2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination

The 2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination was a highly competitive political event, given the sheer number of candidates. The United States Democratic Party decided on Joe Biden, who they hoped would defeat the sitting Republican candidate (Donald Trump) by a comfortable margin- and to make a long story short, he did, albeit not with the landslide they had hoped for. The nomination was intially planned to take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but it instead took place virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
According to polling, the most important factor for Democratic primary voters was who was popular and likeable enough to defeat Donald Trump.Electability of Democratic Nominee Outranks Issue Stances Gallup Other major political issues for the Democratic candidates in this election were universal healthcare, gun control, climate change, education, income inequality, criminal justice reform, and immigration reform.https://news.gallup.com/poll/276932/several-issues-tie-important-2020-election.aspx
In short, the race was basically a decision about whether the Dems should align with moderates who can attract swing voters in swing states (like Biden), or with progressives (like Sanders) who can energize leftist/liberal turnout with big new policy proposals. However, the ability to get any new legislative policy passed is entirely dependent on Democrats winning the Senate, which was far from certain (though not impossible) due to the heavy over-representation of conservative rural states (though frankly, given current party infighting, the USA could have more gridlock even with Democratic control of the White House and Senate).https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/senate/
Biden ultimately won, and progressive fears of a 2016 repeat were proved to be unfounded, as Trump was so bad at handling COVID that his rival could get away with running a mostly-substanceless campaign but still win decisively (306:232). Said lack of coherent vision also meant the Democrats had a remarkably pathetic performance down the ballot despite initial predictions of a Roosevelt-scale landslide across the board. The Democrats took the senate by the smallest majority possible, forcing them to use obtuse tricks like budget reconcilliation to pass legislation in order to get around the dreaded filibuster. Thus, any grander ambitons the pary had (voting rights, adding states, healthcare overhaul) are essentially tabled. All of the intense arguments over policy in this primary were retroactively meaningless. God bless America!
== The nominee ==
Joe BidenAge: Former Vice President of the United States, former Senator from Delaware, and former member of the New Castle County Council.	
Joe Biden announced his bid for President on April 25, 2019.US election 2020: Joe Biden launches presidential bid, joining crowded field BBC. April 25th, 2019. and won the nomination in August 28th, 2020.
Advantages: 
*Authored the Violence Against Women Act and helped pass it; actively involved in a campaign against sexual assault in college campuses.What does Joe Biden believe? Where the candidate stands on 8 issues PBS NewsHour. Apr 25, 2019.
*Supports tuition-free public collegeStatement by the Vice President The White House. October 21, 2015. and universal pre-kindergarten.
*Supports progressive taxation and closing tax loopholes.
*Wants to ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, and to implement universal background checks.
*Considers climate change to be an "existential" threat, having orchestrated U.S. involvement in the Paris Climate Accord.
*Championed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), wants to give undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as minors a path towards citizenship and to increase border security.
*Favors international cooperation and multinational alliances such as NATO.
*Has made the "I can beat Trump" argument most effectively, essentially solidifying his place as the nominee at Super Tuesday.
* Opposes the death penaltyThe Biden Plan for Strengthening America’s Commitment to Justice JoeBiden.com.	Disadvantages: Apart from being Joe Biden? The man is a 77 year-old party dinosaur that won't disappear. That being said, Biden is a flip-flopping professional gaffe machine riding off the popularity of his former boss Obama, and in 2019 (before Bloomberg) quickly became the prime target of most other Democrats in the debates. Unlike the prior debates he was in while VP, Biden spent the early debates getting his ass kicked by everyone (Kamala on race issues, Booker on crime/marijuana, Castro on immigration) and his past views and votes are now coming back to haunt him, with him losing his frontrunner position to second place in a neck-and-neck with Bernie Sanders, only to regain it in March and sweep most of the primaries after the centrists consolidated their support behind him to stop Bernie from becoming the nominee.
*Ridiculous number of gaffes past and present now nearing Trump levels; "Poor kids are just as bright as white kids",https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idpevmeoK1A "Go to Joe 30330",https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZmUnR9TOmo "The bills that the president. Excuse me, future president [Cory Booker]",https://www.youtube.com/watch?51=&v=sL3AYay7Rdw etc.
*Originally voted for Don't ask don't tellRoll Call Vote 103rd Congress - 1st Session United States Senate. November 17, 1993. and the Defense of Marriage Act,Roll Call Vote 104th Congress - 2nd Session United States Senate. September 10, 1996. but supported the DADT repealJoe Biden on the Issues On the Issues. and the legalization of same-sex marriageBiden 'absolutely comfortable' with gay marriage Reuters. May 6, 2012. later in life. 
*Although he personally opposes abortion, his Senate voting record on the topic is more mixed. Biden voted for the Hyde Amendment preventing federal funding for abortion and continued to support it until a few months ago when he got shit from everyone over it. Now admits the error of his ways.
*Opposes the legalization of marijuana.
*Wants to give everyone the option to buy into Medicare, and believes that "Health care is a right, not a privilege"Biden calls for everyone having the choice to buy into Medicare. The Hill. April 29, 2019. Accessed May 7, 2019. but he would still veto a Medicare For All bill if it passed Congress due to its "costs".Biden says he would veto Medicare for All due to costs. "CNBC". March 10, 2020. Accessed April 24, 2020. Supports reinstating the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.Biden says he would bring back ObamaCare's individual mandate The Hill. 07/05/19.
*Voted for the Gramm-Leach-Bliley ActWhich repealed most of the Glass-Steagall legislation.Roll Call Vote 106th Congress - 1st Session United States Senate. November 4, 1999. and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.The Wall Street bailout.Call Vote 110th Congress - 2nd Session United States Senate. October 1, 2008.
*A supporter of free trade, he voted for the disastrous NAFTA agreementH.R. 3450 (103rd): North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act GovTrack. Nov 17, 1993. and Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China,H.R. 4444 (106th): China Trade bill GovTrack. Sep 19, 2000. and endorsed the Trans-Pacific Partnership outsourcing jobs to foreign countries.Biden coaxes Dems on Obama trade deal The Hill. 01/28/16.
*Proudly supported bills such as CALEA and voted for the USA PATRIOT Act making mass surveillance of American citizens as well as arresting innocent people suspected of being terrorists perfectly "legal" in the name of ending terrorism,Roll Call Vote 107th Congress - 1st Session United States Senate. October 25, 2001. and its 2005 reauthorization,Roll Call Vote 109th Congress - 2nd Session United States Senate. March 2, 2006. but changed his mind as Dubya's ratings dropped. 
*Voted and loudly campaigned for the Second Iraq War,Roll Call Vote 107th Congress - 2nd Session United States Senate. October 11, 2002. but later opposed George W. Bush's troop surge and authored a strategy for withdrawal. 
*Author of the from which he cherry-picks the assault weapons ban and Violence Against Women Act, and doesn't mention some of the other more controversial provisions included.
*His reputation as a connected old white guy might contribute to further disaffection from people that just went through 4 years of it.
Joe BidenAge: Former Vice President of the United States, former Senator from Delaware, and former member of the New Castle County Council.		
==Dropped out==
===Michael Bennet===
 announced his bid for President on May 2, 2019.Michael Bennet dives into crowded Democratic presidential primary Politico. 05/02/2019. He dropped out on February 11th, 2020, on the day of the New Hampshire primary.https://text.npr.org/s.php?sId=756126032
Age: 
Background:
Senator of Colorado
Advantages: 
*Had generally polled the best against Donald Trump in head-to-head matchups at both the national and state level, though this has currently changed as of January 2020.2020 Democratic Presidential NominationReal Clear Politics. Biden is beating him in Texas of all places, where the others are polling the same as Hillary Clinton did. 
*Supports same-sex marriage,Bennet Statement on Supreme Court’s Same-Sex Marriage Ruling U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. June 26, 2015. has co-sponsored the Equality Act,Which amends the Civil Rights Act to extend civil rights protections to the LGBT+ communityBennet, Colleagues Introduce Landmark, Bipartisan Equality Act U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. March 13, 2019. and opposes the ban on transgender people serving in the military.What does Michael Bennet believe? Where the candidate stands on 6 issues PBS NewsHour. May 3, 2019.
*Supports access to abortion and birth control.Michael Bennet on the Issues On the Issues.
*Supports universal background checks and bans on magazines exceeding 10 rounds.
*Voted for the Affordable Care Act,https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00396 Roll Call Vote 111th Congress - 1st Session] United States Senate. December 24, 2009. but does not support Medicare for All,Democratic White House hopeful hits Medicare for all as 'bad opening offer' The Hill. 02/10/19. instead supporting a public option.
*Supports expanding the Child Tax Credit.
*Supports a path to citizenship and expanding the visa program, while expanding border security measures.
*Supported ending United States involvement in the War in Yemen.
Disadvantages: 
*The first in a line of moderates on the list, has no chance of winning.
*Endorses the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.Bennet says yes, Udall says no in split vote on Keystone Pipeline Denver Post. March 25, 2013.Bennet brings Senate's pro-Keystone count to 59 Politico. 11/14/2014.Keystone veto override fails The Hill. 03/04/15.
