housing Opportunity, Mobility, and Equity (HOME) Act to address housing affordability. The HOME Act ($134 billion

a year) would provide a refundable credit to people paying more than 30 percent of their income in rent. The credit would be worth the difference between their year’s rent (capped at the area fair-market rent) and 30 percent of their income. There is no strict income requirement though the fair market rent requirement prevents the credit from going to luxury renters. [VOX 1.30.19]

Health Care• Booker supports Sen. Bernie Sander’s (I-VT) proposed Medicare for All Act. [NY Times 2.1.19]• He has received millions in Senate campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry and has been reluctant to focus regulatory efforts

on the industry. In 2017, Booker voted against a bill that would have greatly reduced drug prices by allowing imports from Canada. He has since reversed course and announced his support for Sen. Sanders’ Prescription Drug Price Relief Act which seeks to rein in prescription drug costs. [NY Times 2.1.19]

ON THE ISSUES

MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG (D)

Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D)

24“I launched a presidential exploratory committee because it is a season for

boldness and it is time to focus on the future.” –Campaign launch video

Candidate Overview• Declared his run for president April 14, 2019.

• Former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Afghanistan War veteran and the first married gay man to make a run at the presidency.

• Calling for policies “untethered to the politics of the past” with a focus on issues including climate change and economic opportunity.

• Considered a long-shot campaign that may test the appeal of a youthful profile over more traditional qualifications.

• Called for the elimination of the Electoral College stating that it has made society less and less democratic.

• Drew national notice after delivering an essay that counseled Democrats on how to recover from their defeats in the 2016 elections and his failed run for DNC chair.

• Pete for America will no longer accept lobbyist funds, and it is returning the approximately $30,000 in donations it has already received.

• City of South Bend, IN: Mayor (2012-Present)• United States Navy Reserves: Lieutenant (2009-

Present)

Age: 37 years-old

Website: https://www.peteforamerica.com/

Book: Shortest Way Home: One Mayor’s Challenge and a Model for America’s Future

Slogan: “It’s time for a new generation of American leadership.”

Relevant Experience

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

25

Criminal Justice• Buttigieg tried to address neighborhood crime during his time as mayor, supporting the adoption of technology that allows police

departments to triangulate the location of gunshots. Furthermore, as gang- or group-related shootings were rising, South Bend implemented in May 2014 a Group Violence Intervention initiative in which police partner with community organizations to connect at-risk men with jobs and education. [South Bend Tribune, 12/18/18]

ON THE ISSUES

Housing and Poverty• One of Buttigieg’s first goals in office was to launch an initiative to repair or demolish 1,000 decaying homes in 1,000 days. His

administration hit that target, addressing 1,1016 houses 62 days ahead of schedule. [South Bend Tribune, 12/18/18]• Buttigieg has removed homeless encampments with Code Enforcement clean-outs, but not before providing city funding to Hope

Ministries to create overnight-only weather amnesty shelters. [South Bend Tribune, 12/18/18]• Buttigieg convened a working group to identify solutions and earmarked more city money for a gateway or intake center — yet to be

established — and permanent supportive housing. [South Bend Tribune, 12/18/18]

Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D)

26

Economy and Jobs • Buttigieg points to his efforts in revitalizing and diversifying the economy of South Bend – a Rust Belt town mired in post-industrial decline until

he took office – as evidence of his potential to implement the same policies on a national scale. [NPR, 1/31/19]• In 2014, Buttigieg launched Smart Streets, a $21 million project aimed at making the downtown more pedestrian-friendly and conducive to

retail and housing growth. He slowed traffic by narrowing streets, adding pavers, new trees and designated bike lanes, and converting one-way streets to two-way. He has credited the changes with spurring private development and a general resurgence of downtown South Bend.

• As mayor, Buttigieg aimed to diversify South Bend’s economy rather than to engage in “smokestack chasing.” On the subject, Buttigieg said, “Don’t get me wrong, we're still doing manufacturing ... but we recognize that it's increasingly automated and there's got to be more to the story. That's why we're growing an industry in data centers and industries that didn't even exist when our town was making Studebakers back in the '60s. The word ‘again’ was not part of our vision. The message from the start was, ‘The Studebaker plant isn’t coming back, but we are, and here’s how.’” [NPR, 1/31/19]

• Buttigieg brought new jobs to South Bend by transforming factories into tech centers. [CBS News 07.18.17]• Buttigieg introduced new overtime rules and raised the minimum wage for city workers from $8.20 to $10.10. [WSBT [01.03.17]

ON THE ISSUES

Education• During Buttigieg’s second term he pushed for citywide early childhood education in South Bend. [Politico, 2/16/18]

Gun Safety• As mayor, Buttigieg supported a proposal to broaden federal background checks on gun buyers. [WNDU, 4/18/13]

Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D)

27

Foreign Affairs• Buttigieg has called for a “new liberal internationalism that is neither isolationist or overly muscular.” [AP News, 12/20/18]• While he lacks the typical sort of foreign policy experience that presidential candidates traditionally possess, in 2009 and 2013, Buttigieg

was commissioned as a Navy intelligence officer while serving as mayor. He took a leave of absence to serve in Afghanistan in 2014 for a seven-month deployment and earned the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his counterterrorism work. Buttigieg has highlighted his service as a fresh perspective on foreign policy. [ABC News, 1/31/19]

ON THE ISSUES

Climate and Environment• Buttigieg has described climate change as a “time bomb” for the millennial generation – of which he is a part – to deal with and he has

spoken favorably about the possibility of a Green New Deal. [NBC News, 1/23/19]• Buttigieg has criticized the Trump Administration’s positions on climate issues and has expressed support for the Paris Agreement.

[Ecosystem Marketplace, 1/25/19]

Health Care• Buttigieg has said that a single-payer health care system is “the right place for us to head as a country,” while saying a Medicare for All

program doesn’t necessarily require doing away with private insurance. “If the framework we’re using is Medicare, a lot of people who have Medicare also have Medicare supplements,” Buttigieg said. “So if we want to make Medicare available to everybody, whether it’s as a public option to buy in or simply establishing that as how the payer structure works in this country, that’s going to be the center of gravity.” According to Buttigieg, “We need to make sure that every American is able to get health care.” [Politico, 2/3/19]

• Buttigieg believes in paid family leave. [CBS News 07.18.17]

Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D)

FMR. SECRETARY JULIÁN CASTRO (D)

Fmr. HUD Secretary Julián Castro (D)

29

• US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2014-2017)

• City of San Antonio, TX: Mayor (2009-2014)

Age: 37 years-old

Website: https://www.julianforthefuture.com/

Book: An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My American Dream

Slogan: “Julián for the future”

Relevant Experience

“I’m running for president because it’s time for new leadership. Because it’s time for new energy.” –Campaign launch speech

Candidate Overview• Declared his run for president January 12, 2019.

• Made his presidential announcement from San Antonio in Spanish and English to resonate with Latinos at a time when many have felt under attack in the Trump era.

• Former mayor of San Antonio and HUD Secretary under President Barack Obama.

• Championed social justice issues – including affirmative action – during his political career.

• Opted out of challenging Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) for the Senate in the 2018 midterm elections.

• Presidential platform advocates for universal pre-kindergarten, “Medicare for all” and immigration reform.

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

30

Economy and Jobs• Castro supports a higher minimum wage but has not advocated for a $15 hourly minimum wage.• Castro agreed with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) that tax rates on some of the wealthiest Americans should be greatly

increased. He has also floated higher corporate tax rates in order to fund his marquee policies like Medicare for All and universal pre-kindergarten. [Washington Examiner]

Criminal Justice• Castro has stated that the US criminal justice system is racist and that too many people of color have negative interactions with police. [Inside Sources,

1/16/19]• Castro has discussed changing the nation’s bail system so that low-income Americans are not forced to sit in jail for being accused of a crime while

the wealthy avoid incarceration. [KUT, 1/14/19]

ON THE ISSUES

Education• As mayor of San Antonio, Castro convinced voters to raise taxes by one-eighth of a cent to create the city’s pre-kindergarten program

for four year-olds. As a result, more than 22,000 children are set to benefit from the program over eight years. [Politico, 9/17/17]• Castro supports universal pre-kindergarten and would like to make the first two years of higher education more affordable. He has

even called for tuition-free public college but has yet to offer specifics on his plans. [CNBC, 2/6/19]

Fmr. HUD Sec. Julián Castro (D)

31

ON THE ISSUES

Foreign Affairs• Domestic, rather than foreign, policy has been Castro’s passion. He has not made a habit of weighing in on Middle East policy, arms-control

agreements or trade deals. He all but ignored foreign policy in his presidential announcement speech. [Council on Foreign Relations, 2/5/19]• Castro does not like President Trump’s America First policy. [Council on Foreign Relations, 2/5/19]• Generally, Castro has stated that he is “not a big fan of the commitments America has made, over these last 15 years, whether it was the Iraq War

or this [Syria] commitment,” calling instead for exercising “soft power, and not necessarily our military power.” [Council on Foreign Relations, 2/5/19]

Environment and Climate Change• Castro has criticized President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. In his presidential announcement speech, Castro said

that his first executive order would be to re-enter the Paris Agreement. [Grist, 1/17/19]• Across his record in public office, Castro has tried to convince businesses to voluntarily increase their reliance on renewable energy with some

success. As mayor of San Antonio, the local utility committed to close a coal plant and embraced a 20 percent renewables goal. [PBS, 1/12/19]• It is unclear whether Castro supports a carbon tax or a “cap and trade” policy to reduce carbon emissions. Castro has said the government

should “say no to subsidizing big oil.” Still, Castro has not gone as far on the campaign trail as fellow 2020 candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) who pledged not to accept donations from oil, gas and coal industries. [CNBC, 2/6/19]

Gun Safety• As a longtime advocate for gun control, Castro has pushed for renewing the assault weapons ban, limiting high-capacity magazines and

requiring background checks at gun shows. He does not support the elimination of the right to bear arms; he just thinks it should be regulated appropriately. [PBS, 1/12/19]

Fmr. HUD Sec. Julián Castro (D)

32

ON THE ISSUES

Housing and Poverty• As President Obama’s HUD Secretary, Castro put into practice the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule, part of the 1968 Fair Housing Act

that requires cities that receive federal money for housing to examine any potential barriers of biases in housing opportunities. In 2016, HUD launched the National Housing Trust Fund, which provided $173 million in grants to create affordable housing. Castro also led HUD in reducing annual mortgage insurance premiums in 2017 by about a quarter of a percent, saving homeowners $500 on average each year. Castro also spearheaded HUD’s Connect Home initiative, which provided internet access and connected devices to residents of HUD-assisted housing in 28 cities. [CNBC, 2/6/19]

• In his exit memo from the agency, Castro touted how HUD had stabilized the housing market and preserved affordable housing through public-private partnerships. [CBS News 01.12.19]

• As San Antonio’s mayor, Castro launched “Decade of Downtown,” an initiative to revitalize San Antonio’s city center that led to $350 million of private-sector investment in housing alone. [CNBC, 2/6/19]

Health Care• Castro has called for universal health care, supporting the Medicare for All Act. He indicated that he would consider paying for such a system by

raising taxes on corporations and on the wealthiest 0.05, 0.5 or one percent of Americans. [The Hill, 1/8/19]• Castro also implemented several public health initiatives during his time in government. San Antonio's obesity rate fell below the state average

under his leadership as mayor. As HUD Secretary, Castro banned smoking in public housing. [PBS, 1/12/19]

Immigration• Castro supports comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for most of the estimated 11 million undocumented people in the

United States. [Washington Post, 1/13/19]• Castro opposes President Trump’s border wall plan and has proposed securing the border by using technology and developing a more efficient legal

immigration process. When asked if he thinks that ICE should be abolished, Castro said that he thinks the agency needs to change its culture and should be “reconstituted.” [PBS, 1/12/19]

Fmr. HUD Sec. Julián Castro (D)

FMR. REP. JOHN DELANEY (D-MD)

34“I think I’m the right person for the job, but not enough people knew who

I was or still know who I am.” –Iowa Democratic Wing Ding speech

• United States House of Representatives: Representative from MD-06 (2013-2019)

• Founder of CapitalSource and Health Care Financial Partners

Age: 55 years-old

Website: https://www.johnkdelaney.com

Book: The Right Answer: How We Can Unify Our Divided Nation

Relevant ExperienceCandidate Overview• Declared his run for president January 28, 2017 – the first Democrat to declare.

