A GUIDE TO THE 2020 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES - March 2019 - Cogent Strategies
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A GUIDE TO THE 2020 DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
March 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Polling and Fundraising 3
Candidates 9
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) 9
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) 14
Fmr. Secretary Julián Castro (D-TX) 19
Fmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) 24
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) 29
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) 34
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) 39
Fmr. Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) 44
Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) 49
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) 54
Fmr. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) 59
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) 64
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) 69
Andrew Yang 74
Glossary of Key Legislation 79
Endorsement Tracker 82
POLLING AND FUNDRAISING
POLLING
IOWA DEMOCRATIC 2020 PRIMARY POLLS
March 3 - 24
30
27
POLLING
25 25 POLL DATES SPREAD
25 24
Emerson 3/21 - 3/24 Biden +1
20
15 Des Moines
Register/CNN 3/3 - 3/6 Biden +2
11
10
10 9 9
7
6
5 5
5
3 3
2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 0
0
Biden Sanders Harris Warren Buttigieg O'Rourke Booker Klobuchar Castro Inslee Hickenlooper Gabbard
Des Moines Register/CNN 3/3-3/6 Emerson 3/21-3/24
4
POLLING
NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATIC 2020 PRIMARY POLLS
February 7 - 26
30
28
27 POLL POLLING DATES SPREAD
26
25 UNH 2/18 - 2/26 Biden +8
25
Emerson 2/21 - 2/22 Sanders +2
22
UMass
20 Amherst 2/7 - 2/15 Sanders +4
20
15 14
12
10
10 9 9
8
7
6
5 5 5
5 4
3 3 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 0 0 0 0
0
Biden Sanders Harris Warren O'Rourke Klobuchar Booker Gillibrand Buttigieg Gabbard Castro
UMass Amherst 2/7 - 2/15 Emerson 2/21 - 2/22 UNH 2/18 - 2/26
5
POLLING
GENERAL ELECTION 2020 POLLS
60% 55% EMERSON GENERAL ELECTION MATCHUP
51% 51% 52% 51% 3/17 – 3/18 (+/- 2.8%)
49% 49% 48% 49%
50% 45%
40% GENERAL ELECTION
MATCHUP SPREAD
30%
TRUMP vs. WARREN WARREN +2
20% TRUMP vs. BIDEN BIDEN +11
TRUMP vs. SANDERS SANDERS +2
10%
TRUMP vs. HARRIS HARRIS +4
0% TRUMP vs. O'ROURKE TRUMP +2
TRUMP vs. WARREN TRUMP vs. BIDEN TRUMP vs. SANDERS TRUMP vs. HARRIS TRUMP vs. O'ROURKE
TRUMP DEMOCRAT
EMERSON GENERAL ELECTION MATCHUP
60% WITH SCHULTZ
52%
3/17 – 3/18 (+/- 2.8%)
50% 44% 46% 44%
40%
GENERAL ELECTION MATCHUP
30% WITH SCHULTZ SPREAD
20%
TRUMP vs. BIDEN vs. SCHULTZ BIDEN +8
10% TRUMP vs. O'ROURKE vs. SCHULTZ TRUMP +3
10% 4%
0%
TRUMP vs. BIDEN vs. SCHULTZ TRUMP vs. O'ROURKE vs. SCHULTZ
TRUMP DEMOCRAT SCHULTZ
6
POLLING
POLLS WITH TREND LINES
40
Biden Booker Buttigieg Castro POLL POLLING DATES SPREAD
Gillibrand Harris Hickenlooper Inslee Quinnipiac 3/21 - 3/25 Biden +8
Klobuchar O'Rourke Sanders Warren
35 FOX News 3/17 - 3/20 Biden +10
Emerson 3/17 - 3/18 Tie
CNN 3/14 - 3/17 Biden +8
30
Morning Consult 3/11 - 3/17 Biden +8
Biden Morning Consult 3/4 - 3/10 Biden +4
25 Monmouth 3/1 - 3/4 Biden +3
Morning Consult 2/25 - 3/3 Biden +4
Harvard-Harris 2/19 - 2/20 Biden +11
20
Morning Consult* 2/18 - 2/24 Biden +2
Percent
Sanders Morning Consult* 2/11 - 2/17 Biden +9
15 Emerson 2/14 - 2/16 Biden +10
Morning Consult* 2/4 - 2/10 Biden +7
Monmouth 1/25 - 1/27 Biden +13
10 Harris Politico/Morning
Consult 1/25 - 1/27 Biden +18
Warren O’Rourke Politico/Morning
5 Booker Consult 1/18 - 1/22 Biden +10
Buttigieg
Klobuchar
0
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
January February March
Polls
Source: Real Clear Politics
7
FUNDRAISING
DEMOCRATIC 2020 FUNDRAISING
First 24 Hours of Campaign Launch
$7
$6.1 Additional Fundraising Notes
$5.9
$6
• Pete Buttigieg raised more than $600,000 from over
22,200 donations in the 24 hours after his CNN town
$5 hall. [CNN 03.12.19]
$4
(in millions)
$3
$2
$1.5
$1.0
$1
$.299
$0
Warren Klobuchar* Harris Sanders O'Rourke
Data From Candidate Campaigns, FEC
*First 48 hours
8
SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ)
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Candidate Overview Relevant Experience
