There are thirteen days left until the 2020 Iowa Caucus. In the past year, there have been seven debates, seventeen dropouts, and millions of dollars spent on campaign advertisements. With primary elections starting in the next few months, it is important for voters, especially young voters, to have a grasp on who is running, what they stand for, and how their proposed policies would affect the lives of the American People. As of January 15, 2020, there are fifteen candidates left in the running for the 2020 presidential election—three Republicans and thirteen Democrats. The candidates must first make it through the primary election, where each party will vote on a candidate to represent the party in the general election. The general election is the vote between the differing party candidates to elect the next President of the United States of America.

Below is a quick rundown of the presidential hopefuls, and their basic campaign proposals. It is important for every voter to do their own research, and it is strongly encouraged that voters read the campaign pages of every candidate in order to formulate their own conclusion on who will win their vote. If you are unsure of your voter status, click here to check if you are registered to vote in your respective state. If you need to register to vote, you have roughly two weeks to register for the primary election, or until October 1st for the general election. Happy voting!

The Democrats

Source: David Zalubowski via Associated Press — *Source:* *David Zalubowski via Associated Press*

Michael Bennet

Michael Bennet is a senator from Colorado. The 55-year-old comes from a business background, and entered the race in May of 2019. Bennet has rooted his campaign on issues of healthcare reform, tax reform, and immigration policy. Bennet gained traction when his floor speech criticizing Senator Ted Cruz went viral online. Bennet has been criticized for his moderate standings, low poll numbers, and inability to qualify for debates. You can read his full policy list here.

Source: Matthew Putney via Associated Press — *Source:* *Matthew Putney* *via Associated Press*

Joe Biden

Joe Biden served as the 47th Vice President of The United States of America, following his time as the senator for Delaware of 36 years. At 77, he would be the oldest first term president if elected. Biden is running his campaign based around government reform, climate change, healthcare reform, and immigration reform. Biden boasts an impressive career in politics, and he gained popularity following his eight years with the Obama Administration. He currently leads nearly every poll, and has been able to reach the voters of Middle America. Biden has faced criticism over his political history, potential flaws in his policy views, and his claims to the Obama administration. You can view his full policy list here.

Source: The Federalist — *Source:* *The Federalist*

Michael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg is the former Mayor of New York City. The 77-year-old comes from a business background, and he is the CEO of Bloomberg L.P. Bloomberg didn’t join the race until November 2019, after initially denying a run for president. Bloomberg is basing his campaign around gun safety, education, healthcare, and environmental issues. Bloomberg has faced pushback over his history with African-Americans, political history, and his campaign finance practices. You can read his full policy list here.

Source: Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images — *Source:* *Gilbert Carrasquillo* *via Getty Images*

Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg is the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. At 38, Pete is the youngest candidate to vye for the democratic nomination, and he announced his candidacy in April of 2019. Buttigeig is running a campaign centered around a new age of government, bringing younger ideas into the election with a strong emphasis on healthcare reform, labor unions, gun control, climate change, immigration reform, and social equality. Buttigeig is a veteran, openly gay, and a graduate of Harvard, Oxford, and a Rhodes Scholar. He has faced criticism for being too moderate, lacking African American support, and his approach to campaign funding. You can read his full policy list here.

Source: Jeff Chiu via Associated Press — *Source:* *Jeff Chiu* *via Associated Press*

John Delaney

John Delaney is the former Representative for Maryland's 6th congressional district. The 56-year-old comes from a law and business background, and joined the race in June of 2017. Delaney’s campaign is based around political reform, healthcare reform, climate change, and economic reform. Delaney has started multiple companies that have been traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and switched over to politics in 2012. Delaney has been criticized for his comments on the Democratic Party, law poll numbers, and low support among minority voters. You can read his full policy list here.

Source: Charlie Neibergall via Associated Press — *Source:* *Charlie Neibergall* *via Associated Press*

Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard is the U.S. Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District. The 38-year-old was the first Hindu member of Congress, and comes from a National Guard background. Gabbard announced her campaign in February of 2019, and she is centering her campaign around ending wars abroad, political unity, social security reform, and environmental issues. Gabbard is the first female combat veteran to run for president, and served as a vice chair for the Democratic National Committee. Gabbard has faced criticism for her interactions with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, criticisms of public figures, and her moderate ideas. You can read her full policy list here.