===Bill de Blasio===
 announced his bid for the Presidency on May 16, 2019.Mayor Bill de Blasio Enters 2020 Race for President The New York Times. May 16, 2019. He announced his dropping out on September 20, 2019, citing a belief that he has "contributed all I can to this Democratic primary," and promising to continue ensuring that New York City is "the vanguard of progressivism."https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/why-i-m-ending-my-2020-presidential-campaign-what-i-ncna1056761
Age: 
Background: Mayor of New York City.
Policy Positions:
*Legalization of Marijuana Supports marijuana legalization.De Blasio: Legalizing Marijuana In NYC Is ‘Once-In-A-Generation Opportunity’ CBS New York. December 20, 2018.
*Supports single-payer healthcare, having introduced the public option for residents of New York City. Wants to guarantee the right to healthcare, including for illegal immigrants. Wants to eliminate private health insurance.Here's Everything the Candidates Said at Wednesday's 2020 Democratic Presidential Debate Time. JUNE 27, 2019.
*Wants to abolish ICE.New York's Kirsten Gillibrand, Bill de Blasio echo progressive calls to 'abolish ICE' USA Today. June 29, 2018.
*Opposes Citizens United. Bill de Blasio on the Issues On the Issues.
*Opposes the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Observer. April 7, 2016.
===Michael Bloomberg===
Michael Bloomberg announced his bid for President on November 24, 2019.Peoples, Steve. AP. 24 November, 2019. Michael Bloomberg launches Democratic presidential bid. He used an unconventional strategy, which was to ignore the early caucuses and primaries of Iowa and New Hampshire, and instead focused on a big win on , where 1,512 delegates are up for grabs.Gonyea, Don. NPR. 14 February, 2019. . When he failed to accomplish this, to an almost miserable degree, he dropped out of the race on March 4th, 2020, after spending a record $500mil.Mike Bloomberg quits 2020 race after spending more than $500m, The Guardian, March 4th, 2020.
He has not appeared on any of the debate stages, due to failing to meet the donor requirement, due to a refusal to accept any donations, from anyone.Cadelago, Christopher. Politico. 8 January, 2020. Democrats attack Bloomberg for running imperial campaign. Following a rule change by the DNC, Bloomberg was able to qualify for debates, and appeared in the 18 February, 2020 debate, ahead of the Nevada Caucus.Montanaro, Domenico. NPR. 18 February, 2019. Poll: Sanders Leads The Field, Bloomberg Qualifies For His 1st Debate.
Age: 
Background: Former , co-founder and CEO of .
Advantages: In contrast to the other billionaire in the race, Bloomberg does have experience with public office.
*Self funding his campaign for president, undercutting concerns of influence through lobbyists and their money.
*Would expand the Affordable Healthcare Act and Medicare.Bush, Daniel. PBS. 10 December, 2019. What does Michael Bloomberg believe? Where the candidate stands on 6 issues.
*Proposes stronger gun laws, such as a federal 'red flag law', banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines and changes to the background check system.
*Supports reducing carbon emissions, and took steps as mayor to make New York City more environmentally friendly.
*Is well known for touting progressive causes, like gun control.
*Has enough money to sustain even a failing campaign, and so far his "buy every ad space on planet Earth" strategy has proven far from failing, allowing him to leapfrog more established contenders like Buttigieg or Warren in just a few months.
*Has used his past donations and connections to essentially buy the endorsements of a number of celebrities and politicians of various local and federal offices.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Michael_Bloomberg_2020_presidential_campaign_endorsements
Disadvantages: Nobody was asking for this...
*Against Medicare-for-all.
*Against the Green New Deal.
*Some wondered if his refusal to take donations was to avoid the debate stage and thus direct attacks from his rivals he'd have to respond to. Notably, he did meet polling requirements. Given his performance in his first debate with the candidates, this seems to have been the reason.
*While he does have experience holding public office, as mayor of New York City, people may feel unease at the idea of another billionaire in the White House, given how it has gone with the last one.
*Is well known for touting progressive causes... This is a negative in that he's a well known boogieman to Fox News viewers, something he'd have to deal with in the general.
*Could likely do more good if he used his wealth to help deal with voter suppression or a number of other problems, than burning it on this run for president that's guaranteed to fail.
*While mayor of New York City, he ordered a midnight paramilitary raid and clearing of the Occupy Wall Street demonstration in Zuccotti park, of which press footage at the scene and from above shows numerous actions of police brutality.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjNF6tOKCeM
*Has made some harmful comments about transgender people and their access to bathrooms... In 2016 and 2019.Concepcion, Summer. Talking Points Memo. 18 February, 2019. Video Of Bloomberg Suggesting Trans Rights Hurts Dem Campaigns Surfaces.
*Tied with Bernie Sanders for oldest candidate in the race, at 78 years old, a year older than Biden.
*Has a more clearly articulated history of racism (particularly against African-Americans) than even Trump,https://newsone.com/3902452/michael-bloomberg-racist-quotes-through-years/ which would make for an easy barrage of attack ads in majority-black cities across the midwest, which he would actually need to win in a general election.
*Loathed by pretty much all progressive voters (and not loved by either Sanders or Warren), many of whom have committed to sitting out a general election with him as the nominee
* Had ties to Jeffrey Epstein, appearing in his little black book.https://www.truthorfiction.com/mods-are-asleep-post-mike-bloomberg-in-epsteins-black-book
===Cory Booker===
 announced his bid for President on February 1st, 2019.New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker launches 2020 bid. Associated Press. February 1, 2019. Accessed February 1, 2019. On January 14th, 2020, Booker announced that he was suspending his campaign. Cory Booker Ends 2020 Presidential Campaign CNN. January 14, 2020. Accessed January 16, 2020. This is especially saddening, as there is now no one left in the race who is proficient in whipping Biden's ass.
Age: 
Background: Former Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. Senator from New Jersey.
Advantages: 
*Already has the endorsement of Joe Biden.https://youtu.be/qv65CFhHq74?t=120
*Laughingly puts down Biden for his 1994 crime bill.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv65CFhHq74
*Supports allowing the importation of prescription drugs from Canada after initially voting against it.
*Supports Medicare for All, but does not want to end private insurance.Where Democratic presidential candidates stand on health care reform. PBS NewsHour. February 20, 2019. Accessed February 25, 2019.What he has in mind could be Medicare Extra for All.
*Wants to overturn the ban on trans people in the military.Cory Booker pledges to undo Trump's 'un-American' trans military ban
*Supports same-sex marriage, women's right to abortions, and the legalization of marijuana.Cory Booker on the Issues: Where He Stands. The New York Times February 1, 2019. Accessed February 1, 2019. 
*Introduced legislation to outlaw "gay cure" therapy.Cory Booker: New Jersey Democrat joins presidential race. BBC News. February 1, 2019. Accessed Febrary 1, 2019.
*Endorses the Green New Deal.
*Champions public schools, despite supporting charter schools as Mayor of Newark.
*Favors criminal justice reform, having helped draft the First Step Act.Who is Cory Booker? CBS News. February 1, 2019. Accessed February 1, 2019.Signed into law by Donald Trump with bipartisan support, this Act is intended to, among other things, reduce recidivism and minimum sentencing for non-violent drug offenders.	
*Wants to create a savings account for every American child, funded by hikes in capital gains and estate taxes.	
*Wants to renegotiate the Iran Deal before rejoining.	
Disadvantages: 
*Booker is a notable Big Pharma Democrat, having been one of 13 Democrats to vote with Republicans against importing prescription drugs from Canada and voted to lower drug safety standards in a massive handout to the drug companies through the 21st Century Cures Act (alongside Castro's brother Joaquin, O'Rourke, Ryan, Moulton, and, of course, John Delaney). The Intercept. January 12, 2017.https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/6/cosponsors?q=%7B%22party%22%3A%22Democratic%22%7D "Coincidentally", back in 2014 Booker was the top Democrat, and number two Congressperson just under GODDAMNED Mitch McConnell, to receive generous gifts from the pharmaceutical industries.https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?ind=H04&cycle=2014&recipdetail=A&sortorder=U	
*Very unlikely to get momentum on the national scene in spite of having met minimal requirements to appear on national debates.
===Steve Bullock===
 announced his campaign for President on May 14, 2019.Twitter post 14 May 2019. On December 2, 2019, Bullock announced that he would be dropping out of the 2020 race.Bullock, Steve. 2 December 2019. Thank you.
Age: 
Background: Current Governor of Montana and Chair of the National Governor's Association, and former Attorney General of Montana.
Advantages: 
*Supports same-sex marriageU.S. judge strikes down Montana's gay marriage ban Reuters. NOVEMBER 19, 2014. and civil protections for LGBT+ people.What does Steve Bullock believe? Where the candidate stands on 9 issues PBS NewsHour.
*Supports access to abortion.
*Supports universal background checks, red flag laws,Which allow law enforcement to temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed a threat to themselves or others. and a ban on semi-automatic rifles.
*Supports DACA.
*Expanded Medicaid as Governor, but does not give a clear answer on whether he supports Medicare for All.
*Prefers free college apprenticeship programs over tuition-free college.
*Wants to re-enter the Paris Agreement and supports the Clean Power Plant, but supports the coal mining industry in Montana.Bullock will not attend DNC, still endorses Clinton NBC Montana. July 14th 2016.
*Supports net neutrality.Montana becomes first state to implement net neutrality after FCC repeal The Hill. 01/22/18.
*Opposes the tariffs against China implemented by the Trump administration.
*Wants to end the trade embargo with Cuba.
*Wants to overturn Citizens United and ban super-PACs.