• United States Senate: Senator from New Jersey
• Declared his run for president on February 1, 2019. (2013-Present)
• City of Newark, NJ: Mayor (2006-2013)
• Championed criminal justice reform, advocated for scaling back federal criminal
• City of Newark, NJ: Council member
penalties for marijuana and pushed for civil rights as a senator.
Age: 49 years-old
• Promises to run a relentlessly positive and unifying campaign, preaching love as an
antidote to the nation's ills. Website: https://corybooker.com/
• Has one of the more liberal voting records in the Senate, but has faced criticism
Book: United: Thoughts on Finding Common
for his ties to Wall Street, defense of private equity, his stance on the Ground and Advancing the Common Good
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.
Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR
“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 10ON THE ISSUES
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
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 all
their residents with jobs. [VOX 04.20.18]
11ON THE ISSUES
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
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]
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 joining
the movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. [NJ.com 12.31.18]
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]
12ON THE ISSUES
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
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]
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]
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 2018
midterms.
• 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]
13MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG (D)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D)
Candidate Overview Relevant Experience
• Declared his run for president on January 23, 2019. • City of South Bend, IN: Mayor (2012-Present)
• United States Navy Reserves: Lieutenant (2009-
• Former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Afghanistan War veteran and the first married Present)
gay man to make a run at the presidency.
Age: 37 years-old
• Cast his candidacy as a “generation that is stepping forward.”
Website: https://www.peteforamerica.com/
• Calling for policies “untethered to the politics of the past” with a focus on issues
including climate change and economic opportunity. Book: Shortest Way Home: One Mayor’s Challenge
and a Model for America’s Future
• Considered a long-shot campaign that may test the appeal of a youthful profile over
more traditional qualifications. Slogan: “It’s time for a new generation of American
leadership.”
• Called for the elimination of the Electoral College stating that it’s made our 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. Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR
“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 15ON THE ISSUES
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D)
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]
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]
16ON THE ISSUES
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D)
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]
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]
17ON THE ISSUES
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D)
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]
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]
18FMR. SECRETARY JULIÁN CASTRO (D)
Fmr. HUD Secretary Julián Castro (D)
Relevant Experience
Candidate Overview
• Declared his run for president on January 12, 2019. • US Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD): Secretary of Housing and
• Made his presidential announcement from San Antonio in Spanish and English to Urban Development (2014-2017)
resonate with Latinos at a time when many have felt under attack in the Trump era. • City of San Antonio, TX: Mayor (2009-2014)
• Former mayor of San Antonio and HUD Secretary under President Barack Obama. Age: 37 years-old
• Championed social justice issues – including affirmative action – during his political Website: https://www.julianforthefuture.com/
career.
