This is the page for basic information on each of the three major candidates running for president in the 2020 election.

Joe Biden

Political Party: Democrat

Background: former Vice President, U.S. Senator from Delaware

Key Issues: 

Healthcare: opposes Medicare-for-All, but in favor of expanding upon the existing Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Immigration: supports DACA and citizenship for Dreamers and upholding the statute for illegal entry

Social Issues: pro-choice with some limits

Education: supports expanding existing student loan programs and making the first two years of college free

Economy: in favor of raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour and increasing existing taxes on Americans in the upper income level

Criminal Justice: in favor of abolishing capital punishment, ending cash-bail reform, and abolishing private prisons

Drugs: supports decriminalizing marijuana, leaving marijuana legalization to the states, and eliminating the cocaine sentencing disparity

Foreign Policy: supports ending the travel ban and freezing support for Saudi Arabia in the Yemeni Civil War

Gun Control: in favor of a voluntary buyback program for assault weapons, universal background checks, and a national firearm registry

Bernie Sanders

Political Party: Democrat

Background: U.S. Senator from Vermont

Key Issues:

Healthcare: supports Medicare-for-All

Immigration: supports eliminating the statute for illegal entry

Social Issues: pro-choice, supports few limits on abortion if any

Education: supports free college and canceling all student debt

Economy: in favor of raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour and raising taxes on the wealthy to fund new social programs

Criminal Justice: in favor of abolishing capital punishment, ending cash-bail reform, and abolishing private prisons

Drugs: in favor of legalizing marijuana and eliminating the cocaine sentencing disparity

Foreign Policy: supports tariffs on certain countries and changing the current approach to China

Gun Control: in favor of a voluntary buyback program for assault weapons and universal background checks

Donald Trump

Political Party: Republican

Background: Incumbent President

Key Issues: 

Healthcare: in favor of repealing the ACA, cutting drug prices, and reforming Medicaid

Immigration: supports the creation of a wall along the Southern border, reducing illegal immigration and constructing a merit-based system of entry for migrants with specific job skills

Social Issues: supports a ban on abortion and a ban on transgender citizens serving in the military

Economy: supports lowering corporate and individual taxes

Criminal Justice: in favor of capital punishment

Drugs: opposes marijuana legalization until further studied, supports implementing the death penalty for drug dealers

Foreign Policy: pro-Israel, recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, supports a small peacekeeping force in Syria, supports re-evaluating alliances and putting national interests before international interests

Gun Control: supports arming public school employees to reduce the threat of mass shootings