• Viewed as a long-shot candidate though he is running an aggressive campaign and has visited every county in Iowa.

• Millionaire former congressman who was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2012 as, in his own words, a “pragmatic idealist.”

• Calling for campaign finance reform though he could spend millions of his own money on a presidential race.

• Wants more gun restrictions and an end to gerrymandering despite benefiting from it himself.

• Pitched himself as a bipartisan problem-solver but has also endorsed liberal causes like universal health care.

Fmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

Fmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)

35

Economy and Jobs• At the top of Delaney’s list of priorities is investment in infrastructure. In 2018, he wrote a letter urging Trump to raise the corporate tax rate

from 21 percent to 23 percent in order to fund a $200 billion infrastructure package. [CNBC 01.08.18]• Delaney was one of a few Democrats who supported TPP and he is interested in revisiting the trade deal if elected in 2020. [PBS 02.04.19]• Delaney supports simplifying the tax code and doubling the Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable tax credit for low- to moderate-

income working individuals and couples, particularly those with children. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed 04.24.19]• He has pushed the idea of investing $1 trillion in rebuilding America’s infrastructure. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed 02.07.19]• Delaney has advocated cutting red tape for small businesses and entrepreneurs. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed 02.07.19]• Delaney supports opportunity zones, a designation created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 allowing for certain investments in lower

income areas to have tax advantages. [Delaney Campaign Website Accessed 04.24.19]

Criminal Justice• Delaney has received a 100 percent rating from Americans for Safe Access, an organization advocating for the legalization of cannabis. [Project

Vote Smart]• Delaney believes it's time to reform the broken immigration and criminal justice systems. Delaney wants to:

• Limit the use of money bail in the federal criminal justice system • End for-profit prisons• Eliminate mandatory minimum sentences• End the death penalty• Provide federal funding for training and support of police officers• Remove marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act • Re-emphasize Obama era DOJ oversight authorities of law enforcement practices that demonstrate a pattern of abuse or misconduct

[Delaney Campaign website Accessed 04.24.19]

ON THE ISSUES

ON THE ISSUES

36

Environment and Climate Change• Delaney plans to address climate change by implementing a carbon tax. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed 02.07.19]• He will develop a "national energy policy focused on two goals: 1) becoming a global leader in domestic energy production and

alternative energy technology; and 2) properly responding to climate change.” [Congressional Office of John Delaney. Accessed 09.07.17]• Delaney supports re-joining the Paris Agreement. [Delaney Campaign Website Accessed 04.24.19]

Gun Safety• "This is not about taking guns away from law-abiding citizens and I believe that it is important to protect the Second Amendment. The

President [Obama] is proposing practical actions that will help law enforcement administer our existing laws, allow further research into the causes of violence, and provide grants to local authorities to help make our schools and streets safer. We also need to find ways to expand access to mental health care to ensure those who are suffering from mental illness receive proper care and treatment." [Delaney.house.gov]

Foreign Affairs• Delaney believes in supporting the military with the resources it needs, with a focus on technological capabilities. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed

02.07.19]• He thinks the US should harden its domestic infrastructure, technology and elections system against terrorism and foreign interference. [Delaney Campaign

website Accessed 02.07.19]• He advocates strengthening existing and building new global alliances for peace, prosperity and security. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed 02.07.19]• Delaney hopes to bolster humanitarian, human rights and pandemic response capabilities. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed 02.07.19]• Delaney has promoted advancing global arms control and non-proliferation agreements in nuclear, chemical and cyber warfare. [Delaney Campaign website

Accessed 02.07.19]

Fmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)

37

Immigration• Delaney supports comprehensive immigration reform. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed 02.07.19]• As a congressman, he co-sponsored the DREAM Act in 2017 which would have provided a path to citizenship for so-called “Dreamers,”

young undocumented immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. [Dream Act]

Housing and Poverty• Delaney supports incentivizing private sector investment in financially depressed communities, requiring a significant percentage of

government contracts to go to hard-hit communities. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed 02.07.19]• He has proposed launching a $500 billion national affordable housing program. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed 02.07.19]

Health Care• Delaney envisions creating a government health care program for all Americans under the age of 65, after which they could enroll in

Medicare. [PBS 02.04.19]• Delaney opposes Medicare for All saying that Medicare works and should be left alone. [PBS 02.04.19]• In Congress, he was a vocal supporter of the Affordable Care Act and was open to adding a public option, as well as expanding

Medicare for people over the age of 55. [PBS 02.04.19]

ON THE ISSUESFmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)

Education• Delaney wants to provide universal pre-kindergarten, free community college/career and technical training nationwide. [Delaney Campaign

website Accessed 02.07.19]

REP. TULSI GABBARD (D-HI)

39“There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I’m concerned

about and that I want to help solve.” -CNN interview announcing her candidacy

• United States House of Representatives: Representative from HI-02 (2013-Present)

• Honolulu City Council Member (2010-2013)• Healthy Hawai’i Coalition: Vice President (2000-

2012)• Hawaii Army National Guard (2003-Present)

Age: 37 years-old

Website: https://www.tulsi2020.com/

Slogan: “For The Country We Love”

Relevant ExperienceCandidate Overview• Declared her run for president January 11, 2019.

• Served in the Army National Guard and was twice deployed to the Middle East –once while in the Hawaii State Legislature in 2004.

• Running as an anti-war Democrat who has voiced opposition to American military intervention overseas, including in countries like Syria.

• Drew condemnation for meeting with Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad.

• Supported Sen. Sanders in the 2016 presidential primaries.

• Apologized for her history of anti-gay statements and her past work for an anti-gay advocacy group.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

40

Economy and Jobs• Gabbard is an original cosponsor of the Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024 and index the minimum

wage to the median wage growth thereafter. [Tulsi Gabbard Website Accessed 2.11.19]• Gabbard is a cosponsor of legislation such as the Return to Prudent Banking Act and the 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act. She believes the act will

“help protect Americans from the risky behaviors of investors on Wall Street.” “She has urged criminal investigations of big bank executives who take money from American taxpayers.” [Tulsi Gabbard Website Accessed 2.11.19]

• Gabbard supports providing tax credits for businesses that hire workers who have been unemployed for more than six months; eliminating redundant and unnecessary bureaucracy and regulations that make it hard for entrepreneurs and small businesses to start and succeed; and, ending tax breaks for corporations that outsource jobs overseas. [Tulsi Gabbard Website Accessed 2.11.19]

• Gabbard has co-sponsored bills that raise the cap on outstanding loans, guarantees and insurance of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, ensuring banks provide technical assistance to small businesses on how to apply for financial assistance [Tulsi Gabbard Website Accessed 2.11.19]

Foreign Affairs• Gabbard believes the US should be less involved in foreign conflicts and have a smaller troop presence in many places around the world. She

has specifically called on the US military to pull out of Afghanistan, arguing that American troops completed their mission and should allow the country to chart its own course. Gabbard also opposes US military presence and action in Syria. [PBS 01.14.19]

• Gabbard believes Saudi Arabia is a hub of anti-Western extremism. [Twitter 5.21.17]• Gabbard has embraced the use of the phrase “radical Islam” a phrase many have been critical of claiming that it indicts the entire Islamic faith. Gabbard

has said she is mindful that most Muslims are not extremists, but joined Republicans in criticizing Sec. Clinton and President Obama for not employing the phrase, stating: “It’s important that you identify your enemy.” [The Guardian 08.10.19]

• Gabbard introduced the Stop Arming Terrorist Act (H.R. 608) which would stop the US government from using taxpayer dollars to directly or indirectly support groups who are allied with and supporting terrorist groups. [Congress.Gov Accessed 02.10.19]

ON THE ISSUESRep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)

41

Education• Gabbard backs Sen. Sanders’ proposal to cut or eliminate higher education tuition for most Americans. She has proposed making

community college tuition-free for all Americans and four-year public colleges tuition-free for students whose families make $125,000 or less per year. The plan would pay for that tuition by imposing a new tax on stock and bond trades. [PBS, 1/14/19]

Environment and Climate Change• Gabbard’s OFF Fuels for a Better Future Act would mandate a dramatic move away from fossil fuels. The plan would require electric

utilities to use 80 percent renewable resources by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035. In addition, it would set similar goals for caremissions, mandating zero emissions by 2050. Finally, it would end all subsidies and tax breaks for fossil fuels and ban fracking. [PBS, 1/14/19]

Gun Safety• Gabbard has co-sponsored bills that would ban assault weapons and require background checks for all gun purchases, including closing what

is known as the “gun-show loophole.” [PBS, 1/14/19]

Criminal Justice• Gabbard supports reforms to a “broken criminal justice system that favors the rich and powerful and punishes the poor.” She has argued that “people

should not be put in prison for smoking marijuana while major corporations responsible for the opioid crisis are walking away scot-free.” [Medium 02.04.19]

ON THE ISSUESRep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)

42

Immigration• Gabbard supported the Dream Act but has emphasized there is still more work to do. [Twitter 11.07.17]• She has proposed changing visa requirements. [Independent Voter Network 05.24.17]• In 2015, Gabbard was among a minority of Democrats who voted for additional restrictions on refugees entering the US from Syria and Iraq.

[The Guardian, 11/20/15]• Gabbard has spoken out against the Trump Administration’s travel/refugee ban and his decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

(DACA). [The Guardian, 9/10/18]

Housing and Poverty• Gabbard has advocated for more affordable housing units through public and private projects, discouraging housing and land speculation

and ensuring "affordable" housing units are actually affordable. [Civil beat 07.11.16]• Gabbard supports actions to protect vulnerable populations by streamlining many of the regulations that burden families across the country.

She wants to increase flexibility to empower state and local housing agencies, as well as private owners/developers, to develop new housing units and create new housing options in areas where housing vouchers are difficult to use. [Tulsi Gabbard Website Accessed 2.11.19]

Health Care• Gabbard co-sponsored the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, which would pay for health care by increasing taxes on the

wealthiest five percent of Americans, create a progressive excise tax on payroll and self-employment, tax unearned income and tax stock and bond transactions. [PBS, 1/14/19]

ON THE ISSUESRep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)

SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY)

44“I’m going to run for president of the United States because as a young mom I am going to fight for

other people’s kids as hard as I would fight for my own.” –Colbert Show announcing her candidacy

• United States Senate: Senator from NY (2009-Present)

• United States House of Representatives: Representative from NY-20 (2007-2009)

Age: 52 years-old

Website: https://kirstengillibrand.com/

Book: Off the Sidelines: Speak Up, Be Fearless, and Change Your World

Relevant Experience

Candidate Overview• Declared her run for president January 15, 2019.

• Long placed women’s equality and opportunity at the center of her policy agenda.

• Considered one of the Senate's foremost champions of working-mom issues; she had her second son while in Congress in 2008.

• Called on the military to reform its sexual violence policies and was out in front calling on former Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) to resign after he was accused of inappropriate sexual conduct.

• Once a congresswoman from a conservative US congressional district with policy positions to match, but has transformed into a progressive champion becoming one of the Senate’s leading liberal voices.

• Not accepting donations from corporate PACs or federal lobbyists.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

45

Economy and Jobs• Gillibrand has focused on ensuring workers can fill good-paying jobs by closing the skills gap in partnership with employers and educators.