===Pete Buttigieg===
Pete Buttigieg announced his campaign for President on January 23rd, 2019.Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg jumps into 2020 race CNN. January 23rd, 2019. He dropped out on March 1st, 2020, two days before Super Tuesday.Pete Buttigieg To Suspend Presidential Campaign NPR. March 1st, 2020.
Age: Mayor of South Bend, Indiana
Advantages:
*Supports same-sex marriage, being in such a marriage himself.https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/18/fashion/weddings/mayor-peter-buttigieg-wedding-democratic-party.html Pete Buttigieg Might Be President Someday. He’s Already Got the First Man. Wants to extend civil-rights legislation to protect the LGBTQ community.
*Favors transitioning towards a single-payer healthcare system by first providing a public optionThe public option is a government-run health insurance plan that competes with private insurance. but does not support eliminating private health insurance.
*Considers climate change to be a national security threat. Supports the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Wants to subsidize solar panels. 
*Endorses the Green New Deal.Buttigieg: Green New Deal resolution 'the right beginning' CNN. February 1010, 2019.
*Believes the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)This was renegotiated by the Trump administration and is now known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). has caused significant job losses in the Midwest but supports labor unions.
*Wants to ban guns in schools and the nullification of "stand-your-ground" laws. Supports universal background checks before gun purchases.
*Favors the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program, wants to provide undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children with a path to citizenship.What does Pete Buttigieg believe? Where the candidate stands on 7 issues. PBS NewsHour. February 15, 2019. Accessed March 7, 2019.
*Is in favor of abolishing the Electoral College.Dem presidential candidate Buttigieg calls for scrapping Electoral College: It 'needs to go' 
*Supports marijuana legalization.https://www.marijuanamoment.net/where-presidential-candidate-pete-buttigieg-stands-on-marijuana/
Disadvantages: The two things Pete's got going for him are that he's gay and he's a veteran. Otherwise, he may be the biggest pro-Israel candidate of the lineup, and also has an unpleasant resemblance to Alfred E. Neuman.
*Supports withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan but opposes Trump's plan to pull out of Syria. Considers Iran to be a serious threat to Israel. Only supports military deployment if diplomacy fails.
*Wants the Supreme Court to consist of fifteen justices; five affiliated with Democrats, five affiliated with Republicans, and five apolitical justices chosen by the other ten.Inside Pete Buttigieg's plan to overhaul the Supreme Court NBC News. June 3, 2019.
*Opposes the leaking of government documents by Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden, also opposing former President Obama's clemency of Manning's prison sentence.2020 candidate Pete Buttigieg "troubled" by clemency for Chelsea Manning CBS News. March 11, 2019.
*Would not reverse Donald Trump's decision to move the United States embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.Buttigieg wouldn't reverse US embassy move to Jerusalem: 'What's done is done' The Hill. 06/16/19.
*Supports a mandatory national service program. Politico. 04/15/2019.
*With the field condensing and Buttigieg being left standing with other hyped candidates destroyed, a few of the remaining just-holding-on candidates have devoted their whole presence to attacking him on his many flaws, often successfully. He's never won an election with more than 8,000 votes,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_South_Bend,_Indiana_mayoral_election and the one time he ran statewide he ate absolute shit,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Indiana_elections#Treasurer something even other candidates are beginning to point out.https://theintercept.com/2019/12/20/debate-amy-klobuchar-pete-buttigieg-electability And then there's...
*McKinsey. The simple fact is that one of his first jobs out of college was at one of the shadiest and generally most evil companies on the planet.http://www.satirev.org/opinion/mckinsey-evil-reprehensible-corporation-and-i-would-never-work-there-again#.XgC9RtZKiqA Initially he tried to weasel out of any accountability by claiming he was bound by an NDA from releasing any details of what he did there,https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-06/pete-buttigieg-has-a-nondisclosure-agreement already making him look worse. However, he managed to eventually get out of the NDA and provide some details of what he was doing during three of the seven years of his adult life he spent in the private sector.https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/pete-buttigieg-mckinsey-clients While his campaign and his supporters tried to pass this off as innocuous and not worth further discussion, less than ten minutes of research prove otherwise. One of his clients was the Canadian supermarket chain Loblaw Inc, which was in 2015 was caught and punished by the Canadian government for a bread price-fixing scheme that took place from 2001-2015.https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pete-buttigieg-mckinsey-loblaws-grocery_n_5df14bede4b01e0f29593304 That period includes 2008, when Buttigieg was involved in "analyzing how price cuts could bring in new customers", a phrase certainly does not sound sketchy at all when combined with what the company was doing at the time otherwise. Then he was part of the McKinsey team that tried to privatize the USPS,https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/pete-buttigieg-was-part-of-mckinsey-team-that-pushed-postal-service-privatization/ar-AAK6KY6?li=AAJUkZb something that may play better in the other primary. Finally, he consulted for insurance giant Blue Cross, Blue Shield, shortly before they announced a mass layoff of workers and increased premiums for their members,https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/11/questioned-about-role-blue-cross-layoffs-buttigieg-deflects-incredibly-dishonest something that would play well in no primary at this point. All in all, it's not hard to see this become the next Bain Capital and tanking a prospective Buttigieg general election candidacy.
*Has tried to prop himself up as the anti-Medicare For All candidate, describing it as an "infringement on freedom".https://trofire.com/2019/10/28/buttigieg-says-medicare-for-all-infringes-on-our-freedom-in-disgusting-new-ad/ This is despite the fact that at the start of the campaign he supported it,https://www.c-span.org/video/?457199-1/indiana-mayor-pete-buttigieg-launches-2020-exploratory-committee and just a year before, was offended by the idea that anyone would suggest that he didn't.https://twitter.com/PeteButtigieg/status/964863858849574913
*Leads the 2020 Democratic field in donations from Wall Street.https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-finance-202/2019/11/06/the-finance-202-buttigieg-breaks-out-with-wall-street-donors/5dc1fd6d88e0fa10ffd20bc3/
*And thishttps://twitter.com/JordanUhl/status/1195947838942982146
===Julián Castro===
Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development filed his FEC form on December 21st, 2018,Julián Castro's FEC filing and later officially announced his campaign on January 12th, 2019.Julián Castro, Former Housing Secretary, Announces 2020 Presidential Run The New York Times. January 12th, 2019. On January 2nd, 2020, Castro announced that he would be suspending his campaign.Castro, Julián. 2 January, 2020. 
Age: 
Background: Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the Obama administration, Former Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, and Former City Councilman for San Antonio.
Advantages: 
*Supports Medicare for All, universal pre-kindergarten, and some form or another of the Green New Deal.Here’s where 2020 presidential candidate Julián Castro stands on the environment
*Supports making the first two years of higher education free.What does Julián Castro believe? Where the candidate stands on 8 issues. PBS NewsHour. February 15, 2019. Accessed March 7, 2019.
*Wants to raise corporate taxes and income taxes on the richJulian Castro supports massive tax hike for wealthy elite. Associated Press. January 7, 2019. Accessed February 7, 2019. in order to fund Medicare for All.
*But now wants to rejoin the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and to reduce carbon emissions by incentivizing businesses to switch to renewable energy on a voluntary basis.
*Wants to ban assault rifles, to restrict high-capacity magazines, and to require background checks at gun shows.
*Opposes Trump's border wall, wants to provide undocumented immigrants with a pathway to citizenship, and proposed securing the U.S.-Mexican border using high technology. Also wants comprehensive immigration reform to make the legal immigration process more efficient, including a repeal of Section 1325. Does not support abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) but wants to reconstitute it.
*Supports making abortions legal after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
*Believes that Americans of all gender identities should be able to serve in the military.
*Wants a scheduled withdrawal from Syria.
*Wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in order to strengthen protections for workers and the environment.
Disadvantages: 
*Unremarkable career as both Mayor and HUD Secretary. His crowning achievement while mayor? A river walk.
*Quite hypocritically goes after Biden for ICE and immigration, while Castro himself did nothing to improve or discuss of it while in the same administration, and claims to have learned the mistakes of the past.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODoU-fxQKGo
*Was pro-fracking as mayor of San Antonio.https://grist.org/article/heres-where-2020-presidential-candidate-julian-castro-stands-on-the-environment/ Here’s where 2020 presidential candidate Julián Castro stands on the environment
===John Delaney===
 revealed he was running for President in a July 28, 2017 editorial for The Washington Post,John Delaney: Why I'm running for President The Washington Post. July 28th, 2017. and filed his FEC form the next month.John Delaney's FEC filing On January 31, 2020, Delaney announced he was ending his presidential run.“John Delaney Dropping Out”
Advantages: 
*Supports raising the corporate tax to 23%https://thehill.com/policy/finance/417923-business-groups-brace-for-dem-push-to-hike-corporate-taxes Business groups brace for Dem push to hike corporate taxes and is supportive of trade unions (having been in one himself).https://www.johnkdelaney.com/about/ John Delaney: About/
*Favors a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.https://web.archive.org/web/20141015050041/http://delaneyforcongress.com:80/issues/foreign-policy Delaney For Congress
Disadvantages: No name, no game. Another moderate running for the fame.
