With the 2020 elections fast approaching, candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties have begun asserting their bid for the Presidency.
Although President Donald Trump announced his run for re-election, the number of Republican challengers remains slim; however, the Democratic side shows more competition, with 12 potential challengers having formally declared their campaigns.
The following list includes candidates who have either filed official paperwork with the Federal Elections Committee or have created exploratory committees.
Confirmed Candidates for the Democratic Party:
John Delaney
John Delaney (D-Md.), a former U.S. representative, was the first to declare candidacy, making his announcement Aug. 10, 2017. Delaney is a former attorney and businessman who has founded two publicly traded companies. For Americans under 65, Delaney said he wants to create a singular healthcare program for all, according to an interview with CNBC’s John Harwood. He also said he is a pro-choice advocate, supports immigration reform and supports LGBT rights.
Andrew Yang
Andrew Yang (D-NY) filed his candidacy Nov. 6, 2017. Yang started a career as a corporate lawyer, but he soon left this sector and pursued an education startup business. He has shifted his focus to three main policy issues: universal basic income, Medicare for all and a move towards human-centered capitalism. This idea describes “capitalism geared towards maximizing human well-being and fulfillment,” according to Yang’s campaign website.
Elizabeth Warren
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced that she had formed an exploratory committee December 2018 and formally declared her candidacy Feb. 9, 2019. Warren is a former law school professor and has been a member of Congress since 2012. Policy platforms include allowing workers to elect 40 percent of companies’ board members and proposing legislation to limit corruption by ensuring election security.
Tulsi Gabbard
U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) announced that she had decided to run for president Jan. 11. Gabbard had an extensive military career and is the youngest person ever elected to the Hawaii legislature, according to her presidential website. Important policy issues on Gab- bard’s campaign include affordable housing, criminal justice reform and gun control.
Julian Castro
Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro (D-TX), former U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, formally announced his candidacy Jan. 12. According to CNN’s Dan Merica, he had been considering running for two years. Policy platforms include confronting police violence in communities of color. He also said he wants to reform the criminal justice system, lower college tuition and support immigrants.
Kristen Gillibrand
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced her candidacy Jan. 15. Gillibrand began her career as an attorney and then worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C. Gillibrand’s policy platform includes strengthening protections for women working on Capitol Hill, promoting economic growth and lowering health care costs.
Kamala Harris
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) announced that she was running for president Jan. 21. Harris is the former attorney general of the state of California. Her platform includes both criminal justice and immigration reform, and her campaign is centered on the slogan, “For the People.” She has also told major news outlets that she would support marijuana legalization.
Pete Buttigieg
Pete Buttigieg (D-Ind.), the mayor of South Bend, Ind., announced his candidacy Jan. 23. Buttigieg served the military in Afghanistan, and his policy platforms include creating more jobs, addressing climate change as a national security threat and supporting a single-payer healthcare system.
Marianne Williamson
Marianne Williamson (D-Calif.), a new age author and lecturer, said she was running for president Jan. 28. She has published a total of ten books and sought election to the U.S. House in her home state of California, but was defeated. Williamson said she believes in paying reparations to Black Americans and taking action to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Cory Booker
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), declared that he was running for president Feb. 1. After attending law school at Yale, Booker moved to Newark, where he served as mayor for seven years. Booker’s presidential platform includes Medicare for all, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and a job-guarantee program.
Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) filed for candidacy Feb. 10. She attended law school at The University of Chicago and worked as a partner at a law firm before running for office in Minnesota. Klobuchar’s platform includes online consumer protection, election security and affordable healthcare.
Bernie Sanders
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) declared that he was running for president on Vermont Public Radio Feb. 9. Once a member of the Young People’s Socialist League while studying at the University of Chicago, Sanders lost his presidential bid in 2016 as a democratic socialist and plans to run again under that affiliation. Sanders’ platform includes Medicare for all, raising the minimum wage to $15 nationwide and increasing the number of wealthy Americans subject to the estate tax.
Confirmed Candidates for the Republican Party:
Donald Trump President Donald Trump filed to run for re-election Jan. 20, 2017. He graduated from the Wharton School of Finance, worked heavily in real-estate and is a former reality television star. His platform includes lowering taxes, repealing and replacing Obamacare, ending federal regulations, strengthening border security and keeping jobs in the U.S.
Bill Weld
Gov. Bill Weld (R-Mass.), announced that he had formed an exploratory committee Feb. 15. He attended law school at Harvard and was later appointed to be the U.S. attorney for Massachusetts under President Ronald Reagan. After a period as a Libertarian, he switched his party registration to Republican in 2019. His policies now include cutting federal taxes and limiting access to abortion.
This list does not include potential candidates that may be considering a run for President. Notable Democratic hopefuls include Stacey Abrams, Joe Biden and Beto O’Rourke. On the Republican side, Ted Cruz, Nikki Haley, John Kasich and Mike Pence are considered by Ballotpedia to be potential candidates.
The election will be held Nov. 3, 2020.
A guide to the confirmed 2020 presidential candidates