[CBS2Iowa 01.23.19]• She supports a $15 minimum wage. [Gillibrand Campaign Website Accessed 04.24.19]• Gillibrand seeks to protect and expand Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and refuses to allow politicians to cut lifelines for low-income

families like CHIP, SNAP and WIC. [Gillibrand Campaign Website Accessed 04.24.19]• She has passed key legislation to ensure the US is investing in small businesses and promoting American manufacturers. [CBS2Iowa 01.23.19]• Gillibrand supports a government-backed jobs guarantee, creating floors for wages and benefits and expanding the right to collectively bargain.

[The Nation, 3/20/19]

Foreign Affairs• For years, Gillibrand has pushed for US withdrawal from Afghanistan. She has opposed efforts to arm Syrian rebels and she slammed the airstrikes

ordered against Syria in the spring of 2018, saying that President Trump did not have the authority to order the strikes. Gillibrand also argued that President Obama did not have authority to send US troops to Syria in the first place. [HuffPost, 3/15/11]

• Gillibrand co-sponsored legislation that would end US support for the Saudi-led conflict in Yemen. She has written that Saudi Arabia is using American weapons to “terrorize Yemeni civilians.” In regard to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Gillibrand wrote that the US should hold the Saudi government accountable. It is not clear where she stands on whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman was responsible for the killing. [PBS 01.18.19]

• Following the tragedies of 9/11, Gillibrand fought for robust and state-of-the art counterterrorism funding and tools, and national security grant funding to secure vulnerable cities and infrastructure. [CBS2Iowa 01.23.19]

ON THE ISSUES

46

Education• Gillibrand has pushed for universal pre-kindergarten and affordable, high-quality day care and tuition-free community college and

eliminating tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities for students from families that make up to $125,000 per year. • Gillibrand has fought to tackle the burden of student loan debt, and she supports affordable college for all Americans. In the past, she

co-sponsored a bill that would offer federal matching funds to states helping students pay for public colleges without taking on debt. [S.2598 – Debt-Free College Act of 2018]

• Gillibrand wants to help create a better path to college for low-income students by improving public schools in disadvantaged communities, starting more job-training programs and creating tax deductions to lower the cost of tuition. [Kirsten Gillibrand Website Accessed 2.11.19]

• Gillibrand has encouraged more workplaces to have in-house child care services and, if elected, would fight to offer tax credits to companies that have child care on site to help people remain in the workforce and advance their careers while caring for their children. [Kirsten Gillibrand Website Accessed 2.11.19]

Environment and Climate Change• Gillibrand showed early support for and co-sponsored the Green New Deal and supports rejoining the Paris Agreement. [The Hill 02.10.19]• She hopes to create a "cap-and-trade" commodity market for carbon emissions and ban new drilling on federal lands. [Wall Street Journal, 10/21/09]

Criminal Justice• Gillibrand supported the First Step Act but does not believe it went far enough. She called on Congress to address what she says is the

“discriminatory cash-bail system.” [Kirsten Gillibrand Website Accessed 2.11.19]• She supports legalizing marijuana at the federal level and expunging past records; reforming sentencing laws so that judges can have more

flexibility when dealing with low-level, nonviolent drug offenses; changing federal rules for our prisons; and ending cash bail. [Gillibrand Campaign Website Accessed 04.24.19]

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)ON THE ISSUES

47

Immigration• Gillibrand plans to eliminate and “reimagine” ICE, separating immigration issues from criminal justice. [Post Star, 9/12/18]• Early in her political career, Gillibrand took a more hard line stance on immigration issues but has moved further left on the issue during her

time in the Senate, even co-sponsoring the Dream Act. [CNN 01.31.19]

Housing and Poverty• Gillibrand has endorsed Sen. Booker’s (D-NJ) Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act of 2018, Sen. Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) Rent Relief Act

and Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) American Family Act of 2017 which would establish a child allowance with the aim of reducing poverty and defraying the costs of raising the next generation. [VOX 01.30.19]

Health Care• Gillibrand supports moving to a universal, government-run health care system within four years, and is a cosponsor of Sen. Sanders’

Medicare for All Act introduced in April 2019. [CNBC, 4.10.19]• Gillibrand has also proposed expanding the Basic Health Program, part of the Affordable Care Act, so that states can offer lower-priced

health insurance to more people. [Adirondack Daily Enterprise, 2/10/19]• Throughout her career, Gillibrand has led the fight to lower the cost of health care, and she has taken on big drug and pharmaceutical

companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs. [Glamour, 2/1/19]

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)ON THE ISSUES

Gun Safety• Gillibrand has an “F” rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and has consistently worked to pass common sense gun safety

measures, such as an anti-trafficking bill, universal background checks and legislation to close gun loopholes. [CBS Iowa 01.23.19]

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA)

"We are here because the American Dream and our American democracy are under attack and on the line like never before” –Campaign launch speech

• United States Senate: Senator from CA (2017-Present)

• State of California: Attorney General (2011-2017)• City and County of San Francisco, CA: District

Attorney (2004-2011)

Age: 55 years-old

Website: https://kamalaharris.org/

Book: The Truths We Hold: An American Journey

Slogan: “For the People”

Relevant ExperienceCandidate Overview• Declared her run for president January 21, 2019.

• Launched her campaign with the slogan “For the People” – a populist refrain alluding to her time in the courtroom.

• Only the second African American woman to serve in the Senate and one of only a few new Democrats to join the Senate in 2016.

• Gained recognition for her sharp questioning of Trump Administration officials and nominees during Senate hearings.

• Some on the left question what they view as a mixed record on social justice during her time as a prosecutor.

• Unveiled middle-class tax cut legislation last fall and has championed a liberal civil rights agenda in the Senate.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)

49

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)

50

Economy and Jobs• Harris has advocated for raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour to combat income inequality. [Fox Business 01.21.19]• Harris advocated funding for workforce training programs to equip workers with the skills to succeed in the workforce of tomorrow.

[Fox Business 01.21.19]• Harris opposed TPP and opposes Trump Administration tariffs and trade policy. [LA Times 10.14.16]

Housing and Poverty• Harris has introduced the Rent Relief Act, a bill to address housing affordability. The Rent Relief Act ($93 billion a year) would offer a

refundable tax credit to people making $100,000 or less per year and spending at least 30 percent of their income on rent. [VOX 01.30.19]• Harris proposed a bill called the Livable Incomes for Families Today (LIFT) the Middle Class Act with the intended goal of increasing the

after-tax income of families to help address the rising cost of living. LIFT would create a new $6,000 tax credit for families earning up to $100,000. [Politico.com10.18.18]

ON THE ISSUES

Gun Safety• A self-described “good marksman,” Harris is also a vocal supporter of increased gun control. [Politico 10.12.15]• She co-sponsored a bill to ban assault weapons and the sale of high-capacity magazines, defined as those which can fire more than ten

rounds without reloading. [PBS 01.21.19]

51

Education• Harris would enact the College for All Act proposed by Sen. Sanders which would create a government funding program that would pay for

tuition and fees at public colleges and universities for students with incomes of $125,000 a year or less. This would be funded by a fee on Wall Street firms of 0.5 percent per stock trade. [Medium 04.03.2017]

• Harris advocated for making pre-K access universal and making college debt-free. [Campaign Launch Speech 01.27.19]• Introduced plan to give public school teachers an average $13,500 raise. The plan would invest $315 billion in federal funds over 10 years with

the goal of closing the average pay gap of 11 percent between teachers and other college-educated professionals. [CNBC 03.26.19]

Environment and Climate Change• Harris supports the Green New Deal. [Washington Post 01.29.19]

Criminal Justice• Harris stated at her campaign launch event in Oakland, CA, "I'm running to fight for an America where no mother or father has to teach their

young son that people may stop him, arrest him, chase him or kill him because of his race,”[…] "Our criminal justice system needs drastic repair. Let's speak that truth.” [Campaign Launch Speech 01.27.19]

• Harris has said, “instead of a justice system that responds to all crime as equal, we need a “smart on crime” approach – one that applies innovative, data-driven methods to make our system more efficient and effective.” [Archived Kamalaharris.org Accessed 02.06.19]

• Harris believes the US should legalize marijuana but also thinks more research needs to be done on its impact on developing brains. [105.1 FM2.11.19]

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)ON THE ISSUES

52

Immigration• Harris has been called by many“the most outspoken ally of immigration activists on the Hill,” strongly opposing President Trump’s border wall

proposals. [VOX, 11.1.17]• She has vehemently supported DREAMers and the DACA program. In 2017, she said she would oppose any end-of-year government

spending bills unless Congress acted to protect young people affected by DACA. [VOX, 11.1.17]• Regarding ICE, Harris believes it’s time to “reexamine” the agency and “probably think about starting from scratch.” She has not joined other

Democrats — including 2020 rivals Sens. Warren and Gillibrand — in explicitly calling for ICE to be abolished. [San Francisco Chronicle, 6.25.2018]

Health Care• Harris supports a Medicare for All plan and says that it would mean eliminating private insurance. [Washington Post 01.29.19]• Harris Introduced the Maternal CARE Act aimed at reducing racial disparities in maternal mortality. [PBS 01.21.19]• Harris introduced two bills to expand access to mental health services, the Mental Health Telemedicine Expansion Act and the Mental

Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act. [Sen. Harris Congressional Website Accessed 02.04.19]

Foreign Affairs• In 2018, Harris joined other Democratic senators in signing a letter to President Trump saying he did not have the authority to order a pre-emptive

strike against North Korea without permission from Congress. [The Hill 02.05.18]• She has stressed the importance of the US-Israeli partnership. [The Intercept 03.07.19]• Harris wants a “political solution” to end the war in Afghanistan and to bring home the troops. [SF Chronicle 12.18.19]

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)ON THE ISSUES

FMR. GOV. JOHN HICKENLOOPER (D-CO)

Fmr. Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

54“I’m running for president because we need dreamers in Washington, but we also need to get

things done.” – Official announcement video

Candidate Overview• Declared his run for president March 7, 2019.

• Won two tight elections for governor in the purple state of Colorado.

• Trained as a geologist, Hickenlooper was laid-off in the late 1980s and started a microbrewing company with a few friends – Wynkoop is now one of the largest independent microbreweries in the country.

• Touts experience as a pragmatic problem-solver and brands himself an “extreme moderate” with a knack for bringing people together.

• Effectively balanced a $70 million deficit as mayor of Denver.

• Legalized recreational marijuana while governor of Colorado despite initially opposing its legalization; recently said that if there is a correlation between the legalization of recreational marijuana and a rising crime rate in the state that he would reconsider his stance.

• Pledged to take zero corporate PAC money.

• Governor of Colorado (2011- 2019)• Chair of National Governors Association (2014 -

2015)• Mayor of Denver (2003 - 2011)

Age: 67 years-old

Website: https://www.hickenlooper.com/

Book: The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics

Slogan: “Stand Tall”

Relevant Experience

Sources: Hickenlooper Campaign Site, CNN, The Oregonian

55

Economy and Jobs• Hickenlooper supports pro-business policies and free trade. He opposes President Trump’s trade policy and tariffs on goods from China and the

European Union. • As governor, Hickenlooper oversaw a booming Colorado economy that was one of the strongest in the country when he left office in 2018. [PBS

3.4.2019]• Hickenlooper backed a 2016 ballot measure to raise Colorado's minimum wage to $12 per hour. It is unclear where the former governor stands on a

$15 per hour minimum wage.• Hickenlooper criticized the Republican tax bill passed in December 2017 and pushed Colorado's congressional delegation to vote against the bill. He

criticized the projected $1.5 trillion in budget deficits generated by tax cuts and a provision getting rid of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.• In his final budget proposed in 2018, Hickenlooper also floated expanded tax credits for child care and education. [CNBC 3.4.2019]

ON THE ISSUESFmr. Governor John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

Housing and Poverty• The governor’s budget request for fiscal year 2017-2018 asked lawmakers to put $12.3 million in annual marijuana tax revenues toward building

new housing units for people who experience chronic and episodic homelessness. His plan also included another $6 million a year for housing for low-income residents and others with behavioral health needs. [2017 State of the State Address 1.12.2017]

• Soon after being elected mayor in 2003, Hickenlooper created a commission to study homelessness and embraced a 10-year plan to end homelessness. [Denver Post 11.27.2016]

Gun Safety• Hickenlooper signed several gun bills as governor in 2013 that banned high-capacity magazines and implemented universal background checks for

private gun sales. [PBS 3.4.2019]

56

ON THE ISSUESFmr. Governor John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

Immigration• Hickenlooper condemned the separation of migrant children and parents at the US-Mexico border. He urged congressional leaders to act on a

bill that would allow US officials to separate migrant children from their parents only when there is suspected abuse or human trafficking.• He issued a symbolic order barring a state agency from supporting separations based on immigration status. [AP 6.18.2019]• In April 2018, before the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy was announced, Hickenlooper said he would be willing to send National

Guard troops to the border if Trump asked. [USA Today 6.19.2018]

Environment and Climate Change• During the governor’s tenure, Colorado was the first US state to cap methane emissions from oil and gas operations. In 2017, Colorado joined a

group of states pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with Paris climate accords even after President Trump withdrew from the landmark agreement. [CNBC 3.4.2019]

Health Care• Hickenlooper created Colorado’s Health Benefit Exchange and expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. • Hickenlooper criticized the Trump administration’s efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. [PBS 3.4.2019]• Colorado’s taxes on medical and recreational marijuana are earmarked for law enforcement, health care and substance abuse prevention and

treatment programs. [Denver Post 11.27.2016]• “I think the country has to shake itself awake and recognize that we are spending a fortune on health care,” he said. “And we’re not getting the

value we’re spending.”[Denver Post 12.12.2018]

57

ON THE ISSUESFmr. Governor John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

Education• Hickenlooper has championed education reform policies that include charter schools, more rigorous national academic standards and teacher

evaluations linked to standardized test results. [Denver Post 3.1.2019]

Foreign Affairs• The former governor has criticized Trump’s foreign policy, especially when it comes to America’s allies and world leadership. Hickenlooper

recently addressed the Munich Security Conference in Germany and stressed the importance of the NATO alliance and global trade. [PBS 3.4.2019]

Criminal Justice• In his 2017 State of the State address, Hickenlooper discussed Colorado’s ongoing efforts to develop an effective regulatory framework for the

marijuana market. He put forth a number of proposals designed to better regulate the marijuana market and close loopholes in home grow and caregiver laws, including a $7 million investment in programs that educate the public about underage marijuana use, new regulations on the packaging and labeling of edible marijuana products and $6 million in additional funding to help enforce these regulations and crack down on black market operations. [National Criminal Justice Association 2017]

• In 2017, Hickenlooper signed a bill passed by the state legislature that allows people convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession or use to petition their local district court to have their criminal records relating to the cases sealed if the crimes were committed after Dec. 10, 2012. [The Denver Channel 2.27.2018]

GOV. JAY INSLEE (D-WA)

Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA)

59“We’re the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and we’re the last that

can do something about it.” – Official announcement video

Candidate Overview• Declared his run for president March 1, 2019.

• Announced his campaign at a solar panel manufacturer’s warehouse in Seattle to highlight his campaign's focus on climate change and the environment.

• Created a Clean Energy Fund as governor of Washington which included a large clean infrastructure package designed to create new jobs in green energy production and spur economic growth – a plan widely praised in Democratic circles.

• Will have the support of a super PAC called Act Now on Climate but has pledged not to take any fossil fuel or corporate PAC money.

• Governor of Washington (2013 – Present)• Chairman of the Democratic Governors

Association (2018)• United States Representative (1993 – 1995 and

1999 – 2012)• Washington State Representative (1989 –

1993)

Age: 68 years-old

Website: https://jayinslee.com/

Book: Apollo’s Fire: Igniting America’s Clean Energy Economy

Slogan: “Our Moment”

Relevant Experience

Sources: Inslee Campaign Site, The Atlantic

Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA)

60

Environment and Climate Change• Climate change is Inslee’s top priority. Inslee has proposed a Climate Mission, a 10-year mobilization to confront climate change, end reliance on

fossil fuels and create a clean energy future. The full Climate Mission plan will be released in the coming weeks, but it has four principles:• Powering the economy with clean energy;• Investing in good jobs, infrastructure and innovation;• Fighting for environmental justice and economic inclusion; and,• Ending fossil fuel giveaways by:

• Ending fossil fuel subsidies and handouts and holding polluters accountable for the environmental impact.• Transition off fossil fuels, while protecting workers and diversifying the local economies that depend on them today. [Inslee Campaign

Website Accessed 3.4.2019]• Inslee has repeatedly praised the Green New Deal.• In an op-ed in the Washington Post on January 17, 2019, Inslee called for net-zero carbon emissions nationwide by 2050.

ON THE ISSUES

Health Care• Inslee supports the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion. • As governor, Inslee protected and expanded access to reproductive health care through policies such as Washington’s Reproductive Parity Act

which requires health insurers that cover maternity services to also cover the entire range of reproductive health services. [Inslee Campaign Website Accessed 3.4.2019]

• Inslee supports universal health care in some form and recently proposed a government-funded “public option” on Washington’s insurance exchange, which he cast as the first step toward a universal program. [New York Times]

Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA)

61

Economy and Jobs• Inslee backed legislation to increase Washington’s minimum wage from $9.47/hour to $12/hour. Voters approved that increase in 2016, and it has

been phased in gradually ever since.• Inslee introduced a plan in Washington that would increase several taxes and institute a nine percent tax on some capital gains. His budget would

increase spending by about 20 percent to fund anti-climate change programs, education, mental health services and endangered orca protection. [New York Times]

• Inslee signed into law a guaranteed paid family leave plan in 2017. He also signed an Equal Pay Opportunity Act that requires employees to receive equal pay and work opportunities regardless of gender. [PBS]

ON THE ISSUES

Housing and Poverty• Inslee has proposed new investments to address Washington state’s homelessness crisis. His operating and capital construction budgets together

would spend $262 million to build more affordable housing and provide housing assistance to people who are homeless. [OPB]

Immigration• He supports DACA and has created a legal fund to help undocumented families impacted by the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy.

He also signed a law in Washington that creates college aid for undocumented students. [PBS]

Gun Safety• Inslee has been outspoken in favor of gun control and confronted President Trump on live television where he denounced Trump’s suggestion to

arm schoolteachers. Inslee wants to expand background checks and restrict some semiautomatic weapons. He lost his seat in Congress after voting for the 1994 assault weapons ban. [New York Times]

Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA)

62

ON THE ISSUES

Education• Inslee worked with educators to develop a historic expansion of education funding to increase teacher pay, lower class sizes, provide all-day

kindergarten to all students and more. As governor, Inslee prioritized the first-in-the-nation tuition cut in 2015. [Inslee Campaign Website Accessed 3.4.2019]

Foreign Affairs• Inslee supports refugees’ rights and has focused on people displaced by the conflict in Syria. Inslee wrote a letter to the State Department last

year after US airstrikes in Syria in which he criticized the Trump administration’s restrictive refugee policies. [PBS]

Criminal Justice• Inslee opposes the death penalty as it is currently administered and in 2014 suspended executions in Washington, saying the risk of wrongful

convictions was unacceptable. [New York Times]• Launched a Marijuana Justice Initiative that offers pardons to thousands of individuals with misdemeanor marijuana convictions.

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

64“I have grit, I have family, I have friends, and I have all of you. All of you who are

willing to stand up and say that people matter.” -Campaign website letter

Candidate Overview• Declared her run for president February 9, 2019.

• Frames herself as a symbol of Midwestern grit – announcing her run for president in the middle of a snowstorm.

• Won reelection in 2018 by 24 points in a purple sate.

• Introduced more bills than any other Senate Democrat and had more bipartisan cosponsors on bills than any other Democrat in the 115th Congress; 24 of these bills were signed into law by President Trump.

• Supporters tout her appeal among rural voters and her calm demeanor which provides a clear contrast with President Trump.

• Championed legislation to combat the opioid crisis and drug addiction, is a consumer protections advocate, and has addressed the cost of prescription drugs during her tenure in the Senate.

• Not accepting donations from super PACs or federal lobbyists.

• United States Senate: Senator from MN (2007-Present)

• Hennepin County; Attorney

Age: 58 years-old

Website: https://www.amyklobuchar.com/

Book: :The Senator Next Door: A Memoir from the Heartland

Slogan: “Let’s Get to Work”

Relevant Experience

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

65

Criminal Justice• Klobuchar supported the First Step Act to lower mandatory minimum sentences and provide avenues for prisoners to reduce their

sentences. [Axios, 12.19.18] • Klobuchar admitted that "there is racism" in the American justice system while defending the many good actors who work to keep

America safe. [NBC News 08.06.18]

Economy and Jobs• Klobuchar sponsored the Skills Investment Act of 2018 with Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) that would allow people to use tax advantaged savings

accounts to pay for educational expenses like skills training. [VOX, 2.10.19]• Klobuchar opposed TPP citing concerns about whether the proposed legislation was strong enough for American workers. [Star Tribune 05.13.15]• Proposed $1 trillion plan to upgrade the country’s infrastructure. The proposal would use a combination of federal dollars, tax subsidies and loan

guarantees for state and local governments. [NYT 03.28.19]

ON THE ISSUESSen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Education• Klobuchar has supported the RED Act, a student loan refinancing proposal. [VOX, 2.10.19]• Klobuchar has introduced bills to create a new competitive grant program for STEM, with the goal of doubling the number of STEM

secondary schools from about 100 to about 200 nationwide. [Education Week 11.11.18]• She's authored a bill that would award grants to help districts train teachers, school personnel and other educators on mental health

conditions. [Education Week 11.11.18]

66

ON THE ISSUESSen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Foreign Affairs• Klobuchar opposed President Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Syria. Earlier this month, she highlighted her opposition by voting in

favor of bipartisan legislation that rebuked the President's position. At the time of the vote, all the senators who had already announced they were running in 2020 or had declared their intention to run voted against the bill.

• Klobuchar also introduced the Honest Ads Act with the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) in response to Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election. The bill requires advertisement buyers and publishers to publicly disclose information about the ad in order to ensure transparency and accountability. [PBS, 2.10.19]

Environment and Climate Change• Klobuchar wants to meet the goals of the UN panel on climate change: cut greenhouse gases by 45 percent by 2030 and increase renewable energy

by up to 47 percent by 2050. She has not given specifics on how she would achieve those goals, but in 2008, Klobuchar pushed for a bill to cut emissions 70 percent by the year 2050 via a cap-and-trade market system. [PBS, 2.10.19]

• Klobuchar has expressed that she would also rejoin the Paris Agreement and push to set national guidelines to boost renewable fuel use. [PBS, 2.10.19]• Seeks to establish a Clean Energy bond program to expand clean energy tax incentives. [Medium Accessed 04.24.19]• Klobuchar has said she would support the Green New Deal. [The Hill, 2.10.19]

Gun Safety• Klobuchar has advocated for common sense gun laws, supporting extending background checks for weapons sold at gun shows and on the

Internet. [VOX, 2.10.19]• Klobuchar co-sponsored Sen. Diane Feinstein’s (D-CA) Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2019. [Feinstein Senate Website 01.19.19]

67

Immigration• Under plans that Klobuchar has supported, including the 2013 immigration bill passed by the Senate, most undocumented immigrants would

get a legal status and path to citizenship. She has also said she would increase legal immigration, with a focus on increasing the number of temporary work visas available. [PBS, 2.10.19]

• Klobuchar would reform ICE but would not completely abolish the agency. [PBS, 2.10.19]

Housing and Poverty• Klobuchar co-sponsored the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to increase state credit allocation and make several

judgments on the low-income housing tax credit. [CDFA Council Accessed 2.11.19]• She also co-sponsored the Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act to establish a demonstration program to encourage

families receiving housing voucher assistance to move to lower-poverty areas. [CDFA Council Accessed 2.11.19]

Health Care• Klobuchar has not signed on to Sen. Sanders’' Medicare for All Act but does support universal health care and reducing drug prices more

generally. [PBS, 2.10.19]• She introduced the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2017 to allow Medicare to directly negotiate prices. [Congress.Gov

Accessed 02.12.19]• Klobuchar also co-authored the Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2019 with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to speed up the

availability of generic versions of high-cost drugs. [VOX, 2.10.19]• Klobuchar would like to expand Medicare to include Americans aged 55 and older and possibly more. [PBS, 2.10.19]

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)ON THE ISSUES

REP. SETH MOULTON (D-MA)

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA)

69“I’m running because we have to beat Donald Trump. And I want us to beat Donald Trump

because I love this country.” – Campaign launch video

Candidate Overview• Declared his run for presidency on April 22, 2019.