*Supported the Affordable Care Act,https://web.archive.org/web/20141015050051/http://delaneyforcongress.com/issues/health-care Delaney For Congress but prefers a Medicare expansion over single-payer healthcare.https://www.usnews.com/news/the-run/articles/2017-08-08/john-delaney-makes-audaciously-early-democratic-bid-for-president-in-2020 The First Democratic Candidate for President in 2020 Is Already Running
*Is supportive of Congressional term limits.http://archive.fo/Mq9H2 Delaney calls for 12-year term limits
*Wants to re-enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership.Twitter post 27 Jun 2019.
*Supports a mandatory national service program (wtf?).Twitter post July 28, 2019.
===Tulsi Gabbard===
On January 11th, 2019, Tulsi Gabbard filed her FEC formTulsi Gabbard's FEC filing and revealed her Presidential campaign.Tulsi Gabbard says she will run for president in 2020 CNN. January 11th, 2019. She dropped out late in the primary season on March 19, 2020 and endorsed Joe Biden.https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/tulsi-gabbard-drops-out-and-endorses-joe-biden.html
Age: 
Background: Representative from HI-02
Advantages
*Was initially homophobichttps://mauitime.com/news/politics/heres-why-the-hawaii-lgbt-caucus-doesnt-support-rep-tulsi-gabbards-reelection-campaign/https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/13/politics/kfile-tulsi-gabbard-lgbt/index.html and anti-abortion,https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/11/06/what-does-tulsi-gabbard-believe but now supports the LGBT communityhttps://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/17/tulsi-gabbard-apology-lgbt-comments-1109541 and claims to support access to abortion.https://www.votetulsi.com/updates/2011-12/social-issues#tulsi-choice
*Voted for the Equality ActFINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 217 House.gov. 17-May-2019. and opposes the transgender military ban.Twitter post 23 Jan 2019.
*Supports eliminating subsidies and tax benefits for fossil fuels.What does Tulsi Gabbard believe? Where the candidate stands on 7 issues. PBS Newshour. January 14, 2019. Accessed January 29, 2019.
*Supports a ban on fossil fuel use by 2050.
*Supports a ban on fracking.
*Supports tuition-free college.
*Supports universal background checks for all gun purchases.
*S̶u̶p̶p̶o̶r̶t̶s̶ ̶M̶e̶d̶i̶c̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶A̶l̶l̶. Supports Medicare "choice", aka a public option.https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/09/25/tulsi-gabbard-2020-democrat-candidatehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR0GKjOfswc
*Opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership.Twitter post 28 Jul 2016.
*Supports the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Syria, and ending U.S. support for the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen.
*Supports reinstating the Iran Deal.
*Also supports financial regulations in the form of reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act.https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-lawmakers-call-reinstatement-glass-steagall
*Disapproves of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
*Supports the decriminalization of sex work.This Democratic Presidential Candidate Wants To Decriminalize Sex Work BuzzFeed News. March 7th, 2019.
*Wants to pardon Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning, and wants to drop charges the U.S. has against Julian Assange.Joe Rogan Experience #1295 - Tulsi Gabbard (May 13, 2019), YouTube.
*While a generally soft-spoken person, she has landed devastating attacks on both Kamala Harris,https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/08/01/tulsi-gabbard-kamala-harris-prosecutions-record-cnn-democratic-debate-vpx.cnn and Tim Ryan.https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/06/26/tulsi_gabbard_blasts_tim_ryan_the_taliban_did_not_attack_us_on_911.html
*Won the oft-coveted endorsement of... Dennis Kucinich.https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/475743-kucinich-endorses-gabbards-2020-bid
 
Disadvantages
*Though popular among the anti-war crowd. Tulsi is a self-admitted hawk when it comes to terrorists, while a dove on regime changes."The rise of Gabbard: No telling how far independent path will take her" Hawaii Tribune-Herald. August 28, 2016.Tulsi Gabbard Is Anti-War But Not Pro-Peace Reason. May 8, 2019.
*Appearances on Tucker Carlson's Faux News show definitely aren't helping her campaign.
*Favors the regime of Narendra Modi, and has been skeptical that Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/tulsi-gabbard-says-she-has-no-regrets-about-meeting-with-syrian-president-bashar-al-assad/2019/01/20/4006f920-1ce3-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html?utm_term=.cbd268bf82b4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYgfj0OcHjk
*Says the US has to stand up for Israel, whom she considers to be America's strongest ally.Press Release: "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Reacts To Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Address To Congress", 3.4.15.
*LOATHED by much of the party faithful, as well as the Beltway press, to a greater extent than even Bernie, all the way up to treason accusations from the 2016 nomineehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Biy5dQFWA
*Backed off Medicare for All,https://twitter.com/sofiaxzaldivar/status/1177433056833146881 possibly the final nail in the coffin of much of her left base.
*Seemingly more popular among independents or even Republicans than the democratic base.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu74VBI_OqUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVTyirIMQ-I?t=1084https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCbqRAWdRYw
*Failed to push back on Dave Rubin allegation that Democrats are trying to 'out do each other on open borders'.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkg6PJhdn_U
===Kirsten Gillibrand===
On January 15th, 2019, filed her FEC form,Kirsten Gillibrand's FEC Filing formed an exploratory committee,Kirsten Gillibrand launches presidential exploratory committee POLITICO. January 15th, 2019. and officially announced her Presidential campaign during her appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.Kirsten Gillibrand formally enters 2020 race with announcement on Colbert's "Late Show" CBS News. January 15th, 2019. Dropped out on August 28, 2019.
Age: 
Background: Senator from New York[https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/ and former Representative from NY-20.
Policy Positions: 
*Supports Medicare for All.https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/24/nyregion/kirsten-gillibrand-2020-economic-agenda.html 
*Abolishing ICE,https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/28/politics/gillibrand-ice-cnntv/index.html and a federal jobs guarantee.https://www.thenation.com/article/why-democrats-should-embrace-a-federal-jobs-guarantee/
*Opposes the Citizens United ruling.https://endcitizensunited.org/candidate/kirsten-gillibrand/
*Denounces the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
*Once a bonafide conservative DINO up until she became a Senator, where she carved out a position as one of the most progressive voices in the Senate, her credentials remain questionable to say the least.
*Family issues such as daddy working as a lawyer for the NXIVM sex cult are spilling into her campaign.https://artvoice.com/2018/06/23/nxivm-love-story-kirsten-gillibrands-father-and-stepmother-fell-in-love-because-of-sex-slaver-cult/
*Supports a "Democracy Dollars" program, in which $600 is given to every voter to be used to donate to people running for federal public office.'Democracy Dollars': Gillibrand's plan to give every voter $600 to donate to campaigns NBC News. May 1, 2019
===Mike Gravel===
Mike Gravel formed an exploratory committee on March 19, 2019,Mike Gravel for President Exploratory Committee Federal Election Commission. 03/19/2019. and made his FEC filing the next month.STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY Federal Election Commission. 04/02/19. Originally, Gravel's campaign stated he was not running to actually win the nomination, but to bring left-wing ideas to the Democratic primary debate stage.Mike Gravel announces run for president to get into debates, not to win The Hill. 04/04/19. Eventually, Gravel decided to seek the nomination.Twitter post 29 Apr 2019. Gravel dropped out of the presidential race on August 2nd after not making it to the 2nd debate over polling, endorsing Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard.Gravel and his campaign teens end presidential run POLITICO. 08/02/2019.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzyEHDsdewA
Age: 
Background: Former Senator from Alaska and former member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 8th district.
Policy positions: Having been formed by members of his campaign,Twitter post 7 Apr 2019. Gravel's official platform countains the following positions:
*Enacting a full socialized, National Health Service-esque single-payer universal healthcare system, covering every single conceivable service.Economic Support for the Least Advantaged mikegravel.org.
*Enacting the Green New Deal.A Green New Deal mikegravel.org.
*Free public tax preparation and filing program, with an option for automatic tax filing.Automatic tax filing mikegravel.org.
*Federal jobs guarantee and $15 minimum wage.
*Abolishing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, while instituting a policy of open borders.Just Immigration Reform mikegravel.org.
*Abolishing the Electoral College,Abolishing the Electoral College mikegravel.org. establishing a ranked choice voting system,National Ranked-Choice Voting mikegravel.org. overturning Citizens United and establishing automatic voter registration.Making Elections Fair mikegravel.org.
*Banning the death penalty,Abolishing the Death Penalty mikegravel.org. cash bail, solitary confinement, mandatory minimum sentences and private prisons.Improving Prisons and Combating Recidivism mikegravel.org.
*Abolishing the NSA, repealing the USA PATRIOT Act,Restoring Civil Liberties mikegravel.org. and pardoning whistleblowers.Amnesty and Honor for Whistleblowers mikegravel.org.
*Closing all offshore military bases,Bring Every Troop Home mikegravel.org. ending all military aid to Saudi ArabiaEnding Support for Saudi Arabia mikegravel.org. and Israel,Opposing Israeli Apartheid mikegravel.org. banning weapons manufacturers from selling arms abroad,Banning Foreign Arms Sales mikegravel.org. sending all abroad soldiers back to the United States, ending the use of drones,Non-Aggression Abroad mikegravel.org, and renaming the Department of Defense to the "Department of War" while creating a "Department of Peace".Departments of Peace—and War mikegravel.org.
*Abolishing unilateral sanctions.
*Investing $1.5 trillion in infrastructure over the course of a decade.
===Kamala Harris===
Kamala Harris made her FEC filing on January 21st, 2019,Kamala Harris' FEC filing announcing her campaign the following week.Kamala Harris officially launches 2020 presidential campaign CNN. January 27th, 2019.