Book: An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My
• Opted out of challenging Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) for the Senate in the 2018 midterm American Dream
elections.
Slogan: “Julián for the future”
• Presidential platform advocates for universal pre-kindergarten, “Medicare for all” and
immigration reform.
Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR
“I’m running for president because it’s time for new leadership. Because it’s time for new energy.” 20
–Campaign launch speechON THE ISSUES
Fmr. HUD Sec. Julián Castro (D)
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]
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]
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]
21ON THE ISSUES
Fmr. HUD Sec. Julián Castro (D)
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]
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]
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]
22ON THE ISSUES
Fmr. HUD Sec. Julián Castro (D)
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]
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]
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]
23FMR. REP. JOHN DELANEY (D-MD)
Fmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)
Relevant Experience
Candidate Overview • United States House of Representatives:
• Declared his run for president on January 28, 2017 – the first Democrat to declare.
Representative from MD-06 (2013-2019)
• Founder of CapitalSource and Health Care
• Viewed as a long-shot candidate though he is running an aggressive campaign and has
Financial Partners
visited every county in Iowa.
Age: 55 years-old
• Millionaire former congressman who was elected to the US House of
Representatives in 2012 as, in his own words, a “pragmatic idealist.”
Website: https://www.johnkdelaney.com
• Calling for campaign finance reform though he could spend millions of his own
Book: The Right Answer: How We Can Unify Our
money on a presidential race. Divided Nation
• 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.
Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR
“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 25ON THE ISSUES
Fmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)
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. [CNBC 12.26.18]
Economy and Jobs
• At the top of Delaney’s list of priorities, both as a congressman and presidential candidate, is investment in infrastructure. A year ago, 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]
• While in Congress, 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. [Delaney Campaign website Accessed 02.07.19]
• 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]
26ON THE ISSUES
Fmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)
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]
• He was a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.
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]
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]
27ON THE ISSUES
Fmr. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)
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]
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]
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]
Education
• Delaney wants to provide universal pre-kindergarten, free community college/career and technical training nationwide. [Delaney Campaign
website Accessed 02.07.19]
28REP. TULSI GABBARD (D-HI)
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Candidate Overview Relevant Experience
• Declared her run for president on January 11, 2019. • United States House of Representatives:
Representative from HI-02 (2013-Present)
• Served in the Army National Guard and was twice deployed to the Middle East – • Honolulu City Council Member (2010-2013)
once while in the Hawaii State Legislature in 2004. • Healthy Hawai’i Coalition: Vice President (2000-
2012)
• Running as an anti-war Democrat who has voiced opposition to American military • Hawaii Army National Guard (2003-Present)
intervention overseas, including in countries like Syria.
Age: 37 years-old
• Drew condemnation for meeting with Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad.
Website: https://www.tulsi2020.com/
• Supported Sen. Sanders in the 2016 presidential primaries.
Slogan: “For The Country We Love”
• Apologized for her history of anti-gay statements and her past work for an anti-gay
advocacy group.
Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR
“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 30ON THE ISSUES
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
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]
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]
31ON THE ISSUES
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
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 car
emissions, mandating zero emissions by 2050. Finally, it would end all subsidies and tax breaks for fossil fuels and ban fracking. [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]
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]
32ON THE ISSUES
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
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]
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]
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]
33SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Relevant Experience
• United States Senate: Senator from NY (2009-
Candidate Overview Present)
• Declared her run for president on January 15, 2019. • United States House of Representatives:
Representative from NY-20 (2007-2009)
• Long placed women’s equality and opportunity at the center of her policy agenda.