• Served four tours in Iraq as a Marine and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with valor and a Bronze Star Medal.

• Although he is less well-known than other candidates, Moulton gained headlines for insisting it was time for “new leadership” in the Democratic Party and pushing to oust the Speaker of the House from her position.

• Moulton founded the Serve America PAC focused on, “recruiting veterans and service-driven leaders” to run for office and help Democrats take control of the US House in 2018.

• With an emphasis on his military background, Moulton’s campaign will largely focus on foreign policy issues, which may differentiate him from his opponents.

• US House of Representatives: Representative from Massachusetts (2015-present)

• Four tours with the Marine Corps during the Iraq War

• Managing Director of transportation firm Texas Central Railway

• Co-founded now-defunct Eastern Healthcare Partners

Age: 40 years-old

Website: https://sethmoulton.com/

Book: Called to Serve: Learning to Lead in War and Peace

Relevant Experience

Sources: Campaign Website,

70

Economy and Jobs• During his time in Congress, Moulton has backed legislation that increases the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $12 per hour by 2020.• Moulton supports comprehensive tax reform. He did not support the Republican tax bill, saying that it, “burdens small businesses while providing

tax breaks for companies and major corporations that ship jobs overseas.” [PBS 04.23.19]

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA)ON THE ISSUES

Education• Moulton believes there is a direct correlation between access to higher education and the success of the economy. He has pushed for Congress

to support college affordability and accessibility through continued investments in grant and scholarships to students with disadvantaged backgrounds. [Moulton website accessed 04.24.19]

• He co-authored the America’s College Promise Act, which offers two years of free community college for more than 9 million students at 1,300 community colleges in the US. [Moulton website accessed 04.24.19]

Environment and Climate Change• Moulton is a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal as a policy tool to combat climate change and create jobs during a changing economy.

He asserted that America should, “lead the world in green tech and green jobs, and we should set the standards for other countries to follow.” [Moulton campaign website accessed 04.23.19]

• In 2016, Moulton signed a resolution to call for more than 50 percent of electricity to come from clean and carbon-free sources by 2030. [Axios 04.22.19]

Immigration• Moulton has pushed for comprehensive immigration reform, saying in an op-ed that the current system is, “broken and inhumane.” [Medium

07.17.18]• Moulton has supported the DREAM Act and has often spoken out against separating immigrant families at the border. [PBS 04.23.19]

71

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA)ON THE ISSUES

Housing and Poverty• Moulton has supported increasing funds for the HOME Investment Partnership Program, which targets affordable housing for low-

income families. [Moulton website accessed 04.24.19]• He voted for the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2015 and the Fair Mortgage Choice Act of 2015 to increase

access to mortgage credit for low- and middle-income families. [Moulton website accessed 04.24.19]

Health Care• Moulton believes every American should have access to affordable health care, which includes lower prescription prices, cheaper premiums

and better coverage for pre-existing conditions. [Moulton campaign website accessed 04.23.19]• While Moulton supports creating a public health care option and believes every American should have access to affordable health care, he

has been hesitant to support Medicare for All, citing that he believes a single-payer system is “not perfect.” [CNBC 04.22.19]

Gun Safety• Moulton has stated that Congress has, “failed to muster the political courage to protect our nation from gun violence.” Therefore, he supports

gun control reform by establishing universal background checks for buyers. [Moulton Press Release 02.28.19]

Foreign Affairs• Moulton thinks we should revisit outdated foreign policy, including having American troops in Germany and Japan. He also wants to create new

diplomatic allies to combat growing threats from Russia and China, citing a potential Pacific NATO. [CNBC 04.22.19]• He has called for modernizing America’s military by cutting massive weapons programs that the country does not need to instead prioritize cyber

and autonomous weapons and scientific research. [PBS 04.23.19]• Moulton has stated his plans to increase investment in diplomatic and foreign aid funding to avoid wars and conflicts down the road. [CNBC 04.22.19]

FMR. REP. BETO O’ROURKE (D-TX)

Fmr. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX)

73“This is going to be a positive campaign that seeks to bring out the very best from every single

one of us… to united a very divided country.” – Official announcement video

Candidate Overview• Declared his run for president March 14, 2019.

• Challenged incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in the 2018 mid-term election, losing by 2.6 points in a race that drew national attention and bolstered O’Rourke’s presidential ambitions.

• Represented a mostly urban, majority-Hispanic constituency while serving on the El Paso City Council and in Congress; he speaks Spanish.

• Raised $6.1 million in small-dollar donations in the first 24-hours of his campaign, beating all other declared candidates to date.

• Served on the Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees in the US House of Representatives – experience he will likely tout when skeptics question his qualifications to be Commander-in-Chief.

• United States House of Representatives: Representative from TX-16 (2013 - 2019)

• El Paso City Council: (2005 – 2011)

Age: 46 years-old

Website: https://betoorourke.com/

Slogan: “Beto for America”

Relevant Experience

Sources: Real Clear Politics, Time, Reuters Investigations, Ballotpedia, NYT

74

Economy and Jobs• O’Rourke has said that President Trump is attempting to address “legitimate” challenges in the US-China trade relationship, but he has criticized the

administration's unilateral approach. He has said, “when have we ever gone to war, including a trade war, without allies?” [CNBC 03.14.19]• O’Rourke has said that President Trump’s tariffs have reduced trade with key agriculture products in Iowa and Texas. He has tried to associate himself

with Iowans by highlighting the similar pain that President Trump's trade war has brought upon Iowa and his native Texas. [CNBC 03.14.19]• O’Rourke supports doubling the federal minimum wage from $7.25/hour to $15/hour. He cosponsored H.R. 15, the Raise the Wage Act, during the

115th Congress and has highlighted his support for raising the minimum wage on Twitter and at campaign events. [Twitter @BetoORourke 01.28.18]

ON THE ISSUESFmr. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX)

Gun Safety• O’Rourke has an “F” rating from the National Rifle Association and advocated for an all-out ban on military-style assault weapons in the House

and while on the campaign trail against Sen. Cruz. O’Rourke championed universal background checks and his desire to close federal background check loopholes at gun shows. O’Rourke called for the ban of bump stocks, the firearm accessory that is used to increase the rate of fire on weapons used in the 2017 mass-shooting in Las Vegas. [Dallas Morning News 03.19.18]

Environment and Climate Change• O’Rourke is open to Green New Deal legislation and has said regarding climate change, “we have no more than twelve years to take incredibly

bold action on this.” [New Yorker 03.17.19]• O’Rourke supports the US returning to the 2015 Paris Climate Accords. His message on climate change has centered on the opportunities the

crisis creates to spark new job growth and revolutionize American industry. He has also stressed the potential economic damage the changing climate could wreck on American consumers and business owners. [PBS 03.14.19]

75

ON THE ISSUESFmr. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX)

Foreign Affairs• O’Rourke sat on the House Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees while serving in Congress but many analysts have highlighted his

lack of foreign policy experience for a presidential candidate. [Washington Post 03.18.19]• He has said that he supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. [Washington Post 03.18.19]• O’Rourke has stated that the United States should increase foreign aid to the Northern Triangle of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras and

El Salvador) to stabilize the region and help decrease immigration flow into Mexico and the United States. He pointed out that America has spent trillions of dollars on wars in the Middle East but neglected to address crises closer to home. [ABC This Week 10.21.18]

• O’Rourke has advocated against US military intervention in Venezuela and Syria without proper Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). [Washington Post 03.18.19]

• As previously mentioned, O’Rourke has criticized President Trump’s tariff war with China but has not endorsed an alternative method for diminishing Chinese theft of intellectual property and manipulation of international trade markets, which he says are a concern. [Washington Post 03.18.19]

• He believes we must maintain strong partnerships with our allies to build on the Paris Agreement, pursue nuclear disarmament, end wars and achieve successful diplomatic paths forward. [O’Rourke Campaign Website Accessed 04.24.19]

Criminal Justice• O’Rourke supports abolishing for-profit prisons and has advocated for structural bail reform. [FiveThirtyEight 03.19.19]• He opposes the death penalty and said he would suspend capital punishment at the federal level if elected. He has argued that the capital

punishment system is “not an equitable, fair, just system right now” and that a disproportionate number of people of color are prosecuted within the current justice system. [Fox News 03.14.19]

• O’Rourke supports the legalization and regulation of marijuana at the federal level. [FiveThirtyEight 03.19.19]

76

ON THE ISSUESFmr. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX)

Health Care• O’Rourke has written that “we need a single-payer health care system for all Americans.” However, O’Rourke declined to cosponsor Sen.

Sanders' Medicare for All bill in the House because it, “would fundamentally change Medicare, limiting the pool of potential providers, and therefore the choice available to Americans when seeking health care.” [O’Rourke Facebook Page 06.13.17]

• O’Rourke offered a four-step plan to ease into a single-payer system during a speech at the University of Texas in September of 2017. The first step of O’Rourke’s plan is to keep Obamacare; the second is to expand Medicaid in all 50 states; the third step is the introduction of a public option; and, the fourth step is a full transition to a Medicare-for-all system. [Vox 03.15.19]

Education• O'Rourke supports debt-free higher education and investing in a world-class Pre-K through 12 public education system. [O’Rourke Campaign

Website Accessed 04.24.19]

REP. TIM RYAN (D-OH)

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)

78

“My goal is not that America will become a perfect nation. My goal is that America will be a kinder, more compassionate nation.”

Campaign Website

Candidate Overview• Declared his run for president on April 4, 2019.

• Ryan has been a vocal backer of union labor, renewable energy and single-payer healthcare. He wants to revitalize American manufacturing, public education and support struggling US veterans.

• Ryan first rose to national prominence in Washington by challenging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to lead congressional Democrats in 2016.

• The former football player is big into meditation and healthy eating. He has written two books about the subjects — A Mindful Nation and The Real Food Revolution.

• United States House of Representatives: Representative from OH (2003-present)

• Ohio State Senate (2001-2002)• Law degree from University of New Hampshire

Age: 45 years-old

Website: https://timryanforamerica.com/

Books: A Mindful Nation, The Real Food Revolution, Healing America

Relevant Experience

Sources: PBS, New York Times, Business Insider, House Website

79

Economy and Jobs• Ryan is running a campaign focused on rebuilding and reinventing the economy as a “green economy,” and investing in American jobs. In February,

Ryan introduced the WORKER (Working on Rewarding and Keeping Employees Resilient) Act, an attempt to resolve issues of job loss and wage stagnation due to automation and outsourcing by creating educational programs in engineering, expanding apprenticeships and offering training vouchers and re-employment bonuses.