Age: 
Background: Senatorhttps://www.harris.senate.gov/ and former Attorney General from California
Advantages: 
*Utterly destroyed Biden in the second debate regarding his opposition to busing and working with segregationist Senators.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX7hni-zGD8&t=3493
*Supports Medicare for All.https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/08/31/sen-kamala-harris-backs-bernie-sanderss-single-payer-bill/?utm_term=.1a9c31415f3b
*Supports legalizing marijuana.https://twitter.com/SenKamalaHarris/status/994595315805310976
*Supports sanctuary cities.https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/us/12sanctuary.html
*Wants to repeal the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and to give middle-income families an annual cash payment of up to $6,000 per family.Why 2020 Democratic candidates are pushing more progressive tax proposals. PBS NewsHour. February 19, 2019. Accessed March 7, 2019.
*Supports the Green New Deal.Kamala Harris endorses Ocasio-Cortez’s ‘Green New Deal’ The Hill. January 28th, 2019.
*Wants to cancel student loan debt for Pell Grant recipients who start businesses that maintain operation in disadvantaged communities for three years.Twitter post Jul 27, 2019.
Disadvantages: 
*Likewise destroyed by Tulsi over her prosecuting career.https://youtu.be/Y4fjA0K2EeE?t=227
*Prides herself as a so called "progressive prosecutor".https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-kamala-harris-truancy-20190417-story.htmlhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-truancy-arrests-2020-progressive-prosecutor_n_5c995789e4b0f7bfa1b57d2e
*Sponsored some incredibly reckless truancy laws, including making it a misdemeanor for parents whose children are truant too many times without a valid excuse, which carried up to a year of jail time and/or a $2,000 fine, something which she is only now regretting.https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-kamala-harris-truancy-20190417-story.htmlhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-truancy-arrests-2020-progressive-prosecutor_n_5c995789e4b0f7bfa1b57d2e
*Mixed on the death penalty.https://www.isidewith.com/candidates/kamala-harris/stances/social/death-penaltyhttps://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/Why-does-Kamala-Harris-defend-the-death-penalty-6481227.php
===John Hickenlooper===
On March 4th, 2019, announced his campaign to run for President.John Hickenlooper Says He Is Running in 2020, Citing a ‘Crisis of Division’ The New York Times. March 4th, 2019. To no one's surprise and the relief of many, Hickenlooper announced the end of his bid on August 15, 2019, instead opting to join a crowded field for a Colorado Senate seat which he would ultimately win. ABC News. August 15, 2019.
Age: 
Background: 42nd Governor of ColoradoGov. John Hickenlooper | The Official Site of Governor Hickenlooper Wayback Machine. June 25th, 2018. and former Mayor of Denver.
Policy positions: 
*ReluctantlyAlthough he personally opposes marijuana, he upheld the voters' will when it was legalized in Denver and later Colorado as a whole. supports marijuana legalization.John Hickenlooper on the Issues OnTheIssues.
*Opposes mandatory minimum sentences.
*Supports standardized testing.
*Supports universal background checks and high-capacity magazine bans.
*Supports oil and gas development,Hickenlooper likely to face progressive backlash in possible 2020 run Axios. Aug 24, 2018. to the point that he drank a glass of Haliburton's fracking fluid.Hickenlooper offers new details on drinking Halliburton’s frack fluid Denver Business Journal. Sep 10, 2013.
===Jay Inslee===
 announced his Presidential campaign on March 1st, 2019, with the main focus of his bid drawing attention to combating climate change.Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announces presidential bid with focus on fighting climate change USA TODAY. March 1st, 2019. On the 21 August, 2019 episode of The Rachel Maddow Show, he announced his withdrawal from the 2020 presidential election.Kelly, Amita. Gov. Jay Inslee, Who Ran On Climate Change, Withdraws From Presidential Race. NPR 21 August 2019.
Age: 
Background: 23rd and current Governor of Washington State,Governor Jay Inslee | Washington State former member of the House of Representatives and former member of the Washington House of Representatives.
Policy positions: 
*Taking after the Green New Deal, Inslee advocates for a climate mobilization plan known as America's Climate Mission, a plan focusing on 100% clean energy, net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, investments into clean energy-related jobs, recovery for people and regions affected by climate change and pollution, and an end to subsidies to fossil fuel companies.America's Climate Mission From Jay Inslee's official campaign website.
*Supports a state-based public option, which he considers to be a "step toward universal health care."Washington Gov. Inslee focuses on climate change in 2020 bid. Associated Press. March 1, 2019. Accessed March 4, 2019.
*Supports access to abortion.Jay Inslee on the Issues OnTheIssues.
*Supports the ERA.
*Supports same-sex marriage, adoption and protection from discrimination.
*Opposes the death penalty.
*Supports gun control.
*Supports automatic voter registration.
===Amy Klobuchar===
 announced her Presidential campaign on February 10th, 2019,Amy Klobuchar launches presidential bid, joining record number of women candidates CBS News. February 10th, 2019. and dropped out on March 2nd, 2020, the day before Super Tuesday.Amy Klobuchar Drops Out of Presidential Race and Plans to Endorse Biden, 'NYTimes. March 2nd, 2020.
Age: 
Background: Three-term Senator from Minnesota.What does Amy Klobuchar believe? Where the candidate stands on 5 issues. PBS Newshour. February 10, 2019. Accessed May 18, 2019.
Advantages: 
*Supports the .Amy Klobuchar enters the 2020 presidential race Axios. february 10th, 2019.
*Supports rejoining the Paris Climate Change Agreement, cap and trade, and creating national guidelines to boost the use of renewable energy.
*Supports net neutrality.
*Considers discrimination against the LGBT community to be "bad for business."
*Supports automatic voter registration.
*Opposes Citizens United.
*Supports expanding Medicare to cover people aged 55 and up, possibly more.
*Introduced a bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate prices directly and co-authored a bill (with Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa) to speed up the availability of generic alternatives to expensive drugs.
*Believes that abortion is a decision between a woman and her doctor.
*Opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership.The trade deal that’s pitting Minnesota’s Democrats against Obama — and has Republicans backing him up MinnPost. June 4th, 2015.
*Wants to give most illegal immigrants a path to citizenship and to reform, rather than abolish, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
*Introduced, with Senators John McCain (Arizona) and Mark Warner (Virginia), the Honest Ads Act.It requires advertisers and publishers to publicly disclose information about their ads for the sake of transparency and accountability.
*Wants to restore United States membership in the Iran Deal.
*Won every Congressional district in her state regardless of partisan leaning. Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts.
Disadvantages: 
*Opposed President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.
*An abusive asshole to the people who work under her, for no discernible reason other than she feels like being one.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/22/us/politics/amy-klobuchar-staff.html
===Seth Moulton===
 announced his campaign for President on April 22, 2019.Seth Moulton Joins 2020 Race for President The New York Times. April 22, 2019. Moulton dropped out of the race on August 23, 2019, while predictably warning the Democrats against running a progressive candidate if the party wants to "defeat President Trump", because running a bland corporate centrist worked so well last time. The New York Times. April 22, 2019.
Age: 
Background:Representative from Massachusetts' 6th district since 2014.Who is Democratic presidential candidate Seth Moulton?. ABC News. April 22, 2019. Accessed April 22, 2019.
Policy positions: 
*Supports same-sex marriage and access to abortion.Seth Moulton on the Issues On the Issues.
*Supports marijuana legalization, having smoked it himself.Seth Moulton Says He Smoked Pot at Harvard, Supports Legalization Boston Magazine. 9/19/2016.
*Supports automatic voter registration.
*Is a proponent of public transportation, being a frequent rider himself.Riding the rails with Moulton . The Salem News. February 18, 2016. Accessed April 22, 2019.
*Wants to abolish the Electoral College and the Senate filibuster.Rep. Seth Moulton is latest Democrat to enter 2020 field. NBC News. April 22, 2019. Accessed April 22, 2019.
*Wants to cut spending on "massive" defense programs, but more on cybersecurity to protect elections.Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton Joins Democratic Race For President. NPR. April 22, 2019. Accessed April 22, 2019.
*Supports single-payer healthcare, but wants to retain private health insurance.Moulton dings Dems right out the gate for single-payer health care push Politico. 04/22/2019.
*Originally a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, he later wrote an editorial expressing that he wanted to reform it mostly into a job creation and civilian service program.Let Green New Deal serve as a jobs and civilian-service program Des Moines Register. March 29, 2019.
*Endorses nuclear power, which he considers the "best" source of clean energy.Pilgrim's closure revives nuclear energy debate. The Eagle Tribune. October 29, 2015. Accessed April 22, 2019.
*Wants all 33 million young Americans to serve in the military, promising healthcare and education benefits (Diet Delaney?).Twitter post 19 May 2019.
===Beto O'Rourke===
 announced that he was running for President on March 14th, 2019.Beto O’Rourke Enters the 2020 Presidential Campaign The New York Times. March 14th, 2019. The previous day, he explained, "I want to be in it. Man, I’m just born to be in it, and want to do everything I humanly can for this country at this moment" in an interview with Vanity Fair.Beto O’Rourke, as He Comes to Terms with a Presidential Run: “I’m Just Born to Do This” Vanity Fair. March 13th, 2019. On November 1st, 2019, Beto announced the end to his bid to be come the Democratic Party nominee.O'Rourke, Beto. Medium. 1 November, 2019. Thank you..
Age: 
Background:Former member of the House of Representatives from TX-16 and former member of the El Paso City Council from the 8th district.
Advantages: 
*Launched a Senate campaignBeto O'Rourke to challenge Ted Cruz in Texas' 2018 Senate race Houston Chronicle. March 29th, 2017. in 2018 to unseat Ted Cruz, losing by only a small margin.Ted Cruz wins Texas Senate race, fending off challenge from Beto O'Rourke CBS News. November 6th, 2018.
*Wants to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. Views climate change and renewable energy from an economic perspective.What does Beto O’Rourke believe? Where the candidate stands on 8 issues. PBS Newshour. March 14, 2019. Accessed May 18, 2019.
*Wants to make pre-Kindergarten universal and the first two years of higher education debt-free.
*Favors anti-trust legislation.https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/03/14/beto-orourke-stances-2020-us-policy-trump-wall-ice-education-energy/3110524002/
*Voted against the restriction of abortions to 20 weeks and co-sponsored a bill that places no restriction on abortion if the mother's life or health is at risk.
*Wants to end the War on Drugs.Beto O’Rourke Fights the Clampdown in Texas The Nation. October 29th, 2018.
*Wants to make sexual discrimination illegal and give same-sex couples the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts.
*Opposes the ban on transgender people in the military.
*Supports universal background checks and the banning of "assault weapons" and high-capacity magazines.
*Supports the legalization of marijuana.Beto O'Rourke calls for federal marijuana legalization ahead of likely 2020 bid CNN. March 4th, 2019.
*Wants to give legal status to all illegal immigrants and a path to citizenship for "Dreamers," or individuals brought illegally to the United States as children.
*Is "open" to the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as long as their responsibilities are transferred elsewhere.
===Richard Ojeda===
On Novemeber 11th, 2018, filed his FEC formForm 1 for Ojeda for President Federal Election Commission. 11/11/18. and announced his official presidential campaign.West Virginia Democrat launches 2020 bid The Daily Athenaeum. Dec 2, 2018. He dropped out of the race on January 27th, 2019.Retired paratrooper, a former West Virginia lawmaker, exits from 2020 presidential race, ArmyTimes. January 27th, 2019. Nobody really noticed that he had been running and only barely paid attention that he dropped out, as he was the first candidate to drop out of the nomination.
Age: 
Background:Former State Senator from West Virginia. United States Army Major, 2-time Bronze Star recipient and veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.
Policy positions:
*Favors raising corporate taxes.Richard Ojeda’s West Virginia primary win gives Democrats their best chance to turn coal country blue Vox. May 9, 2018.
*Supports the rights of unions and opposes right-to-work laws.
*Endorses the Green New Deal.Twitter post 6 Dec 2018.
*Favors legalizing marijuana and decriminalizing opiates.Twitter post 27 Dec 2018.
*Supports a woman's right to abortion and opposes all anti-abortion legislation. Also wants to increase access to birth control and quadruple Planned Parenthood funding.Richard Ojeda comes out swinging on abortion rights The Intercept. November 21, 2018.
===Deval Patrick===
 announced his bid for President on November 14, 2019.Woodall, Hunter. AP. 14 November, 2019. Ex-Gov. Deval Patrick launches ‘Hail Mary’ bid for president. On February 12, 2020, one day after garnering an astonishing 1258 votes in New Hampshire, he announced that he was suspending his campaign. 12 Feb 2020
Age: 
Background: Former , former for the Civil Rights Division.
Advantages: 
*Actually has prior political experience as governor of the state of Massachusetts.
*Supports a public option for health care.
*Supports free community college.
*Supports universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons, and strengthened laws in the state of Massachusetts during his time as governor.Norwood, Candice. PBS. 6 December, 2019. What does Deval Patrick believe? Where the candidate stands on 6 issues.
*Supports LGBTQIA rights and helped expand Medicaid coverage for transgender individuals during his time as governor.
Disadvantages: He stands no chance of winning. We didn't even have him in this article until almost two months after he announced his candidacy.
*Does not support "Medicare for All".
*Against the Green New Deal.Jaffe, Alexandra. AP. 19 November, 2019. Patrick defends corporations and capitalism in primary bid.
*Won't refuse contributions from people and entities tied to fossil fuel companies.
*Been involved with oil company, subprime lending company, and Bain Capital in recent years.
*To emphases how little of a chance he has, he had ended up canceling an event at Morehouse College, 6 days after he announced his candidacy, when only 2 people showed up... and they were just passing and decided to be nice and attend when asked by the organizers...Grayer, Annie. CNN. 20 November, 2019. Deval Patrick cancels Morehouse College event due to no show crowd 
===Tim Ryan===
 announced his bid on April 4, 2019.Rep. Tim Ryan announces he's running for president CNN. April 4, 2019. On 24 October, 2019, he announced he would end his bid for the Democratic party nomination, to instead focus on being re-elected to his seat in Ohio's 13th district.Tim Ryan. @TimRyan. Twitter. 24 October 2019. Tweet.
Age: 
Background: Member of the House of Representatives from Ohio's 13th district, previously representing the 17th district. Former Ohio State Senator from the 32nd district.
Policy positions:
*Supports legislation to combat climate change, but does not support the Green New Deal.What does Tim Ryan believe? Where the candidate stands on 8 issues PBS. Apr 8, 2019.
*Supports tuition and debt-free college.
*Supports universal background checks and a ban on semi-automatic rifles.
*Supports the DREAM Act of 2019.Gives undocumented immigrant children protected under DACA the opportunity for permanent residency, and gives Temporary Protected Status recipients and immigrants protected under Deferred Enforced Departure permanent legal status.
*Supports same-sex marriage, access to abortion, nationwide legalization of marijuana, and the right of transgender people to join the military.
===Bernie Sanders===
Bernie Sanders announced his campaign for President on February 19th, 2019.Bernie Sanders announces second US presidential bid. BBC News. February 19, 2019. Accessed February 19, 2019. Suspended his campaign April 8th, 2020.Sanders suspends campaign
Age: 
Background: Former House Representative of Vermont. Current Senator from Vermont. Ran for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
Advantages:
*Author of the Medicare for All proposal.Here's What's In Bernie Sanders' 'Medicare For All' Bill. NPR. September 14, 2017. Accessed February 2, 2019. Wants to expand and strengthen the social safety net. 
*Clown stomps the moderates opposing his Medicare for All plans.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrh1C0HSRhMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vudqgDSb5OE
*Supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and making public colleges and universities tuition-free.
*Wants to cancel all $1.6 trillion of student loan debt.Bernie Sanders to unveil plan to cancel all $1.6 trillion of student loan debt CNN. June 23, 2019.
*Wants to raise taxes on wealthy people and corporations, such as a federal estate tax of up to 77% on the richest 0.2% of Americans, in order to fund his welfare programs and to reduce income inequality.Bernie Sanders: 17 things the Democratic socialist believes. BBC News. January 21, 2016. Accessed February 19, 2019.
*Supports breaking up the big banks and other financial reforms.Sanders backs big bank breakups, in contrast with Clinton. Politico. July 17, 2015. Accessed February 19, 2019.
*Advocates transitioning towards renewable energy.
*Opposes unfettered free trade.Bernie Sanders on Free Trade. On the Issues. Updated August 16, 2016. Accessed February 3, 2019. 
*Wants to make it easier for people to join labor unions.
*Advocates for workers having ownership stake in the businesses they work for.
*Supports equal pay for equal work.Sanders believes that women on average earn only 78% of what they male counterparts do.An Economic Agenda for America: 12 Steps Forward. The Huffington Post. December 1, 2014. Accessed February 19, 2019.
*Opposed the FCC's overturning of net neutrality.Sanders Statement on FCC Decision to Repeal Net Neutrality www.sanders.senate.gov. December 14th, 2017. and voted on a bill to retain net neutrality.Senate approves bill in bid to retain U.S. net neutrality Reuters. May 16th, 2018.
*Supports a ban on for-profit charter schools, a salary floor of $60,000 for teachers and universal free school meals.Bernie Sanders will call for ban on for-profit charter schools CNN. May 17, 2019.
*Supports abolition of the Electoral College.Twitter post Jul 19, 2019.
*Opposes the Supreme Court Citizens United decision.If We Don’t Overturn Citizens United, Congress Will Become Paid Employees of the Billionaire Class. Huffington Post. May 22, 2015. Accessed February 19, 2019.
*Believes that even incarcerated citizens should have the right to vote.Takeaways from Bernie Sanders' CNN town hall. CNN. April 22, 2019. Accessed April 22, 2019.
*Supports abolishing the death penalty.Twitter post Jul 25, 2019.
*Opposes Donald Trump's decision to press charges against Julian Assange under the Espionage Act.Twitter post 24 May 2019.
*Favors instant background checks for gun purchases, removal of the gun-show loophole,This allows people to buy guns at shows without having to pass a background check. and a ban on assault rifles and on high-capacity magazines.Bernie Sanders on Gun Control. On the Issues. Updated August 18, 2016. Accessed February 19, 2019.
*Believes that states rather than the federal government should handle waiting periods for handgun purchases.
*Is open to decriminalizing sex work.Bernie Sanders open to decriminalizing sex work The Hill. 06/20/19.
