March 27, 2019 | The Clarion
Campus News
Page 3
Meet the Democrats looking
to face Trump in 2020
By Julie Carter
Opinion Editor
As the 2020 election grows nearer, more and more presidential
hopefuls have come out with their bids for America’s highest office for
an individual.
Here is a brief guide to those in the Democratic Party who have officially
announced their candidacy for the office of the presidency, challenging
President Donald J. Trump. (It does not include those who are likely to run
but who have not yet officially announced, such as Mayor Pete Buttigieg
or former Vice President Joe Biden.)
Sen. Cory Booker: Booker is a current Senator from New Jersey,
serving there since 2013. He is the first African-American Senator from
the state. Previously, Booker served as the Mayor of Newark from 2006
to 2013. According to Humane Society, Booker is the most pro-animal
welfare voter within the Senate. Booker is 49.
Julian Castro: Castro is the former Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development under President Obama, the youngest member of the Cabinet
at the time. From 2009 until 2014 when he joined Obama’s Cabinet, he
was the mayor of his native San Antonio, Texas. He is also the twin brother
of Congressman Joaquin Castro. Castro is 44.
John Delaney: Delaney was the first Democrat to announce his 2020
campaign in 2017. For this reason, Delaney did not seek reelection to
his seat as Maryland’s 6th District Representative. Delaney has received
recognition from the Human Rights Campaign for his support of equality-
related legislation. Delaney is 55.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Gabbard is the current Representative of Hawaii’s
2nd District, serving since 2013. Upon her election, Gabbard became the
first Hindu member of Congress. From 2004 to 2005, Gabbard served
in a medical unit of Hawaii’s Army National Guard in a combat zone in
Iraq before being deployed to Kuwait from 2008 to 2009. Gabbard was
formerly opposed to same-sex marriage and civil unions before changing
her mind on the policy in 2012. Gabbard is 37.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: Gillibrand has been serving as the Senator
from New York since 2009. Prior to this, Gillibrand served as a member
Lazaro Gamio/Axios
of the House of Representatives for New York’s conservative 20th
District. Since becoming Senator, Gillibrand has become noticeably
more left-leaning, speaking out against sexual harassment. Notably, she
has called out the behavior of fellow Democrats including Bill Clinton
and A1 Franken for such behavior. Gillibrand is 52.
Sen. Kamala Harris: From 2011 to 2017, Kamala Harris served
as Attorney General of California. In 2017, Harris became a Senator
from California. As Senator, Harris has supported Medicare-for-all,
the legalization of recreational marijuana, and passing a DREAM act.
Harris is 54.
John Hickenlooper: Hickenlooper is the former Governor of
Colorado, having served from 2011 to 2019. Hickenlooper also served
two terms as the Mayor of Denver. He is also known as a businessman,
having cofounded Wynkoop Brewing Company in Denver. In 2006,
Hickenlooper became one of the first mayors in the U.S. to legalize the
possession of cannabis by those over 18. Hickenlooper is 67.
Gov. Jay Inslee: Inslee is the current governor of the state of
Washington, serving since 2013. Inslee also served in the U.S. House of
Representatives twice, once from 1993 to 1995 then again from 1999 to
2012. As governor, Inslee has made priority a number of different issues
including climate change, education and drug policy reform. Inslee is 68.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar: Klobuchar is the current serving Senator from
Mirmesota since 2007. Upon her election, Klobuchar became Minnesota’s
first-ever female U.S. Senator. Klobuchar is a graduate of both Yale
University and University of Chicago Law School. Klobuchar is 58.
Beto O’Rourke: O’Rourke served as Texas’ 16th district Representative
from 2013 to 2019. Recently, O’Rourke ran for Senate against Ted Cruz,
losing by a surprisingly narrow margin. While on the Senate campaign
trail, O’Rourke gained a lot of media coverage about whether he would
run for President should he lose the election. O’Rourke is 46.
Sen. Bernie Sanders: Since 2007, Sanders has been the Senator from
Vermont. Sanders gained popularity following an unsuccessful run for the
presidency in 2016 where he ultimately lost the Democratic nomination
to Hillary Clinton. Sanders has been described as a democratic socialist.
Sanders is 77.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Since 2013, Warren
has served as the Senator from Massachusetts.
Previously, Warren was a renowned scholar on
bankruptcy law. Warren was also a professor at
several universities including Harvard University
and the University of Texas at Austin. Warren has
been a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump.
Warren is 69.
Marianne Williamson: Williamson is a spiritual
teacher who is known to be associated with Oprah
Winfrey. Williamson ran unsuccessfully for the
House of Representatives in 2014 under California’s
33rd congressional district. Williamson is 66.
Andrew Yang: Yang is an entrepreneur known
for some of his odd campaign beliefs such as
wanting to give all Americans a universal basic
income of S1000 per month to address economic
inequality. Yang is 44.