Source: Eileen Meslar via Associated Press — *Source:* *Eileen Meslar* *via Associated Press*

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar is the senior United States Senator from Minnesota. The 59-year-old comes from a background of law and politics, and served as the county attorney for Hennepin County, Minnesota. Klobuchar’s campaign focuses on healthcare, equal representation, environmental issues, and foreign policy reform. Klobuchar gained popularity after the video of her exchange with Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh went viral, and she was notably Minnesota's first elected female United States Senator. Klobuchar has been criticized for her staff treatment, moderate policies, and history as an attorney. You can read her full policy list here.

Source: Mark Ralston via Agence France-Presse — *Source:* *Mark Ralston* *via Agence France-Presse*

Deval Patrick

Deval Patrick is the former Governor of Massachusetts. The 63-year-old comes from a business and law background, and announced his candidacy in November of 2019 after previously denying a run for President. Patrick is centering his campaign around criminal justice reform, economic growth, immigration, and education investment. Patrick has faced controversy over his time as assistant attorney general, his involvement in the Massachusetts lab scandal, and his lack of voter support. You can read his full policy list here.

Source: Rebecca Cook via Reuters — *Source:* *Rebecca Cook* *via Reuters*

Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders is a Senator from Vermont and has worked in politics since 1981. At 78, he is the oldest candidate for president, and he announced his candidacy in February of 2019. Notably, Sanders ran for president in 2016, but lost the nomination to Hillary Clinton. Sanders campaign has been focused on the wealth gap, corporate corruption, universal healthcare, climate change, and international relations. Sanders is known for his social work, his co-founding of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and his popularity among young voters. Sanders has faced criticism for reffering to himself as a socialist, his health conditions, and his excessive partisanship. You can read his full policy list here.

Source: Scott Eisen via Getty Images — *Source: Scott Eisen* *via Getty Images*

Tom Steyer

Tom Steyer is an American philanthropist and businessman from New York. The 62-year-old is known for being the founder and former co-senior-managing-partner of Farallon Capital and the co-founder of OneCalifornia Bank. Steyer has based his campaign on fighting climate change, structural reform, voting rights, and economic growth. Steyer self identifies as an “outsider running for president” and has focused the brute of his campaign on the climate crisis. Steyer has faced pushback for his billionaire status, low polling numbers, and lack of political experience. You can read his full policy list here.

Source: Getty Images — *Source:* *Getty Images*

Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren is a Senator from Massachusetts. At 70, she is the oldest woman in the running, but falls around the median age within the rest of the candidates. She announced her campaign in February 2019, and is running her campaign around income inequality, education reform, universal healthcare, social justice, economic change, and climate change. Warren has a strong background in finance and academia due to being a senator since 2013, and she is known for her two cent wealth tax proposal. She has faced backlash for criticism of the wealthy, partisanship, and her criticism of other candidates. You can read her full policy list here.

Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur and businessman from New York. The 45-year-old does not come from a political background, but gained quick support with this newcomer ideas. His campaign is based off around economic reform, lessening the wage gap, enviornmental issues, and education reform. Yang gained a dedicated fanbase after proposing a minimum income, where every American adult would receive one thousand dollars a month. Yang has faced pushback over his lack of political experience, low polling numbers, and his criticism of large companies. You can read his full policy here.

The Republicans

Source: ABC Bakersfield — *Source:* *ABC Bakersfield*

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the current President of The United States of America. The 73-year-old New Yorker used his business background and outsider ideology to win the 2016 election. Trump is running his campaign off of his previous four years of presidency, claiming economic growth, immigration reform, and job growth. Trump has focused most of his policies around the subject of immigration and foreign affairs. Trump has faced criticism for his far-right views on immigration, partisanship, and controversial public comments. You can read his full policy list here.

Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh is a former U.S. Representative from Illinois. The 58-year-old is a former social worker and radio host who announced his campaign for president in August of 2019. Walsh is running a campaign based around gun safety, immigration reform, economic growth, and international relations reform. Walsh was notably a Trump supporter in the 2016 election, but has now publicly denounced his support for Trump. Walsh has faced criticism for his comments against the African American community, his criticism of the Obama Administration, and his public political comments. You can read his full policy list here.

Source: Steven Senne via Associated Press — *Source:* *Steven Senne* *via Associated Press*

William Weld

William Weld is the former Governor of Massachusetts. The 74-year-old comes from a law and business background, and joined the presidential race in April of 2019. Weld’s campaign is centered on economic prosperity, foreign policy reform, and moderation on social issues. Weld notably has support from Libertarian voters, but historically has followed a Republican voting pattern. Weld has seen pushback for his low polling numbers, moderate ideas, and his criticism of Donald Trump. You can read his full policy list here.

2020: The Candidates