*Supports a diplomacy-first approach to foreign affairs. Opposes the Second Iraq War.
*He has a good reputation for intellectual rigidity.WaPo: Sanders is insanely consistent
*While the amount of legislation he passed is very low,What 2020 candidates did in Congress he's known to add roll call amendments to legislationPolitifact: Bernie Sanders was "amendment king" from 1995 to 2007 as well winning a reputation of a bipartisan deal maker as Veterans Affairs Committe Chairman.Congress’s only socialist becomes a bipartisan dealmaker
*Could possibly unify the Left against Trump, and Sanders has a history of winning elections."Bernie Sanders can unify Democrats and beat Trump in 2020" Vox 7 Jan 2020
Disadvantages:
* Mixed support from the Democratic Party. Democrats such as Peter Welch, Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna support Sanders as a champion for real change."Congressman Who Endorsed Bernie Sanders Says There's No Party Conspiracy to Undermine Senator's Campaign" Newsweek 3 March 2020 However some like Rahm Emanuel fear that Sanders would alienate swing votes."‘They let him get away with murder’: Dems tormented over how to stop Bernie" Politico 27 Jan 2020 It's easy to forget that the Democratic party is not a monolith.
*Like Biden, who is only a year younger, Sanders has an age disadvantage (at 78) compared to Trump who is 73.
*He has a bad reputation for intellectual rigidity.WaPo: Sanders is insanely consistent
*He has not been able to pass even an average amount of legislation outside of amendments in his time in office.What 2020 candidates did in Congress Note the first words of the above column. It wouldn't be unprecedented that he became more effective once taking office, but it's a risky bet.
*His reputation as an ideologue might contribute to further disaffection from people that just went through 4 years of it. 
*There are doubts that not enough young voters will show up to beat Trump."Bernie Sanders looks electable in surveys — but it could be a mirage" Vox 19 March 2020
* While his percentages in the primaries remained fairly consistent, as other candidates dropped out their supporters moved to Biden and not to Sanders. As such his early pluralities did not translate into majorities.
===Tom Steyer===
 announced his bid for President on July 9, 2019.Wright, David. CNN. 9 July, 2019. Tom Steyer officially announces presidential bid. He made his first appearance on the debate stage in the October 2019 debates.Stevens, Matt. New York Times. 8 September, 2019. Tom Steyer Qualifies for October Debates, Bringing Field to 11. On 29 February, 2020, he announced the end of his campagain, following coming in third in the South Carolina primaries, having come in third with approximately 50,000 votes or 11.4% of the vote.Summers, Juana. NPR. 29 February, 2020. Tom Steyer Drops Out Of 2020 Presidential Race.
Age: 
Background: Founder of , co-founder of , partner and executive committee member of .
Advantages: 
*Was an early proponent of impeaching Donald Trump, calling for it in October 2017.Steyer, Tom.YouTube. 19 October 2017. Join Us.
*Supports a 'living wage'.Vinopal, Courtney. PBS. July 20, 2019. Updated 10 December, 2019. What does Tom Steyer believe? Where the candidate stands on 6 issues.
*Favors public option for healthcare, separate from Medicare & Medicaid.Luthi, Susannah. Politico. 18 November, 2019. How Tom Steyer would secure universal health care coverage.
*A 12 year lifetime term limit on congress members.Tom Steyer.com. Term Limits.
*Pro-choice.
*Supports gun control.
Disadvantages:
*Like pointed out above with Bloomberg, people may feel unease at the idea of another billionaire in the White House, given how it has gone with the last one.
*Hits really hard on the impeaching Donald Trump during the campaign, which is strange given if he wins, impeaching Trump would be a moot point.
*Could likely do more good if he used his wealth to help deal with voter suppression or that impeachment thing that made his name known to the American people.Stewart, Emily. Vox. 29 November, 2019. Tom Steyer’s impeachment group is missing its big moment because he’s running for president.
===Eric Swalwell===
 announced his candidacy on April 8, 2019 while appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.Eric Swalwell, California Democrat, says he's running for president CBS News. April 8, 2019. His dropped his bid exactly three months later, on July 8, 2019, after failing to gain any traction in the field.Eric Swalwell ends presidential bid after failing to gain traction CNN. July 8, 2019.
Age: 
Background: Member of the House of Representatives from California's 15th district, and former city council member of the Dublin, California.
Policy positions:
*Supports same-sex marriage and access to abortion and contraception.Eric Swalwell on the Issues On the Issues.
*Supports a ban and Federal buyback of semi-automatic weapons, and supports universal background checks.California Democrat Eric Swalwell is close to deciding to run for president in 2020. Here’s where he stands on key issues CNBC. Feb 11, 2019.
*Endorses Medicare for All.Rep. Eric Swalwell: Medicare for All is the obvious solution to a health care system that still drives people to financial ruin Eric Swalwell's editoral on healthcare. NBC News. March 2, 2019.
*Endorses the Green New Deal.
*Supports automatic voter registration.
===Elizabeth Warren===
 filed her FEC formElizabeth Warren's FEC filing and formed an exploratory committee on December 31st, 2018.Warren’s jump into the presidential campaign kicks the 2020 race into high gear The Washington Post. January 3rd, 2018. She officially announced her Presidential campaign on February 9th, 2019.Elizabeth Warren kicks off presidential bid with challenge to super wealthy — and other Democrats CNN. February 9th, 2019. She dropped out after a poor Super Tuesday performance on March 5th, 2020.Elizabeth Warren quitting 2020 Democratic presidential race, The Guardian, March 5th, 2020.
Age: 
Background: Senator from Massachusetts.https://www.warren.senate.gov/ Former interim director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.Elizabeth Warren. Encyclopedia Britannica. Updated January 2, 2019. Accessed January 29, 2019.
Advantages: 
Almost everything Bernie has going for him, they both get along very well and avoid attacking eachother on the debates. Warren is essentially the female Bernie Sanders, but even more reform-oriented (she wants to create a more fair capitalist system).
*Has a multitude of criminal justice reform ideas which include ending cash bail, decriminalizing offenses related to homelessness and addiction, requiring more police body cameras, and repealing the infamous 1994 crime bill.Democrat Warren wants to repeal 1994 crime bill, end cash bail. Reuters.
*Supports public works and financial regulation, having helped create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
*Wants to break up tech giants.Elizabeth Warren calls to break up Facebook, Google and Amazon. NBC News. March 8, 2019. Accessed April 2, 2019.
*Has an agriculture reform plan to woo rural voters. She wants to bust up the harmful agribusiness monopolies and prevent anti-competition mergers such as the recent Bayer-Monsanto deal.Elizabeth Warren’s plan to make farming great again, explained. Vox.
*Has proposed a 2% wealth tax on households whose net worth are over $50,000,000 each, and a 3% wealth tax on those worth over $1 billion each,https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/yw8g7x/how-elizabeth-warrens-wealth-tax-would-remake-america which would raise an estimated $2.75 trillion over ten years.Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 Strategy: Stand Out by ‘Nerding Out’. The New York Times. January 27, 2019. Accessed January 30, 2019. 
*Supports Medicare for All,https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/09/07/warren-signs-sanders-single-payer-health-care-plan/83mcJz8NietWZWRlAug3jL/story.html and wants to eliminate private health insurance.
*Supports "net metering."Net metering enables consumers to use the electricity they generate at any time, instead of only when it is generated. This has important implications for renewable energy.
*Supports universal child care.Elizabeth Warren Proposes Universal Child Care. The New York Times. February 19, 2019. Accessed March 4, 2019.
*Opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership,https://thehill.com/policy/finance/trade/239695-warren-lashes-back-at-obama-on-trade and the Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-sixth-anniversary-of-citizens-united-decision-senator-warren-lays-out-steps-to-tackle-the-influence-of-money-in-politics
*Has a low-income housing plan: her "American Housing and Economic Mobility Act" would invest in affordable housing, expand protections under the Fair Housing Act to ban housing discrimination based on identity and income, and would create new incentives for local governments to reduce barriers that drive up the cost of housing.Senator Warren and Colleagues Reintroduce Bold Affordable Housing Bill. National Low Income Housing Coalition.
*Proposes a "Department of Defense Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act", which would ban DoD officials from owning stock in stock in defense contractors, ban contractors from hiring retired DoD officials for four years after they leave office, and make defense contractors subject to federal open records law and have to report who they’re lobbying at the Pentagon and why.Elizabeth Warren targets military-industrial complex in new plan. Defense News.
*Wants to expand the State Department by creating diplomatic training programs for US universities, doubling the size of the Peace Corps, opening new diplomatic posts in under-served areas, and creating more scholarships for language and data-science programs.How Sen. Elizabeth Warren would bolster U.S. diplomacy. Politico.
*Wants to abolish the Electoral College, to remove Confederate statues, and to create a national commission to study reparations for African-Americans.Elizabeth Warren Calls for Ending Electoral College. The New York Times. March 18, 2019. Accessed April 2, 2019.
*Wants to hold corporate executives criminally accountable when their companies act negligently or recklessly.https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/4/3/18294308/elizabeth-warren-op-ed-wells-fargo-equifax
*Supports the Right to Repair movement, which would allow consumers to fix things that they own without fear of legal reprisals from manufacturers.https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/27/18284011/elizabeth-warren-apple-right-to-repair-john-deere-law-presidential-campaign-iowa
*Wants to ban private prisons.Warren pledges to ban private prisons The Hill. 06/21/19.
*Is open to decriminalizing sex work.Warren: 'I'm open' to decriminalizing sex work USA Today. June 20, 2019.
*Has a number of ideas to alleviate the horrible conditions Native Americans face. Her proposals include establishing a permanent, statutory White House Council on Native American Affairs and invest in programs to help Native American communities rectify their general lack of transportation, electricity, and clean water.Honoring and Empowering Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples. Elizabeth Warren. Medium.
*Destroyed any and all prospect Michael Bloomberg had in the primary in under 60 seconds.How Elizabeth Warren destroyed Mike Bloomberg's campaign in 60 seconds, The Guardian, March 4th, 2020.
Disadvantages: 
*Most of her potential left base prefer Bernie by a fair margin, and many of them have begun to see her as a phony and a threat to real progressive change. Even Bernie has begun to go in a bit.Sanders distinguishes himself from Warren noting she aid "I am a capitalist in my bones"
*The Native American debacle. It would be one thing if she just said it once, but there's decades of it, and many Indigenous people, who have already trended Republican in recent years, still distrust her over it.Native American leaders criticise Elizabeth Warren
*Was a Republican for much of her adult life, and not a moderate or quiet one at that.Warren's 1991 speech to the conservative Federalist Society
*Has waffled on Corporate PAC money, potentially eliminating many of the ostensible benefits to her.Warren shifts stance on big money
*More hawkish than many Democrats, or war-weary Americans in general, would prefer.Elizabeth Warren's foreign policy
===Marianne Williamson===
New Age spiritualist and guru Marianne Williamson began her bid for President on January 29, 2019.Author Marianne Williamson running for 2020 Dem nomination The Hill. 01/29/19. On January 10, 2020, Williamson officially ended her campaign for the nomination,https://www.marianne2020.com/posts/with-love-and-gratitude after having laid off all of her campaign staff 8 days before.https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/02/politics/marianne-williamson-campaign-staff-2020/index.html
Age: 
Background: New Age Spirtualist and guru
	
Advantages:
*Endorses Medicare for All.Medicare for All: Where 2020 Dems stand The Hill. 03/28/19.
*Endorses the Green New Deal.Marianne Williamson: Everything you need to know about the 2020 candidate Axios. Apr 14, 2019.
*Supports universal preschool and tuition-free college.
*Supports paying $100 billion dollars in reparations for African-Americans, with $10 billion distributed every year over a period of ten years.
Disadvantages: 	
*Master of all things relating to New Age woo.	
*Republicans are now actually donating to her campaign just to keep her discussing woo beliefs in the debates.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/06/28/democratic-debate-2019-republicans-urge-giving-marianne-williamson/1598726001/	
*She has repeatedly expressed vaccine "skepticism".2020 candidate Marianne Williamson apologizes for calling vaccine mandates ‘Orwellian’ by Matt Pearce (Jun 20, 2019 | 8:35 AM) Los Angeles Times.
===Andrew Yang===
 filed his FEC form on November 6th, 2017.https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/624/201711069086611624/201711069086611624.pdf He dropped out on February 11th, 2020, on the day of the New Hampshire primary.https://text.npr.org/s.php?sId=802310701
Age: 
Background: Founder and former CEO of ,http://siliconbayounews.com/2017/03/29/andrew-yang-steps-venture-america-ceo/ Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship under President Barack Obama.http://web.archive.org/web/20180104232538/https://www.commerce.gov/page/eu-us?field_news_type_tid%5b52%5d=52&field_news_type_tid%5b51%5d=51&field_news_type_tid%5b55%5d=55&field_news_type_tid%5b56%5d=56&field_news_type_tid%5b54%5d=54&field_news_type_tid%5b53%5d=53&page=3
Advantages: 
*Supports a universal basic income program called "The Freedom Dividend," which would provide every American citizen aged 18 or above a monthly $1,000 check.https://www.yang2020.com/policies/the-freedom-dividend/ He plans to pay for this by consolidating welfare programs and imposing a 10% value-added tax on goods and services which he estimated would generate upto $800 billion in revenue.What does Andrew Yang believe? Where the candidate stands on 5 issues. PBS Newshour. March 19, 2019. Accessed May 18, 2019.
*Believes that the Affordable Care Act was a step in the right direction but is not enough; wants to shift to a Medicare-for-All system instead.Policy: Medicare for All. Yang 2020. Accessed May 18, 2019.
*Supports salariedAs opposed to payment by service. doctors.
*Wants to use artificial intelligence to improve mental health services and create a "White House Psychologist Corps" to screen administration staff.
*Wants to keep abortion legal.
*Supports legislation that protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender, and wants to appoint LGBTQ individuals to serve in his administration.
*Advocates for "Human Capitalism," a form of capitalism that he claims focuses on people rather than money and uses measurements other than the gross domestic product (GDP)It should be noted that in addition to raw GDP, there are also GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP), GDP per capita, and GDP at PPP per capita. The last one is arguably the most reliable of the group in measuring standards of living. and the stock market to determine success.https://www.yang2020.com/policies/human-capitalism/ The alternatives he had in mind include standards of living, and life expectancy.
*Wants to develop a new currency called the "Digital Social Credit" that could be exchanged for real dollars.
*Vows to invest in solutions to global warming, including technologies to reverse environmental damages, and improve access to nuclear power.https://www.yang2020.com/policies/nuclear-energy/ 
*Support eliminating tax benefits to fossil fuel companies and institute a carbon tax.
*Wants to strengthen environmental protection along the Rio Grande.
*Wants to enable illegal immigrants to become citizens in 18 years, provided they maintain a clean criminal record and pay their taxes.
*Supports the DREAM Act and improving security along the U.S.-Mexico border.
*Believes in NATO and other international alliances and wants hand the power to declare war back to Congress.
*Plans to regularly audit Pentagon spending and create a new position called the Secretary of Cybersecurity.The United States Cyber Command has already been activated.
*Wants to redirect 10% of military spending to an infrastructure program titled "The Legion of Builders and Destroyers".
*Accuses the ultra-lucrative college sports industry of "exploiting young people," and calls on the NCAA to start paying its athletes.https://twitter.com/andrewyang/status/1104378302700097543?lang=en 
Disadvantages:
*The problematic issues surrounding the likely negative effects of both his "The Freedom Dividend" and its accompanying VAT scheme.
*Promotes holistic/alternative medicines, such as acupuncture, stating they don't need FDA approval as they're "just innate."Andrew Yang Interview, AARP Panel He has even announced an appearance on pseudoscience-peddling TV host Dr. Oz's show, praising him for "mak[ing] a lot of people smarter about their health. 👍💪😀"https://twitter.com/AndrewYang/status/1181207967363997698
*The alt-right support him on social media, calling themselves the "Yang Gang", largely due to "The Freedom Dividend" promising free money if elected and Yang's appearances on non traditional outlets for Democratic candidates, such as Joe Rogan's podcast.http://podcasts.joerogan.net/podcasts/andrew-yang
*Is prone to superficial “consultancy speak” and associated flimflammery, such as the need for downsizing the entire federal workforce or the idea that all laws should have sunset clauses, and simplistic notions about how “smart entrepreneurs” like himself is really all that is needed to fix things, an approach to politics not unlike Trump’s “drain the swamp” rhetoric.Andrew Yang is not ready to be president, by Jeremiah Johnson, The Medium, March 18, 2019
==See also==
* Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
* High speed rail
* Infrastructure policy of Donald Trump
* Renewable energy
* Universal healthcare
==External links==
===Abortion===
* Abortion Laws Around the World. Pew Research Center. Religion and Public Life. September 30, 2009.
* Induced Abortion Worldwide. Guttmacher Institute. March 2018.
* In Europe, it is both easier and harder to get an abortion than in US. Christian Science Monitor. May 24, 2018.
===Infrastructure===
* Donald Trump's infrastructure priorities. Global Construction Review. January 30, 2017.
* Buildings Reinvented. The B1M. February 17, 2019.
* Why is Norway the land of electric cars?. BBC News. May 19, 2019.
===Green New Deal===
* Resolution on the Green New Deal by House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. February 7, 2019. (Resolutions are legally non-binding.)
* On the circumstances, history, and key details of the Green New Deal. National Public Radio. February 7, 2019.
===Other topics===
* Characteristics of minimum wage workers, 2017. Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor. March 2018.
* Top Issues for Voters: Healthcare, Economy, Immigration. Gallup News. November 2, 2018.
* Which countries are best at attracting high-skilled workers?. World Economic Forum in collaboration with the Visual Capitalist. March 20, 2019.
* Medicare for All: Can Bernie Sanders overhaul US healthcare?. BBC News. April 10, 2019.
* 7 Ways Rich People Avoid Paying Taxes. America Uncovered. April 15, 2019.
==Further reading==
* Britnell, Mark. In Search of the Perfect Health System. Palgrave, 2015. ISBN 978-1-137-49661-4. 
* Ferguson, Charles D. Nuclear Energy: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN 978-0-19975-945-3.
* Reid, T. R. The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care. Penguin Press, 2009. ISBN 978-1-594-20234-6.
* Spieler, Christof. Trains, Buses, People: An Opinionated Atlas of US Transit. Island Press, 2018. ISBN 978-1-61091-903-6.
==Notes==
==References==
Category:2020 US presidential election
Category:U.S. Presidential campaigns
Category:United States politicians
Category:Living people