• Ryan has also said he wants to revisit what he calls working class issues like pensions, health care and retirement security. [PBS 4.15.2019]• Ryan said he wanted to address the “economic disorientation” caused by the decline of traditional manufacturing.• Ryan decided to enter the race in part because of the recent closing of the General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which is in his district. In

places like Ohio and Michigan, where the auto industry was long the cornerstone of the economy, he said he envisioned jobs in electric vehicle construction and other renewable energy industries. [NYT 4.15.2019]

ON THE ISSUES

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)

Criminal Justice• Ryan supports the legalization of marijuana in all 50 states, citing economic incentives and racial discrepancies in incarceration. [PBS 4.15.2019]

Education• Ryan signed on as a co-sponsor for three bills aimed at making college education tuition-free and debt-free. “College should not only be for

the privileged few. It is a benefit for all, and must be seen that way,” he said in a statement. The bills would make community college tuition-free, invest in public higher education to avoid student debts and invest in federal student aid.

• Ryan said as the husband of an elementary school teacher he understands “the need for Congress to improve education and ensure equal access to a quality education.” He recently introduced legislation to improve nutrition curricula in medical schools and children programs, and has co-sponsored legislation to expand STEM and music and arts programs. In 2011, Ryan also introduced the Charter School Accountability Act, an effort to improve transparency of America’s charter school system. [PBS 4.15.2019]

80

ON THE ISSUES

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)

Foreign Affairs• Ryan’s foreign policy focus so far has been on competing economically. “We have to out-compete China,” he said on MSNBC.• Ryan warns of adversaries feeding off of domestic divisions and weaknesses. “If we’re going to be strong abroad, it starts with us being strong

here at home and having a good economy that’s projecting and building a new economy for people.” [PBS 4.15.2019]• Ryan has backed policy proposals to combat Chinese currency manipulation.• He has argued that Defense Department contracts need to be US-based "so that the tax dollars aren't just serving a great national purpose

with our defense industry and our foreign policy and hard and soft power, but it's also creating jobs in areas that need job creation to happen."

• Ryan has also pushed for strong and cooperative alliances like NATO. [Business Insider 4.15.2019]

Housing and Poverty• Ryan with Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) introduced the Clean Up Our Neighborhoods Act of 2018. This legislation would authorize the

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to states to eliminate blight by taking down abandoned homes, clearingvacant lots and assisting in distressed neighborhood revitalization. [Ryan House Website 4.15.2019]

Immigration• In response to Trump’s announcement to declare a national emergency on the southern border, Ryan introduced legislation to create a

non-partisan nine-member commission to tackle US immigration issues: border security, technology and infrastructure, as well as migrant detention and the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. He is a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act of 2019 and opposes Trump’s southern border wall and condemned the family separation policy. [PBS 4.15.2019]

81

ON THE ISSUES

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)

Gun Safety• A recreational hunter, Ryan previously held an “A” rating from the NRA but his stance began to change after the Sandy Hook Elementary

School shooting in 2012. He broke fully from the NRA after the Las Vegas massacre in 2017, taking the roughly $20,000 the organization’s political action committee had given him over the years and donating it to organizations that promote stricter gun laws. He now supports universal background checks, raising the minimum age for certain gun purchases, barring people on terrorist watch lists from buying firearms and ending the federal ban on funding for research on the causes of gun violence. [NYT 4.15.2019]

Environment and Climate Change• Ryan believes global climate change is “one of the most critical issues facing our nation, and the world today.” The Ohio congressman has pushed

forward multiple bills to protect the Great Lakes and has strongly condemned Trump for his rollback of the Clean Power Plan and US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. As for the Green New Deal, Ryan told the Washington Post his version would invest in green technologies and renewable energies, as well as STEM programs, to “decarbonize the economy.”

• Ryan believes in reducing fossil fuels consumption and shifting toward solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy sources. He has co-sponsored legislation in the House to expand liquified natural gas usage and reduce reliance on petroleum. Ryan also sees great opportunity in electric vehicles and bringing jobs within the emerging industry to America. [PBS 4.15.2019]

Health Care• He is a co-sponsor of the Medicare for All bill, though he has argued in the past against the term “single-payer” health care because he

doesn’t believe most Americans understand what it means.• He has criticized the current health system as being, “focused on disease” at the expense of preventive care. He also touched on mental

health care, noting the prevalence of suicide among military veterans. [NYT 4.15.2019]

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

83

“Real change never takes place from the top on down, but always from the bottom on up.” -Campaign launch video

Candidate Overview• Declared his run for president February 19, 2019.

• Self-described democratic socialist and was the runner-up in the 2016 Democratic primary.

• Registered Independent (I) but caucuses with Senate Democrats, allowing him to be appointed to congressional committees.

• Regularly insists that Wall Street and billionaires have “rigged” the system such that wealth and income flow to the country’s richest and most powerful people, leading to income inequality.

• Boasts one of the most extensive campaign infrastructures; his campaign raised $1 million in the first three and a half hours after announcing his candidacy.

• Progressive ideas from his 2016 candidacy (i.e. free college tuition, universal health care) have become more mainstream ideas in the Democratic party.

• Not accepting donations from super PACs or federal lobbyists.

• United States Senate: Senator from VT (2007-Present)• United States House of Representatives:

Representative from VT (1991-2006)

Age: 77 years-old

Website: https://berniesanders.com/

Book: Where We Go from Here: Two Years in the Resistance

Slogan: “Not me. Us”

Relevant Experience

Sources: New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, NPR

84

Economy and Jobs• Sanders has slammed the Republican tax plan passed in December 2017 calling it an unnecessary boon to corporations and the wealthy. Sanders

wants to expand the estate tax through a plan he proposed in January suggesting taxing estates of $3.5 million, with a 77 percent rate on billionaire estates. [CNBC 02.19.19]

• Sanders introduced legislation that would split up large banks (assets worth more than 3 percent of GDP), into smaller entities. The legislation would also charge fees for high-risk investment practices, including credit default swaps. [Fortune 10.03.18]

• Sanders has pushed for a $15 per hour minimum wage and urged major companies like Amazon to give its workers raises. He introduced Senate legislation to hike the federal wage floor in January 2019, calling the current $7.25 an hour a "starvation wage.” [CNBC 02.19.19]

• Sanders unveiled a plan to restrict stock repurchases, which would put conditions on share buybacks. [CNBC 02.04.19]• Sanders has co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act which would bar employers from retaliating against workers who ask about their wages, as

well as making employers liable to civil litigation. [Washington Post 02.19.19]

Foreign Affairs• A longtime anti-war activist, Sanders voted against the Iraq war resolution in 2002. He regularly called for the US to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

and Iraq. [PBS 02.19.19]• Sanders would pull US troops from Syria, but said he would do it in a different, less “erratic” way than Trump recently announced. [Huffington Post 01.20.19]

ON THE ISSUES

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Health Care• In 2017, Sanders introduced a bill to transition to Medicare for All. The proposal is seen as a test of 2020 candidates’ progressive

credentials. [CNBC 02.19.19]• Sanders co-sponsored legislation to slash drug costs, in part by encouraging imports of cheaper drugs from abroad and giving Medicare

more power to negotiate prices. [CNBC 01.10.19]

85

Immigration• Sanders would like to restructure ICE but has not given details and has not gone so far as to say that he thinks the agency should be

“abolished,” a position some of his 2020 Democratic rivals have taken. [PBS 02.19.19]• He voted for the 2013 Senate immigration bill that proposed a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. [PBS 02.19.19]• Sanders seeks to expand DACA and DAPA, including providing immediate legal status for young people eligible for the DACA program and

developing a humane policy for those seeking asylum. [Sanders Campaign Website Accessed 4.24.19]

Housing and Poverty• During the 2016 presidential campaign, Sanders called for a suite of programs to promote affordable housing, including an investment in

public housing, a hike in the minimum wage to help workers pay rents and a crackdown on predatory lending. [Washington Post 07.19.19]• Sanders has blamed the housing crisis on the influence of the wealthy and large corporations and has stated that “nobody in America who

works 40 hours a week should be living in poverty.” [www.CommonDreams.org 12.01.18]

ON THE ISSUES

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Gun Safety• Sanders would ban assault weapons as well as high-capacity magazines or equipment that allows more than ten rounds to be fired at once. [PBS 02.19.19]• He supports universal background checks and voted for legislation introduced by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) expanding federal

background checks. [PBS 02.19.19]• In early 2016, Sanders changed his support for a gun law that protects some gun manufacturers and sellers from civil lawsuits. [PBS 02.19.19]• As a member of the US House of Representatives, Sanders voted against the pro-gun control Brady Bill. [PBS 02.19.19]

86

Education• Sanders’ College for All Act would make tuition at four-year public colleges free for most Americans; two-thirds of the program would be

paid for with federal funds, and one-third with state funds. [Sanders Senate Website Accessed 02.11.19]• Sanders supports universal pre-kindergarten. [PBS 02.19.19]• Sanders has proposed cutting all student loan interest rates in half, and allowing Americans to refinance student loans at lower interest rates.

[Washington Post 02.19.19]

Environment and Climate Change• Sanders has repeatedly called climate change “the single greatest threat facing our planet.” [Washington Post 02.19.19]• Sanders has endorsed a version of the Green New Deal. [CNBC 02.19.19]• Sanders has called for investigations into corporations that he sees as “climate deniers” that have spent money raising doubts about

climate change. [PBS 02.19.19]

Criminal Justice• In summer 2018, Sanders introduced legislation to end bail in federal proceedings while giving grants to states in an attempt to get them to reduce

the number of prisoners they hold on bail. [The Guardian 07.25.18]• In 2016, Sanders called for “automatic” federal investigations of deaths in police custody. [Washington Post 02.19.19]• Sanders has co-sponsored several marijuana reform bills and called on supporters to pressure Congress to legalize cannabis. [Washington Post 11.28.19]

ON THE ISSUES

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

REP. ERIC SWALWELL (D-CA)

88

“As your President, I’ll fight like hell for your American Dream.” – Campaign website

• United States House of Representatives: Representative from CA (2013-Present)

• Member of Dublin City Council (2010-2013)• Law degree from University of Maryland

Age: 38 years-old

Website: https://ericswalwell.com/

Slogan: “Go big. Be bold. Do good.”

Relevant Experience

Candidate Overview• Declared his run for president on April 8, 2019.

• Ousted a 40-year incumbent when he won his California congressional seat in 2013.

• Son of a retired police officer and administrative assistant who touts his blue-collar roots and underscores that he is the first in his family to graduate from college and is still paying off his student loan debt.

• Has pledged to make gun safety a key issue in his campaign, something of keen interest to young voters.

• Not accepting donations from super PACs or federal lobbyists.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

Sources: Campaign Site, Business Insider, PBS, East Bay Times

89

Education• Swalwell seeks to enact interest-free federal student loans, tax-free employer contributions, and debt-free college for public university

students who do work-study and commit to bettering their communities after graduation. [Swalwell Campaign Website Accessed 4.15.2019]

Environment and Climate Change• Swalwell has been vocal about the need to address climate change, transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and protect

public lands, calling climate change, "an urgent crisis threatening our environment, our public health and safety, and future economic well-being."