Age: 52 years-old
• Considered one of the Senate's foremost champions of working-mom issues; she
had her second son while in Congress in 2008. Website: https://kirstengillibrand.com/
• Called on the military to reform its sexual violence policies and was out in front Book: Off the Sidelines: Speak Up, Be Fearless, and
calling on former Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) to resign after he was accused of Change Your World
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.
Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR
“I’m going to run for president of the United States because as a young mom I am going to fight for
35
other people’s kids as hard as I would fight for my own.” –Colbert Show announcing her candidacyON THE ISSUES
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
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]
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 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]
36ON THE ISSUES
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Education
• Gillibrand has pushed for universal pre-kindergarten and affordable, high-quality day care.
• 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. [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]
37ON THE ISSUES
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Health Care
• Gillibrand supports moving to a universal, government-run health care system within four years, and was a cosponsor of the Medicare
for All Act. [PBS 01.18.19]
• 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]
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]
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]
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]
38SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA)
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Relevant Experience
Candidate Overview • United States Senate: Senator from CA (2017-
• Declared her run for president on January 21, 2019. Present)
• State of California: Attorney General (2011-2017)
• Launched her campaign with the slogan “For the People” – a populist refrain • City and County of San Francisco, CA: District
alluding to her time in the courtroom. Attorney (2004-2011)
• Only the second African American woman to serve in the Senate and one of Age: 55 years-old
only a few new Democrats to join the Senate in 2016.
Website: https://kamalaharris.org/
• Gained recognition for her sharp questioning of Trump Administration officials
and nominees during Senate hearings. Book: The Truths We Hold: An American Journey
• Some on the left question what they view as a mixed record on social justice Slogan: “For the People”
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.
Sources: New York Times, CNN, CBS News, NPR
"We are here because the American Dream and our American democracy are under attack and on the line like
never before” –Campaign launch speech 40ON THE ISSUES
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)
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]
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]
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]
41ON THE ISSUES
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)
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 FM
2.11.19]
42ON THE ISSUES
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)
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]
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]
43FMR. GOV. JOHN HICKENLOOPER (D-CO)
Fmr. Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Candidate Overview Relevant Experience
• Declared his run for president on March 7, 2019. • Governor of Colorado (2011- 2019)
• Chair of National Governors Association (2014 -
• Won two tight elections for governor in the purple state of Colorado. 2015)
• Mayor of Denver (2003 - 2011)
• 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 Age: 67 years-old
independent microbreweries in the country.
Website: https://www.hickenlooper.com/
• Touts experience as a pragmatic problem-solver and brands himself an “extreme moderate”
with a knack for bringing people together. Book: The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and
Politics
• Effectively balanced a $70 million deficit as mayor of Denver.
Slogan: “Stand Tall”
• 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. Sources: Hickenlooper Campaign Site, CNN, The Oregonian
“I’m running for president because we need dreamers in Washington, but we also need to get
things done.” – Official announcement video 45ON THE ISSUES
Fmr. Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
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]
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]
46ON THE ISSUES
Fmr. Gov. 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]
47ON THE ISSUES
Fmr. Gov. 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 to 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]
48GOV. JAY INSLEE (D-WA)
Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Relevant Experience
Candidate Overview
• Declared his run for president on March 1, 2019. • Governor of Washington (2013 – Present)
• Chairman of the Democratic Governors
• Announced his campaign at a solar panel manufacturer’s warehouse in Seattle to Association (2018)
highlight his campaign's focus on climate change and the environment. • United States Representative (1993 – 1995 and
1999 – 2012)
• Created a Clean Energy Fund as governor of Washington which included a large • Washington State Representative (1989 –
clean infrastructure package designed to create new jobs in green energy production 1993)
and spur economic growth – a plan widely praised in Democratic circles.
Age: 68 years-old
• 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. Website: https://jayinslee.com/
Book: Apollo’s Fire: Igniting America’s Clean Energy
Economy
Slogan: “Our Moment”
Sources: Inslee Campaign Site, The Atlantic
“We’re the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and we’re the last that
50
can do something about it.” – Official announcement videoYou can also read
