The race to become the next President of the United States is on. Who are the major contenders and who are the outsiders – who might trump President Trump in 2020.
The current landscape boasts 25 Democrats vying for the spot; while the confident Republicans have just one contender to Trump’s nomination as their candidate.
Here’s all the names in fray at this moment.
The Runners
How it stands?
In 2020, Democrats boast the largest line up of presidential hopefuls in America’s electoral history. A few are breakout leaders of the pack based on nation-wide polls and surveys. With the first debates scheduled in the end of June, the list which right now stands at 23 will have to lose 3 candidates and cut down to 20 spots on stage.
As per reports, the Democratic National Committee will decide the spots based on polls and numbers of unique donors.
The top three candidates from the Democrats are Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
There is much more clarity in the Republican group with one two hopefuls including incumbent President Donald Trump.
Trump stands to win the nomination comfortably against the hopeful William Weld.
The stark difference in the number of contenders could mean that Republicans will have an easy consolidation of votes, which gives the party an early advantage.
The Republican Majors
The Contender
Donald Trump
Current President of the United States
Candidacy announced: Jan. 20, 2017
Website: www.donaldjtrump.com
Trump is asking voters to reward him with a second four-year term in office based on the argument of a robust economy and low unemployment rate. The incumbent President’s first term focused on issues such as immigration, border security, international trade and tax rates.
Chris Jackson, a pollster for Ipsos, which conducts polls with Reuters, stated that Trump looks to be in a strong position for re-election at this point with his approval rating hovering between 40 and 45 percent. Trump’s still holds a solid influence among Republican voters.
The Outsider
William Weld
Former Governor of Massachusetts
Candidacy announced: Feb. 15, 2019
Website: www.weld2020.org
The former governor with not a big national reputation have to rely on raising loads of money for his campaign to be even in the race. Weld is the internal rival for Trump, trying to deny the President a second Republican nomination, though it’s a long-shot.
In 2016, Weld was the presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party but returned the Republican Party fold this year. Weld is a prominent critic of Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency on the issue border security, claiming it showed his readiness to divide the country. Weld is now raising voice against Trump’s economic policies with the U.S. budget deficits reaching nearly $1 trillion a year.
The Democrat Majors
The Contenders
Joe Biden
Former 2-term US Vice President
Candidacy Announced: 25th April 2019
Website: www.joebiden.com
Former Vice President Joe Biden is the clear frontrunner in the Democratic field. Former President Obama’s trusted deputy, Biden is a favourite inside the party. His focus will remain on reenergizing America’s economy and increasing wages for the labour force.
Biden’s appeal spans across the corporate community and the working class. He is at the top of every poll and dominates news. Biden’s popularity helps him raise huge sums immediately when he entered the race. Biden is the biggest challenge for Trump’s chances of retaining office.
Bernie Sanders
Senator from Vermont
Candidacy announced: Feb. 19, 2019
Website: www.berniesanders.com
The grand old man of progressive politicians, Sanders lost the presidential nomination race in 2016 to Hillary Clinton but the Senator from Vermont is hoping for a change in fortunes this time. But in 2020, Sanders is up against a packed field of progressives advocating issues brought to the fore by him in Democratic mainstream narrative four years ago.
Sanders pledges include free tuition at public colleges, a $15 minimum wage and universal healthcare. He is reaching out to black and Hispanic leaders this time after failing to win them over in 2016.
Elizabeth Warren
Senator from Massachusetts
Candidacy announced: Feb. 9, 2019
Website: www.elizabethwarren.com
Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren is a leader of the liberal democrats, a fierce Wall Street critic who played a big role in creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She is running her presidential campaign based on her populist economic message, pledging to fight what she calls a rigged economic system favouring the wealthy.
Her other proposals include eliminating the Electoral College. She has sworn to stand against Amazon, Google and Facebook, and cut the cord on political fundraising events to fund her bid.
The Outsiders
Kamala Harris
Senator from California
Candidacy announced: Jan. 27, 2019
Website: www.kamalaharris.org
Kamala Harris is all set to make history as the first black woman to win presidential nomination. The First-term California senator Harris is the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India. She backs a middle-class tax credit, Medicare for All healthcare funding reform, the Green New Deal and the legalization of marijuana.
With the Democratic Party experiencing a shift on criminal justice issues in recent years, Harris’ track record as San Francisco’s district attorney and California’s attorney general has come under scrutiny.
Pete Buttigieg
Mayor of South Bend, Indiana
Candidacy announced: Jan. 23, 2019
Website: www.peteforamerica.com
A dark horse till now, 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana is fast rising from his underdog status to build reputation with young voters. Pete is a Harvard graduate and Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford.
He served in Afghanistan with the U.S. Navy Reserve and speaks seven languages. He positions his candidacy as representing a new generation of leadership needed to fight Trump. Buttigieg would be the first openly gay presidential nominee of a major American political party.
