6 Democratic Presidential Candidates For 2020 And What You Need To Know About Them | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

6 Democratic Presidential Candidates For 2020 And What You Need To Know About Them

There may be a lot more to come!

285
6 Democratic Presidential Candidates For 2020 And What You Need To Know About Them

While there have been dozens of people who have filed to run for president, some as early as the day Donald Trump was elected, here are the most prominent candidates who have officially announced their candidacy.

1. Julian Castro (D)

c1.staticflickr.com


Julian Castro served as mayor to San Antonio, Texas and as Secretary of Housing and Development under President Barack Obama. He was the youngest cabinet member during his time as Secretary of Housing and Development. Castro was also the first Hispanic to ever deliver the keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Julian Castro published his memoir titled "An Unlikely Journey: Waking up from my American Dream" on October 16th, 2018, and rumors began circulating of his possible run for president. He had already been considered as a potential vice president in 2016 under Hillary Clinton making his 2020 run more likely.

Following the release of his book, he began alluding to his potential run, saying on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert that he would be announcing his candidacy soon. He officially announced that he would be running for president in 2020 in a statement released on January 12, 2019.

2. John Delaney (D)

upload.wikimedia.org

John Delaney started out as a businessman but transitioned into politics in 2012 when he ran for Congress after a redistricting in Maryland led to a possible lean in the favor of Democrats in district 6. He won in 2012 and also won his reelection campaigns in 2014 and 2016.

Often described as a moderate Democrat, Delaney sees himself as progressive in some areas and moderate in others. He did, however, receive a perfect score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign due to his continued support and push for equality focused legislation. He became the first candidate to officially announce their run for President of the United States in July of 2017, mere months after Donald Trump was elected.

3. Tulsi Gabbard (D)

upload.wikimedia.org

Tulsi Gabbard has been involved in public service since 2002 when she was elected the representative of the 42nd district of the Hawaii House of Representatives. She ran for re-election but ended up resigning to instead volunteer with the Army National Guard for service in Iraq. She returned home and ran for the Honolulu City Council in 2009, eventually running and winning a seat in the House of Representatives in 2012. She was re-elected in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

On February 28, 2016, Gabbard stepped down as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and became the first female U.S. Representative to endorse Bernie Sanders. She supports tuition-free colleges as well as Universal Health Care.

She has faced criticism for an "unplanned" meeting with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in 2017, as well as her previous opposition to same-sex marriage. She has since apologized and come out in support of same-sex marriage. She confirmed on January 11 that she would be running in the 2020 Presidential election.

4. Kirsten Gillibrand (D)

upload.wikimedia.org

Kirsten Gillibrand began her law career in 1991 and would work on Hillary Clintons 2000 U.S. Senate campaign. In 2006 she ran for the House of Representatives and won reelection in 2008. Kirsten was appointed senator upon Hillary Clinton becoming Secretary of State for the Obama administration and won the right to finish the term in a 2010 election. She sought and won 6-year-term reelections in both 2012 and 2018.

Gillibrands positions have become steadily more liberal since joining the U.S. Senate. She is a strong supporter of abortion rights, same-sex marriage and co-sponsored Bernie Sanders Medicare-for-all bill. Although she has not officially announced her bid for the 2020 Presidential election, Kirsten Gillibrand has announced that she has formed an exploratory committee.

5. Kamala Harris (D)

upload.wikimedia.org

Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California and has served as the junior U.S. Senator for California since 2017. She began as an attorney and served as District Attorney of San Francisco from 2004 to 2010 and as Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017.

Her political positions are considered progressive as she has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood Action Fund, supports removing Marijuana's status as a schedule 1 drug, opposes the death penalty and co-sponsored the Medicare-for-all bill proposed by Bernie Sanders. She also developed the Environmental Justice Unit while she was San Francisco's District Attorney and advocates for the enforcement of environmental laws.

On Monday, January 21, 2019, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, she announced that she would be running for President in the 2020 election. Should she win she would be not only the first woman but also first woman of color, to serve the country as President.

6. Richard Ojeda (D)

prnewswire2-a.akamaihd.net

Retired Army Major, Richard Ojeda, served in the United States Army for 24 years before retiring. After his retirement he became an ROTC instructor from 2013 until 2017 when his Senate duties became too time-consuming.

He began his career in politics in 2014 when he ran for Congress, however, he lost to the incumbent. In 2016 he ran for Senate and won. In 2018 he ran for Congress again but lost after a visit from Donald Trump who mocked Ojeda on the campaign trail.

Richard Ojeda voted for Donald Trump in 2016 but has stated he regrets his decision to do so. He supports Medicare-for-all and the legalization of marijuana but considers himself moderate in most of his views. Earlier this year he traveled to California for the LA teachers strike and has organized many in his own state of West Virginia. He announced his run for President in November 2018.

While it may seem that we're still a long ways away from the next election, it's important to start listening now. Keep your eyes peeled for more candidacy announcements and learn everything you can before making any decisions on the matter. Our voices determine our future!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

186632
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

12625
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456247
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25604
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments