Guide to the Top Democratic Candidates

Guide to the Top Democratic Candidates

By Emily Gao

We all recognize their names: Biden, Sanders, Yang, etc. They are plastered across our TV screens, magazines, newspapers, and phones daily. Despite this, the majority of Americans remain truly clueless in terms of who these candidates are beyond their names. What do they stand for? What do they hope to achieve? How do they even differ?

All this information is taken from each of the candidate’s websites, which is the most direct way to obtain information about a candidate’s views and policies. However, these little snippets do not encompass everything about each candidate. And my own bias will inevitably make its way into the article. I encourage you to go on each website, read up on their policies, and form your own opinions. 

Joe Biden

Age: 76

Years in Politics: 49

Experience: Obama’s right-hand mand and bestie. Senator from Delaware.

Political Overview: Biden is focused on rebuilding the middle class, as he says it is the “backbone of the country.” He wants to strengthen worker organization, collective bargaining, and unions. In other words, he wants to strengthen the middle working class’ say on political endeavors. He has released proposals to triple federal funding for low-income schools and a climate action plan that resembles but improves upon the Green New Deal. Although he is a Democrat, he is notable for being more on the moderate side, as his policies are more in favor of corporations and free trade than other democratic candidates. Because of this, he has been able to draw in support from independents and Republicans who don’t support Trump. 

Elizabeth Warren

Age: 70

Years in Politics: 10

Experience: Former Harvard law professor turned US senator from Massachusetts

Political Overview: Warren has established an emphasis on public education improvement, LGBTQ+ rights, and combating climate crisis. Another overarching message that she sends is her desire to “tackle the corruption in Washington that makes our government work for the wealthy and well-connected.” She wants to bring back the Glass-Steagall Act, which separates investment and retail banks. She also wants to raise taxes on the wealthy to create new social programs, eliminate most of the limits on abortion, promote free public college, and ban assault weapons.

Bernie Sanders

Age: 78

Years in Politics: 38

Experience: Mayor of Burlington, Vermont. US House and Senate representative. 

Political Overview: Often dubbed as a democratic-socialist, Sanders would like to make public college tuition free, increase Social Security benefits, and make America more friendly to unions and elss to corporations. To pay for this, he has proposed to subject all incomes above $250,000 to the 6.2% payroll tax. He also desires to cancel all student debt, views the electoral college as unnecessary, and Medicare for All.