Bernie Sanders, a self described Democratic Socialist, is popular among far-left voters. He is very liberal, both fiscally and socially. Some of his major financial rallying points have been raising the minimum wage to help reduce income and wealth inequality, making public college tuition free, and limiting the role big money plays in politics. Socially, he is supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement, women’s rights, LGBT+ rights, and the rights of immigrants. He supports the scientific consensus that climate change is largely anthropogenic and wants to reduce American dependence on fossil fuels and shift to renewable energy. He is often praised for being a very genuine candidate due to the fact that he does not have a major Super PAC backing him, his average campaign donation being around $30, and the fact that most of his views have stayed consistent over the couple of decades he has been involved in politics.
Hillary Clinton, former Senator, First Lady, Secretary of State, and current presidential candidate, is definitely no stranger to the world of politics. She isn’t a pure moderate, but is more center-leaning than Sanders, the other major Democratic candidate, on most issues. She also looks to empower the middle-class by means of raising the minimum wage and work to reform campaign finances, but, rather than make college tuition-free, she wants to implement her New College Compact, which would require 10 hours of work per week on the part of the students and “an affordable and realistic family contribution,” in order to make college much more affordable through government investing. Clinton supports the scientific consensus that climate change is anthropogenic, supports increased reliance on renewable energy sources, and hopes to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Clinton’s extensive experience in foreign policy as Secretary of State and in other areas of politics makes her a very attractive candidate. However, she has received criticism for being too much of a career politician in that some believe her beliefs are guided more by poll numbers than by conviction and that she occasionally comes across as very scripted. To finally address the elephant (donkey?) in the room, as the possible first female president, Clinton recognizes the importance of empowering women by protecting their rights and increasing their opportunities.
Donald Trump, a spitfire real estate mogul and pop culture icon, has had a surprisingly successful presidential bid so far, considering the career politicians he’s up against. One of his major rallying points has been his hardline immigration policies, especially his call to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and to make Mexico pay for it. However, it is important to remember his infamous generalization that most Mexican people who have immigrated to America are drug-dealers, criminals, and rapists. Trump has also made derogatory comments about women and, when asked about his view of the gender wage gap, Trump said that women will “make the same if [they] do as good a job.” He denies the existence of climate change, stating that there aren’t enough facts to convince him, and expressing his belief in “change” in “weather.” His unfiltered responses and crusade against the culture of political correctness, while sometimes resulting in very offensive comments, is something his supporters laud him for. Trump is viewed as challenging the political status quo and speaking his mind honestly, without the influence of Super PAC money. He is a political outsider, making him a conduit through which many people channel their political frustration. Despite his extensive business experience, some say his lack of political experience is a problem.
Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon, has also had surprising poll numbers as a political outsider. Some of his major rallying points have been his pro-life views in reference to life at conception and removing the Affordable Care Act. He acknowledges the fact that racism exists in America today, but focuses more on how the black community can help itself and believes the Black Lives Matter movement to be a group that unfairly demonizes the police. Carson denies the existence of climate change, stating that fluctuating temperatures are normal. Carson, as someone relatively new to the political sphere, is criticized for lack of knowledge in areas like foreign policy, but has assured people that he is intelligent and ready to learn. He has also made some very divisive comments, from his claim that homosexuality is a choice to his assertion that he would not vote for a Muslim president because he believes that major tenets of Islam don’t line up with the Constitution. His intelligence, exemplified by his strides in the field of neurosurgery, and his conservative policies are lauded by his supporters.
Marco Rubio, a U.S. Senator from Florida, opposes raising taxes, believes the age at which one should receive Social Security benefits should be raised, and is strongly pro-life. Rubio supports equal pay for men and women, but has been hesitant to legislate in favor of the cause. He strays from the more typically conservative views in his immigration policies, with his support of an eventual path to legal status for undocumented immigrants once a set of security measures is established. Rubio acknowledges that climate change is caused by humans, but believes that governmental regulation of the environment is at odds with economic growth.
Carly Fiorina, previously the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, is yet another political outsider gaining traction in the 2016 primaries. As the only woman in the Republican primary, she has expressed her support of empowering women, specifically her support of equal pay for women, but she is hesitant to put in place increased regulation to address many issues facing women. Fiorina states that the scientific community’s consensus is that climate change is real and anthropogenic, but doesn’t speak to her own opinion on the matter. Rather, she believes it to be pointless for America to enact climate change legislation because without international coordination it would, according to her, be ineffective. Donald Trump made a rude comment about how someone with her appearance should not become President, and Fiorina responded with poise and confidence at the National Federation of Republican Women’s biennial convention when she stated “look at this face, and look at all of your faces — the face of leadership.” She wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act and simplify tax code.
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