Politics

What You Need To Know About The Candidates Before The Democratic Debates, Night 1

Taysha Robinson

Jul 30, 2019 05:33 AM +0000

The lineups for the second Democratic debate have been announced, and though it looks like it'll be another battle between top contenders Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, and Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, many voters are still confused about who the other people on the stage are. And despite Harris, Biden, Sanders, and Warren gaining traction from their first debates, and previous campaigns, many still don't know exactly what the Democratic candidates stand for.

That is until now.

For tonight's debate (July 30), we have broken down the names of the Democratic candidates, what they stand for, if they have a chance at the nomination, and if they deserve the black vote*. Bookmark this so that you'll have all of their stances written out and at your disposal. From there, you can either join the millions of Americans cheering at your TV if the candidates reaffirm your political beliefs or jeer when they change their stances for the sake of the question. Enjoy.

*Detailed explanations of "do they deserve your black vote" only goes towards candidates polling more than 5 percent from the Black Democratic Primary voter's poll.

July 30 Debate (Night 1)

What He Said:
"We need to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 and defeat the corrupt system that lets campaign money drown out the people's voice, so we can finally make good on the promise of fair shot for everyone."
The Rundown:
Democratic governor of a state that Mr. Trump easily won in 2016.
Known as a pragmatist who was able to win Republican support for liberal priorities.
Came out in favor of an assault weapons ban, despite overseeing a state that prizes hunting.
Significant Issues: Expected to make campaign finance reform a priority, while also pushing early childhood education and other policies aimed at reducing economic inequality.
Can he win the nomination? Most likely not. He launched his campaign late and it didn't help that he was not qualified for the first presidential debate, either.
Does He Deserve The Black Vote?
*Bullock has 1 percent of black Democratic primary voters, according to the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
▲

Election 2020 Pete Buttigieg, Fort Dodge, USA - 16 Apr 2019
What He Said:
"I launched a presidential exploratory committee because it is a season for boldness and it is time to focus on the future."
The Rundown:
Began to draw national notice after delivering an essay that counseled Democrats on how to recover from their defeat in the 2016 elections.
Has embarked on a long-shot campaign that may test the appeal of a youthful profile over more traditional qualifications.
Significant Issues: Has stressed his generational identity and called for policies on issues like climate change and economic opportunity.
Can he win the nomination? Most likely not.
Does He Deserve The Black Vote?
*Buttigieg has 2 percent of black Democratic primary voters, according the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
▲

What He Said:
"I think I'm the right person for the job, but not enough people knew who I was or still know who I am."
The Rundown:
Was elected to the House in 2012 as a "pragmatic idealist," in his telling.
Has been running aggressively since 2017.
Has already visited every county in Iowa, though it's unclear if he has improved his long-shot prospects.
Significant Issues: Has pitched himself as a bipartisan problem-solver, but has also endorsed liberal causes like universal health care.
Can he win the nomination? Absolutely not.
Does He Deserve The Black Vote?
*Delaney has 0 percent of Black Democratic primary voters, according to the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
▲

What He Said:
"I've proven again and again I can bring people together to produce the progressive change Washington has failed to deliver."
The Rundown:
A political moderate with a record of success in a purple state.
Will probably cast himself as someone who can attract support from a broad coalition, though some of his victories entailed cutting deals with the Republican business establishment.
Significant Issues: Has stressed his record of consensus-building around issues like expanding Medicaid, gay rights and gun control.
Can he win the nomination? No. Hickenlooper fired his top staffers after his performance in the first debate, is reportedly broke, and isn't polling well.
Does He Deserve The Black Vote?
Hickenlooper has 0 percent of Black Democratic primary voters, according to the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
▲

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar listens as Democratic Leader Schumer speaks to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington
What She Said:
"It is time to organize, time to galvanize, time to take back our democracy."
The Rundown:
Became a hero to many Democrats for her stern, cool questioning of Brett M. Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings.
Has called for Democrats to focus on reclaiming the swing states in the middle of the country.
Significant Issues: Has championed legislation to combat the opioid crisis and drug addiction, and to address the cost of prescription drugs.
Can she win the nomination? She received a lot of attention based on her exchanges during Justice Kavanaugh's hearings, but she doesn't seem to be getting the nomination any time soon.
Does He Deserve The Black Vote?
Klobuchar has 1 percent of black Democratic primary voters, according to the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
▲

What He Said:
"This is going to be a positive campaign that seeks to bring out the very best from every single one of us, that seeks to unite a divided country."
The Rundown:
Became a celebrity of Democratic politics when he narrowly lost to Senator Ted Cruz in 2018.
Any success in 2020 would draw from this viral appeal, particularly to younger Democrats, and from the small-dollar fundraising army it has earned him.
Significant Issues: Has focused on immigration reform, marijuana legalization and rural hospital access.
Can he win the nomination? It is possible that he can be nominated. But, after his mediocre performance in the first debate and coming off amateur and easily unraveled in the debate, there is a chance that he won't have any more momentum than he has now.
Does He Deserve The Black Vote?
O'Rourke has 3 percent of black Democratic primary voters, according to the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
▲

What He Said:
"I've watched the American Dream slip through the fingers of many Americans ... It's time for us to start building the America we deserve."
The Rundown:
Challenged Nancy Pelosi for House minority leader after the 2016 election, winning 63 votes to her 134.
Once an opponent of abortion rights, gradually reversed his position and announced in 2015 he considered abortion a "personal choice."
Significant Issues: Renegotiating or enforcing trade deals; punishing Chinese currency manipulation; unions rights and workforce development.
Can he win the nomination? Going into the first presidential debate, it was unlikely that Ryan would win. And, after the first debate, it seems like it is even more unlikely that he will win the nomination.
Does He Deserve The Black Vote?
Ryan has 1 percent of black Democratic primary voters, according to the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
▲

What He Said:
"The only way we will win this election and create a government and an economy that works for all is with a grassroots movement — the likes of which has never been seen in American history."
The Rundown:
Would begin a second White House race with a more extensive organization-in-waiting than any other candidate in the Democratic primary.
Significant Issues: "Medicare for all," free college tuition and curtailing the influence of, as he calls them, "the billionaires."
Can he win the nomination? Unlike the 2016 Presidential election, Sanders has more competition than he could bargain for and with Warren, Harris, and Biden, it'll be difficult for him to secure the nomination. Nevertheless, he does have a chance.
Does He Deserve The Black Vote?
Sanders has stated that he is willing to sign the H.R 40 bill should the House and Senate pass the bill. He has plans to eradicate the student loan debts of millions of students, but there has yet to be a detailed plan of how to implement this proposed bill. He supports major police department reform. He supports ending the war on drugs and legalizing marijuana. He also wants to eliminate private prisons and cash bail. Sanders also wants to end housing discrimination and raise the minimum wage. He wants to restore the Voting Rights Act and end voter suppression and Gerrymandering. Sanders is also known for wanting to implement the Medicare for All bill and Enacting the Green New Deal. Sanders has 21 percent of black Democratic primary voters, according to the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
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What He Said:
"Americans are deeply disappointed and hurt by the way they're treated by what they think is the power elite in Washington, D.C."
The Rundown:
Reversed a previous decision not to enter the race.
Started out as an environmental activist before airing millions of dollars in television ads demanding Mr. Trump's impeachment.
Has flirted repeatedly with running for statewide office in California.
Significant Issues: Fighting climate change, promoting renewable energy and impeaching Mr. Trump.
Can he win the nomination? No.
Does He Deserve The Black Vote?
Steyer has 0 percent of Black Democratic primary voters, according to the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
▲

What She Said:
"It's time for women to go to Washington and fix our broken government, and that includes a woman at the top."
The Rundown:
Has done some of the most extensive preparations for a presidential run.
Attempted to dispatch questions about her Native American heritage by releasing the results of a DNA test.
That effort raised questions about her readiness for a national bid.
Significant Issues: Income inequality and what she sees as a middle class under attack from big corporations and political corruption.
Can she win the nomination? Maybe. Although it started off a little rocky, Warren has been the breakout of the candidates and she performed well in the first presidential debate.
Does She Deserve The Black Vote?
Warren co-sponsored H.R. 40 Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act. In terms of Education and Student Debt, Warren's plan would eradicate 75% of Americans with student loan debt. She also intends to make a $50 billion investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She supports embracing community policing and demilitarizing the local police forces; she also supports banning private prisons and rewriting laws to decriminalize marijuana. Warren also wants to limit unjustified rules that make voting more difficult and wants to overturn every rule that promotes voter suppression. She supports Medicare for All and she has introduced the Ultra-Millionaire Tax bill that will place taxes on the 75,000 richest families to produce trillion that can be used to build an economy. Warren has 7 percent of black Democratic primary voters, according to the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
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What She Said:
"We need a moral and spiritual awakening in the country … Nothing short of that is adequate to fundamentally change the patterns of our political dysfunction."
The Rundown:
Ran for Congress as an independent in 2014, and lost.
Championed the rights of gay men with AIDS, founded a charity that now supplies meals to people with serious illnesses.
Significant Issues: Has proposed $100 billion in reparations for slavery, with $10 billion to be distributed annually over a decade for economic and education projects.
Can she win the nomination? Most likely not.
Does She Deserve The Black Vote?
Williamson has 1 percent of black Democratic primary voters, according to the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll.
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