• In Congress, Swalwell has cosponsored legislation to further regulate hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," fund clean energy research and development, ban offshore drilling in California, and protect parts of the Alaskan wilderness from drilling. [Business Insider 4.15.2019]

Criminal Justice• Swalwell has supported legislation in Congress that would prevent the Department of Justice from interfering in commercial marijuana businesses in

states that have legalized the drug. [Business Insider 3.15.2019]

ON THE ISSUES

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

Immigration• Swalwell co-sponsored the DREAM Act of 2017.• He has sponsored legislation that would block federal funds from going towards enforcing the Trump administration's ban on immigrants

from majority-Muslim nations, or towards building a wall on the Southern border. [Business Insider 4.15.2019]

90

ON THE ISSUES

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

Housing and Poverty• In his tweets, Swalwell has cited high rent prices in California and the larger United States but has not proposed a solution to tackle the

problem. • Swalwell has also made various tweets in support of raising the minimum wage as a way of meeting people’s monthly rents.• In this interview, Swalwell indicates that mounting student loans have made it impossible for millennials to save up a down payment. [East Bay

Times 4.15.2019]

Economy and Jobs• Swalwell co-sponsored legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15/hour.• He has co-sponsored legislation allowing new small businesses in economically underdeveloped areas to put off paying payroll taxes for their first

year of operation.• Swalwell recently told CNBC he also supports bolstering federal workforce training and development, expanding job opportunities in technology,

and increasing economic mobility for low and middle-class Americans.• In a conversation with Yahoo Finance, Swalwell stated, “I'm okay with reducing corporate taxes if you see profit sharing and equity sharing, especially

for small businesses, reducing the corporate tax if it's tied to employees sharing in the benefit.” [Business Insider 4.15.2019]

Gun Safety• Gun control will be central to Swalwell’s campaign.• He supports universal background checks for gun and ammunition purchases and seeks to do more to take guns away from domestic

abusers, push states to adopt gun violence restraining order laws, and ban sales of assault weapons. Swalwell is calling for a mandatory national ban and buyback of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons. [Swalwell Campaign Website Accessed 4.15.2019]

91

ON THE ISSUES

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

Health Care• Swalwell supports Medicare for All. Campaign website states, “If you’re sick, you’ll be seen by a doctor, and if you’re seen, you’ll never go

broke because of it.”• He also supports large investments in finding cures for Alzheimer’s, ALS and cancer. [Swalwell Campaign Website Accessed 4.15.2019]• In March, Swalwell told Morning Joe that he supports “coverage for all” but is not in favor of eliminating private insurers, as some of his

competitors are. [PBS 4.15.2019]

Foreign Affairs• As the ranking member and now the chair of the Intelligence Committee's subcommittee on the CIA, and a member of the House Judiciary

Committee, Swalwell has been heavily involved in the probes into Russian interference in the 2016 election.• His House website emphasizes his support for the US helping bolster human rights around the world, fighting terrorism, and a two-state solution

to the Israel-Palestine conflict. [Business Insider 3.15.2019]

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA)

93

“When I talk about this, some rich guys scream ‘class warfare! Well, let me tell you something, these same rich guys have been waging class warfare against hard-working people for decades - I say it’s time to fight back!”

-Campaign launch speech

• United States Senate: Senator from MA (2013-Present)

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Special Advisor (2010-2011)

• Harvard Law School: Professor (1995-2012)• University of Pennsylvania Law School: Professor

(1993-1995)

Age: 69 years-old

Website: https://elizabethwarren.com/

Book: This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America’s Middle Class

Slogan: “Fighting for America’s Progress”

Relevant Experience

Candidate Overview• Declared her run for president February 9, 2019.

• Presents herself as a populist fighter seeking tougher regulations on Wall Street and calling out what she sees as endemic structural problems and causes of income inequality.

• Believes the middle class is under attack from big corporations and political corruption.

• Chief architect of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

• Popular target of President Trump for claims of Native American heritage, though her attempt to prove him wrong with a DNA test landed her in controversy.

• Not accepting donations from super PACs or federal lobbyists.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

94

Immigration• Warren supports the DREAM Act and has called for ICE to be replaced with an agency that “represents America's morality and actually

works.” [CNN, 6/30/18]

Housing and Poverty• Warren introduced the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2018 to address housing affordability. The bill would create three

million new housing units, improve access to affordable housing through anti-discrimination laws and invest in families living in historically redlined communities. Independent analysis of the bill predicts that it will create 1.5 million jobs and bring rents down by an average of ten percent. [Curbed, 12/11/18]

Health Care• Warren believes an Ultra-Millionaire Tax would allow the government to put a down payment on the Medicare for All Act, which she

strongly supports. [Warren Campaign Website Accessed 2.11.2019]• Warren is a staunch supporter of the Affordable Care Act. She has advocated for further action to ease health care costs and slash

drug prices. In 2018, she proposed limiting insurer profits while expanding health care subsidies and tax credits. [PBS, 1/17/19]• In March 2018, Warren introduced the Consumer Health Insurance Protection Act, which would work to make insurance within the

Obamacare system more affordable and would protect users from premium hikes. Her plan would limit insurance premiums to no more than 8.5 percent of a person's income. [Glamour, 2/4/19]

ON THE ISSUESSen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

95

Economy and Jobs• Warren supports a new era of strong antitrust enforcement that seeks to “put power back in unions and let workers elect at least 40 percent of a

company’s board members.” [Warren Campaign Website Accessed 2.11.2019]• Warren supports an Ultra-Millionaire Tax on America’s 75,000 richest families to produce trillions “that could be used to build an economy that

includes universal child care… and create 1.5 million new jobs.” [Warren Campaign Website Accessed 2.11.2019]• Warren believes in government responsibility to repair market failures. In August 2018, she proposed the Accountable Capitalism Act, which

would redistribute trillions of dollars from American corporations' executives and shareholders to the middle class. [Glamour, 2/4/19]• Warren is credited with proposing and establishing the CFPB. [CNN Money 09.17.10]• She would appoint, “trustbusters to review — and reverse — anti-competitive mergers, including the recent Bayer-Monsanto merger.” She claims

that such mergers have harmed farmers and led the industry to be noncompetitive. [Medium 03.27.19]

Foreign Affairs• Warren seeks to ban foreign governments from hiring Washington lobbyists. [Warren Campaign Website Accessed 2.11.2019]• She has expressed her desire to reduce the defense budget and pull troops out of Afghanistan, as well as her support for a "no first use" policy

on nuclear weapons. [Elle, 1/25/19]• Warren believes US foreign policy should not prioritize corporate profits over American families. To make sure that globalization benefits middle-

class Americans, “trade negotiations should be used to curtail the power of multinational monopolies and crack down on tax havens.”• Warren thinks it is essential “to reprioritize diplomacy and reinvest in the State Department and the development agencies, emphasizing that

foreign policy should not be run out of the Pentagon alone.” [Foreign Affairs, 11.29.18]

ON THE ISSUES

Gun Safety.• Warren has charged that the NRA was holding the Republican-led Congress “hostage,” and has said federal law is ripe for changes such as

strengthening background checks. [Boston Globe, 10/31/18]

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

96

Education• Warren has supported efforts aimed at lowering college costs. In 2017, she backed Sen. Sanders’ College for All Act that would have

eliminated tuition for many students attending public colleges. She also backed a proposal from Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) that would have let students attend public colleges without having to take on any loans to pay for tuition, room and board, books or other expenses. [PBS, 1/17/19]

• In a July 2018 speech she said “this is a time of crisis” for the country’s teachers and has supported teachers unions. [PBS, 1/17/19]• In April, Warren published a Medium post calling for a plan that would provide universal free public college and cancellation of student

loan debt. [Medium, 4/22/19]

Environment and Climate Change• Warren has proposed an Ultra-Millionaire Tax that would allow down payments on a Green New Deal, which she supports. [Warren

Campaign Website Accessed 2.11.2019]• Warren favors forcing public companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions and any potential effects climate change might have

on their businesses. [PBS, 1/17/19]

Criminal Justice• Warren seeks to ban private prisons, embrace community policing, demilitarize local police forces, achieve sentencing reform and decriminalize

marijuana. [Warren Campaign Website Accessed 2.11.2019]• She hopes to “make justices of the Supreme Court follow a code of ethics and strengthen the code of conduct for all judges to make sure everyone

gets a fair shake in our courts.” [Warren Campaign Website Accessed 2.11.2019]• Warren announced her support for the First Step Act despite earlier concerns about whether the prison and sentencing reform deal was wide-

ranging enough. The bill expanded training programs for prisoners designed to discourage recidivism, among other prison policy changes, and reduce mandatory minimum sentencing for certain felony offenses. [Politico, 11/29/18]

ON THE ISSUESSen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

Marianne Williamson (D)

98

“America is in a broken state today, but what has been broken can be repaired. That is true in our personal lives and it is true in the life of our country. But only where there is deep and real and honest taking stock of

what is happening, can what is happening be fundamentally changed.” –Campaign website

Candidate Overview• Declared her run for president January 28, 2019.

• Williamson has penned 13 books, four of which have been New York Times number one bestsellers.

• In 2014, Williamson ran as an independent in California's 33rd district congressional race and placed fourth out of 16 candidates, winning 13.2 percent of the vote.

• Williamson says she's running for president because the country is in need of a “moral and spiritual awakening.”

• Author, lecturer, activist• Known as Oprah’s spiritual advisor

Age: 66 years-old

Website: https://www.marianne2020.com/

Book: A Return to Love

Slogan: “Heal the Soul of America,” “We the People”

Relevant Experience

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

99

Health Care• Williamson supports a Medicare for All model that provides high-quality universal coverage for every American. [Williamson Campaign Website

Accessed 04.23.19]

Marianne Williamson (D)ON THE ISSUES

Education• Williamson supports universal pre-school and free college. [Williamson Campaign Website Accessed 04.23.19]

Environment and Climate Change• Williamson supports the Green New Deal proposal. [Williamson Campaign Website Accessed 04.23.19]

Immigration• Williamson supports DACA and a full path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants with, "no serious criminal background.” [Williamson

Campaign Website Accessed 04.23.19]

Reparations• Williamson called for $100 billion to be paid to African Americans in reparations for slavery, with $10 billion per year distributed over 10 years.

[Williamson Campaign Website Accessed 04.23.19]

ANDREW YANG

Andrew Yang

101“No one else is going to build a better world for us. We’re going to have to do it

ourselves. Together.” –Yang campaign website

Candidate Overview• Declared his run for president November 6, 2017.

• Got his start in corporate law and tech startups.

• Worked with the Obama Administration advocating for entrepreneurship- named being named a Champion of Change in 2012 and a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship in 2015.

• Pushing for the establishment of a “universal basic income” of $1,000 per month for all American adults to offset the loss of wages from automation.

• "Mr. Yang has the most detailed and comprehensive set of policy proposals we have ever seen at this stage in the campaign.” -Democratic Party Leadership in Iowa

• Traveled to all the early primary states but is not well-known.

• Venture for America: Founder/CEO (2011-2017)• Manhattan Prep: CEO (2006-2011)

Age: 44 years-old

Website: https://www.yang2020.com

Book: The War on Normal People: The Truth About America's Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future

Slogan: “Humanity for all”

Relevant Experience

Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR

Andrew Yang (D)

102

Criminal Justice• Yang supports the full legalization of marijuana at the federal level, removing it from the controlled substances list entirely. He believes the US should

expunge the federal convictions of all marijuana-related use or possession offenses. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• Yang hopes to authorize federal funding to pay for a body camera for every officer in every police department in the country. [Yang Campaign Website

Accessed 02.09.19]• He has encouraged community-based policing and rewarding departments for a combination of low complaints and continued efficacy. [Yang Campaign

Website Accessed 02.09.19]• Yang wants to re-establish the ban on distributing surplus military-level artillery gear to police departments. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• He will work to end the use of private prison facilities for federal inmates. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]

Economy and Jobs• Yang has proposed implementing the Freedom Dividend, providing universal basic income of $1,000 a month to all American adults over the age

of 18 “so that we may all share in a united prosperity and participate in the new economy.” [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• Yang supports implementing a Value-Added Tax (VAT) at 10 percent, half the European level. Over time he believes “the VAT will become more

and more important to capture the value generated by automation in a way that income taxes would not.” [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]

• He is proposing a $1 trillion infrastructure investment initiative – “Rebuild America” – over five years that will support over 13 million jobs and generate $1.5 trillion-plus in increased efficiency and productivity. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]

Gun Safety• Yang has proposed education requirements for gun ownership – analogous to a driver’s license. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• He has advocated for a restriction on the sale/purchase of semi-automatic military-style weapons to the public. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• Yang has pushed a fine on gun manufacturers of $1 million per person killed in any public venue in order to align the incentives of manufacturers with

the public, unless the gun is manufactured to include certain safety features. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]

ON THE ISSUES

103

Education• Yang wants to ensure that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) modernizes by agreeing to compensate star athletes who drive

significant revenues to their institutions. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• He has stipulated that any university that receives public funding cannot increase its costs by more than the rate of annual median wage growth.

[Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• Yang plans to revisit the tax-exempt status for schools that have more than enough money to fund their operations• He will work to fund community colleges to a point where they can provide free (or drastically reduced) tuition to anyone from the community

(especially those taking vocational classes). [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• Yang has advocated expanding what classes are defined as vocational classes, especially in IT and computer science fields. [Yang Campaign Website

Accessed 02.09.19]

Foreign Affairs• Yang hopes to work with our allies “to rebuild our stature in the world, and strengthen alliances such as NATO.” [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• He plans to focus the federal budget on “fixing problems at home instead of spending trillions of dollars abroad.” [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• He would sign a repeal to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), returning the authority to declare war to Congress, and refuse to

engage in anything other than emergency military activity without the express consent of Congress. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]

Environment and Climate Change• Yang plans to invest heavily in carbon capture and geoengineering technologies designed to reverse the damage already done to the

environment through a new Global Geoengineering Institute and invite international participation.• He advocates investing in any idea that has the potential to reverse the damage done to the environment, for example cloud-seeding

technology to increase the atmosphere’s reflectivity.• Yang believes the US should end the current tax benefits and cuts given to fossil fuel companies which “give them an unwarranted

competitive advantage over alternative energy sources.” [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]

Andrew Yang (D)ON THE ISSUES

104

Immigration• Yang will work with Congress to consider a path to citizenship for immigrants who are in this country illegally. He also wants to create

safeguards in the system to guarantee that the system is not abused, including increased border security and increased fines for employers who hire illegal immigrants after this system is in place and allows those in the country to declare their status. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]

Housing and Poverty• Yang believes the government’s goal should be to drive individuals and organizations to find new ways to improve the standards of living.

According to Yang, in order to spur development, the government should issue a new currency – the Digital Social Credit – which can be converted into dollars and used to reward people and organizations who drive significant social value. This new currency would allow people “to measure the amount of good that they have done through various programs and actions.” [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]

Health Care• Yang will work with Congress to create a Medicare for All program, or a similar program, to provide health care to all Americans. [Yang Campaign

Website Accessed 02.09.19]• He wants to shift the way doctors are compensated to promote holistic and empathic care. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• He hopes to create incentives for and invest in innovative treatment methods and methodologies. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]• Yang will direct the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) to work together to bring more criminal cases

against pharmaceutical executives “who use misleading marketing techniques or take shortcuts through the testing and approvals process.” [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]

• He plans to invest in a more robust mental health infrastructure to identify and treat people who pose a danger to themselves or others. [Yang Campaign Website Accessed 02.09.19]

Andrew Yang (D)ON THE ISSUES

GLOSSARY OF KEY LEGISLATION

106

GLOSSARY

Medicare for All:Historically, Medicare for All has meant single-payer health insurance, a national government-run program that covered every American and replaced private coverage entirely, similar to the government-run health care programs in Canada and some European countries. There are some other plans that would allow Americans to buy into Medicare, that fall under the Medicare for All umbrella. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has the most widely accepted piece of legislation S. 1804: Medicare for All Act of 2017 introduced in Senate on September 13, 2017. [Vox 07.02.18]

Green New Deal:Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), along with dozens of co-sponsors, have introduced a vision for the Green New Deal. The proposal outlines the broad principles of a plan simultaneously to fight inequity and tackle climate change. It does not contain policy details or advocate for specific ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions but with a broad brush it aims to make the US carbon-neutral – net zero carbon emissions – in 10 years. [The Guardian 02.11.19]

First Step Act:The First Step Act (signed into law on December 21, 2018) will expand job training and other programming aimed at reducing recidivism rates among federal prisoners. It also expands early-release programs and modifies sentencing laws, including mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, to more equitably punish drug offenders. [New York Times 12.18.18]

107

Dreamers:The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act (S.1291) legislation was introduced in 2001 as a bipartisan bill in the Senate. The legislative goal was to provide a means for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US as children to gain a pathway to permanent legal status. Individuals who would have qualified under the DREAM Act are often referred to as “DREAMers.” [Govinfo.gov Accessed 02.11.10]

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA):Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a kind of administrative relief from deportation. The purpose of DACA is to protect eligible immigrant youth who came to the United States when they were children from deportation. DACA gives young undocumented immigrants: 1) protection from deportation, and 2) a work permit. The program expires after two years, subject to renewal. [NBC News 09.05.17]

The Paris Agreement:At 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris, on December 12, 2015, parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reached a landmark agreement to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future. The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention and – for the first time – brings all nations into a common cause to undertake take ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort. The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. [UNFCCC.int Accessed 02.10.19]

GLOSSARY

ENDORSEMENT TRACKER

109

ENDORSEMENTS

As of 4.25 Source: FiveThirtyEight

Former Vice President Joe Biden (D)

Date Endorser Position

April 25 Dwight Evans U.S. representative from Pennsylvania

April 25 Cedric Richmond U.S. representative from Louisiana

April 25 John Carney Governor of Delaware

April 25 Brendan Boyle U.S. representative from Pennsylvania

April 25 Symone Sanders DNC member from District of Columbia

April 25 Cristobal J. Alex DNC member from District of Columbia

April 25 Thomas Suozzi U.S. representative from New York

April 25 Doug Jones U.S. senator from Alabama

April 25 Robert P. Casey Jr. U.S. senator from Pennsylvania

April 25 Lisa Blunt Rochester U.S. representative from Delaware

April 24 Matt Cartwright U.S. representative from Pennsylvania

April 22 Ed Rendell Former DNC chair

April 22 Stephen F. Lynch U.S. representative from Massachusetts

April 18 Michael A. Nutter DNC member from Pennsylvania

Feb. 26 Christopher A. Coons U.S. senator from Delaware

Jan. 8 Thomas R. Carper U.S. senator from Delaware

Jan. 3 Dianne Feinstein U.S. senator from CaliforniaJan. 2 Andrew Cuomo Governor of New York

110

ENDORSEMENTS

As of 4.25 Source: FiveThirtyEight

Date Endorser PositionApril 12 John Graham DNC member from New JerseyApril 12 Bernadette P. McPherson DNC member from New JerseyFeb. 21 John Currie DNC member from New JerseyFeb. 21 Donald Norcross U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Jeff Van Drew U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Andy Kim U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Josh Gottheimer U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Frank Pallone Jr. U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Tom Malinowski U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Albio Sires U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Bill Pascrell Jr. U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Donald Payne Jr. U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Mikie Sherrill U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Bonnie Watson Coleman U.S. representative from New JerseyFeb. 21 Craig Coughlin New Jersey General Assembly speakerFeb. 21 Stephen Sweeney New Jersey Senate presidentFeb. 21 Sheila Oliver New Jersey lieutenant governorFeb. 4 Clay N. Middleton DNC member from South CarolinaFeb. 1 Phil Murphy Governor of New JerseyFeb. 1 Robert Menendez U.S. senator from New Jersey

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

111

ENDORSEMENTS

As of 4.25 Source: FiveThirtyEight

Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D)

Date Endorser Position

April 24 Don Beyer U.S. representative from Virginia

April 14 Steve Adler Mayor of Austin, Texas

April 11 Steven Grossman Former DNC chair

Fmr. HUD Sec. Julián Castro (D)

Date Endorser Position

March 11 Vicente Gonzalez U.S. representative from Texas

Feb. 19 Colin Allred U.S. representative from Texas

Jan. 12 Ron Nirenberg Mayor of San Antonio

Jan. 12 Joaquin Castro U.S. representative from Texas

112

ENDORSEMENTS

As of 4.25 Source: FiveThirtyEight

Fmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)

Date Endorser Position

Feb. 27 Juan Vargas U.S. representative from California

July 28, 2017 David Trone U.S. representative from Maryland

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Date Endorser Position

March 17 Carolyn Maloney U.S. representative from New York

113

ENDORSEMENTS

As of 4.25 Source: FiveThirtyEight

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)

Date Endorser Position

March 7 Karl Racine District of Columbia attorney general

March 7 Sam Liccardo Mayor of San Jose, California

March 7 Darrell Steinberg Mayor of Sacramento, California

March 7 Robert Garcia Mayor of Long Beach, California

Feb. 28 Julia Brownley U.S. representative from California

Feb. 26 Alex Padilla California secretary of state

Feb. 26 Ricardo Lara California insurance commissioner

Feb. 26 Tony Thurmond California superintendent of public instruction

Feb. 20 Emmy Ruiz DNC member from Texas

Feb. 15 Gavin Newsom Governor of California

Fmr. Governor John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

Date Endorser Position

March 7 Michael Hancock Mayor of Denver

114

ENDORSEMENTS

As of 4.25 Source: FiveThirtyEight

Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA)

Date Endorser Position

March 1 Bob Ferguson Washington attorney general

March 1 Rick Larsen U.S. representative from Washington

Date Endorser Position

Feb. 10 Tim Walz Governor of Minnesota

Feb. 10 Tina Smith U.S. senator from Minnesota

Feb. 10 Jacob Frey Mayor of Minneapolis

Feb. 10 Angie Craig U.S. representative from Minnesota

Feb. 10 Dean Phillips U.S. representative from Minnesota

Feb. 10 Melissa Hortman Minnesota House speaker

Feb. 10 Peggy Flanagan Minnesota lieutenant governor

Feb. 10 Julie Blaha Minnesota state auditor

Feb. 6 Walter Mondale Past vice president

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

115

ENDORSEMENTS

As of 4.25 Source: FiveThirtyEight

Fmr. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX)

Date Endorser Position

March 14 Joe Moody Texas House speaker pro tem

March 14 Sean Patrick Maloney U.S. representative from New York

March 14 Stephanie Murphy U.S. representative from Florida

March 14 Veronica Escobar U.S. representative from Texas

March 14 Kathleen Rice U.S. representative from New York

Date Endorser Position

April 18 Michelle Deatrick DNC member from Michigan

March 25 Susie A. Shannon DNC member from California

Feb. 21 Nina Turner DNC member from Ohio

Feb. 21 Ro Khanna U.S. representative from California

Feb. 20 Carmen Yulín Cruz Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico

Feb. 20 Larry Cohen DNC member from District of Columbia

Feb. 19 Patrick J. Leahy U.S. senator from Vermont

Feb. 19 Peter Welch U.S. representative from Vermont

Feb. 19 David Zuckerman Vermont lieutenant governor

Jan. 25 James J. Zogby DNC member from District of Columbia

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

116

ENDORSEMENTS

As of 4.25 Source: FiveThirtyEight

Date Endorser Position

April 14 Ruben Gallego U.S. representative from Arizona

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

Date Endorser Position

April 19 Kate Donaghue DNC member from Massachusetts

Feb. 9 Edward J. Markey U.S. senator from Massachusetts

Feb. 9 Lori Trahan U.S. representative from Massachusetts

Feb. 9 Joseph P. Kennedy III U.S. representative from Massachusetts

Feb. 9 Karen Spilka Massachusetts Senate president

Feb. 8 James McGovern U.S. representative from Massachusetts

COGENT STRATEGIES2550 M Street NW

Washington, DC 20037202.569.5561

cogent-strategies.com