Despite recent controversy regarding her identification as a member of the Cherokee Nation, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) remains a top contender for the Democratic nomination in 2020.
02/07/2019
By Alyse Kaminski | Staff Columnist
I think it goes without saying that the 2020 presidential election will be the most important we will see in our lifetimes so far. No matter which way you lean, the issues that are going to be debated and the consequences of the outcome will have an immense effect on the country and the whole world. Democrats especially are already keeping a close eye on this election; including myself.
A few solid Democratic candidates have thrown their hats in the ring and a few are expected to announce their candidacy at some point. In elections like this, it is essential to understand the issues that matter and the platforms of those running as soon as possible. So, I want to give a run down of who I think has potential and some things they stand for.
One of the first prominent liberals to announce their running was Elizabeth Warren. Ever since I became interested in politics, she has been someone I look up to. I remember tweeting a few years ago that I want to be her when I grow up. While I admire her, I have to wonder how effective her campaign would be.
She is one of President Trump’s favorite verbal punching bags and the “Pocahontas” issue will not help her gain votes by anyone on the fence about voting Democrat. However, that does not mean I don’t agree with her ideas.
Warren continuously speaks up for civil rights. She cares about those from the LGBTQ+ community, and if you haven’t seen her address Boston at the first Women’s March, I highly encourage you to do so. As someone who cares about feminism, I can’t help but have a soft spot for Warren.
Economically, Warren is against trickle-down economics and wants to fight for the consumer. In her announcement video, she said, “America’s middle class is under attack.”
However, like I said, I am worried that someone with even an ounce of controversy running against Trump will beat him.
Kamala Harris (D), a California Senator, and Tulsi Gabbard (D), Hawaii’s 2nd District Representative, have also announced their candidacies. Harris is another woman in politics I have always admired. Her Instagram makes me happy; its unproblematic and wholesome, and I think her social media presence would be an asset to her. It certainly is better than President Trump’s.
Gabbard is someone I honestly haven’t heard much about, but so far, I’m really interested to see what she can offer our country. She served in the Army National Guard and is anti-war, something that I have always admired in a leader. If she plays her cards right, she could have a solid campaign, but I wonder how far she will make it being lesser known.
Harris made headlines when questioning Brett Kavanaugh during his hearing. She was, for lack of a better word, fierce. No matter where you stand on the Kavanaugh issue, you have to admire someone, especially a woman, who can boldly sit in front of a man and question him.
Cory Booker most recently announced his candidacy. I’ve had my eyes on him for a while. He’s a solid public speaker and I think he can captivate his audience. His social media is also going to be essential to him in establish a good campaign.
As far as the issues go, he cares about reforming the criminal justice and education system. More people should be talking about this, and I hope his candidacy sheds more light on these things.
More contenders are in the race already, but we would be here all day if I went over everything about them.
As of now, Joe Biden has not announced his running, but I think he is the best shot the Democrats have. While I think the government needs young blood, I, of course, have always loved Biden. It goes without saying that most Democrats think he would make a good president.
I want so badly for a woman to defeat Trump. If a woman won on election night in 2020, I would sob tears of joy. I just wonder if it can happen. If Trump can still win the presidency right after the Access Hollywood tape is released, he can still win now. I question if America is truly ready for a woman to be our leader. I know I am, but is everyone else?
To wrap this up, I want to encourage everyone on both sides to do research. I cannot stress it enough. No matter who you want to vote for, try to find out as much as you can about them. Watch the news. Watch more than just CNN or Fox News. And please, do not get all of your updates on politics from Twitter.
