Below is a comprehensive list of everyone who has officially declared they are running for president in 2020 as of March 23, 2019. As more candidates declare their candidacy, the Scribe will put out articles introducing them as well. For each candidate, listed is their age, state, party, experience and their stances on education, gun rights and abortion. Those issues were chosen because they are predicted to be three of the bigger social issues that will come up in the campaign without getting into foreign policy, which would include issues such as immigration or dealing with Russia or China. All of their stances come from one of the following: statements they have made to the press, their votes or actions in their current or past governmental positions, or from their 2020 campaign websites. Some candidates did not have as much information available as others. They are listed in no particular order. If a candidate is listed before another, it is not meant to convey endorsement or support of any kind.
First up is Donald Trump. He is 72 years old, a Republican, and hails from New York. He is a former businessman and currently is the President of the United States. There is limited information available but he does oppose Common Core, a policy that says Washington D.C. can dictate some school standards, and wants to cut down the Department of Education. He is anti-gun control. He was pro-choice but changed to being pro-life in about 2012.
Next is John Hickenlooper. He is 67 years years old, a Democrat, and hails from Colorado. He is a former businessman, Mayor of Denver and served as the Governor of Colorado. There is limited information available on his stances on education, but he does oppose the use of school vouchers. He favors implementing a universal background checks for gun owners, banning high capacity magazines and wants to raise the minimum age to buy certain firearms. He is pro-choice.
Next is Jay Inslee. He is 68 years old, a Democrat, and hails from Washington. He is a former lawyer, State Representative, U.S. Representative, and currently is the Governor of Washington. He is primarily pro-public education and wants increased pay for teachers. He is pro-gun control and sees it as a health issue. He is pro-choice.
Next is Bernie Sanders. He is 77 years old, an Independent who is running as a Democrat, and hails from Vermont. He is a former U.S. Representative, Mayor, and currently is a U.S. Senator. He is pro-public education and wants to provide free college for lower income people and would tax Wall Street to help alleviate the cost. He thinks people have the right to bear arms but that the country must enact sensible policy regarding the specifics of gun ownership. He is pro-choice.
Next is Amy Klobuchar. She is 58 years old, a Democrat, and hails from Minnesota. She is a former prosecutor and currently is a U.S. Senator. She wants to expand early childhood learning access and is pro-public education. She wants to ban assault weapons but thinks hunting weapons are okay and would like to sensible reforms enacted such as enhanced background checks. She is pro-choice but ultimately thinks it a choice between a woman and her doctor.
Next is Cory Booker. He is 49 years old, a Democrat, and hails from New Jersey. He is a former Mayor and currently is a U.S. Senator. He supports school vouchers and wants to make some college free. He wants enhanced background checks and more gun control. He is pro-choice and wants to change the Supreme Court ruling in the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby which said that a for-profit company can deny paying for an employee’s contraceptives as a part of their health care.
Next is Marianne Williamson. She is 66 years old, a Democrat, and hails from Texas. She is an author and spiritual teacher. She is pro-public education and wants to work on making college more affordable. She wants universal background checks and wants to ban assault rifles, bump stocks and high capacity magazines. She is pro-choice.
Next is Pete Buttigieg. He is 37 years old, a Democrat, and hails from Indiana. He is a former management consultant, Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and currently is the Mayor of South Bend, Indiana. There is almost no information on his education stances but he does seem to be pro-public education. He favors enhanced background checks and a ban on bump stocks. He has never declared his stance on abortion but as Mayor of South Bend he did block a rezoning decision that would have allowed an anti-abortion center to be right next to a proposed site for an abortion clinic.
Next is Kamala Harris. She is 54 years old, a Democrat, and hails from California. She is a former attorney currently is a U.S. Senator. She is pro-public education. She supports restrictions on gun ownership and is pro-gun control. She is pro-choice and supports public funding for abortions.
Next is Kirsten Gillibrand. She is 52 years old, a Democrat, and hails from New York. She is a former attorney and is currently a U.S. Senator. She is pro-public education. She was anti-gun control but then shifted to be pro-gun control to reflect the wants of her constituents. She is pro-choice and supports public funding for abortion.
Next is Julián Castro. He is 44 years old, a Democrat, and hails from Texas. He is a former Mayor was the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for President Barack Obama. There is limited information available about his stances on education, but he is a big proponent of universal pre-kindergarten. He is pro-gun control and wants to renew the Assault Weapon Ban, limit high capacity magazines and require background checks at gun shows. He is pro-choice.
Next is Tulsi Gabbard. She is 37 years old, a Democrat, and hails from Hawaii. She is a former State Representative, Major in the Army National Guard, City Council Member and currently is a U. S. Representative. She is pro-public education. She is pro-gun control and wants enhanced background checks and to ban assault weapons and bump stocks. She is pro-choice.
Next is Elizabeth Warren. She is 69 years old, a Democrat, and hails from Massachusetts. She is a former teacher, lawyer, professor and is currently a U.S. Senator. She is pro-public education. She is pro-gun control and wants to renew the Assault Weapons Ban. She is pro-choice and supports public funding for abortions.
Next is Andrew Yang. He is 44 years old, a Democrat, and hails from New York. He is an entrepreneur. He is pro-public education. He is pro-gun control but thinks policies should sensible while respecting 2nd Amendment rights. He is pro-choice.
Next is John Delaney. He is 55 years old, a Democrat, and hails from Maryland. He is a former businessman and U.S. Representative. He is pro-public education and wants to help bring down the cost of college. There is limited information available but he supports some gun control. He is pro-choice and supports public funding for abortion.
Lastly is Beto O’Rourke. He is 46 years, a Democrat, and from Texas. He is a former businessman, City Council Member and U.S. Representative. There is limited information but seems to be pro-public education. He is pro-gun control and wants enhanced background checks. He is pro-choice.
As candidates continue to declare their candidacy, the Scribe will put out articles for them. The Scribe also encourages its readers to go and read more about each of the candidates they are interested in to learn more because these three issues are by no means a fully encompassing look at each candidate.
JUTN- Johnson University will hold its annual spring retreat April 12-14. The event is geared toward high school youth.