Margaret Lo ‘23 | Gianna Trala ‘23
*Candidates included are those who polled in the top five Democratic candidates, according to RealClearPolitics, as of January 25. National polling, from The Economist, represents percentages of Democrats who support a respective candidate. School polling represents percentages in support of a specific candidate out of EA students and faculty who support a Democratic candidate in the primary. Donations from FEC reports.
JOE BIDEN: National Polling: 27% | EA Polling: 22.7% | Donations: $15.7 million
Former Vice President of the United States Joe Biden has moderate views. Regarding gun control, Biden supports a ban on military-style weapons and ammunition, universal background checks, and state “red-flag” laws. According to CNN Politics, he also plans on having a federal gun buyback. With respect to taxes, Biden wants to repeal 2017 corporate tax cuts and close certain tax “loopholes.” Biden is also pushing towards making the middle class larger and increasing the national minimum wage to $15 per hour. Biden supports a pathway to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally, and believes that the US should return to accepting at least 110,000 refugees a year. His plans for education include increasing the funding for schools that are in low-income areas and providing government support to alleviate student debt. He also plans on forming a national, free universal pre-K program for everyone. To reduce carbon emissions, Biden supports setting a price on carbon and banning federal fossil fuel subsidies. As reported by CNN Politics, Biden’s environment plan includes a $1.7 trillion public investment on eliminating net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Finally, on the health care front, Biden supports a “public option” insurance plan, which he describes as a “medicare-like” government insurance policy.
James Austin ‘22 says, “I think Biden, as a centrist has a much better chance of beating Trump than someone like Warren or Sanders, and I don’t want to see Trump as president.”
BERNIE SANDERS: National Polling: 20% | EA Polling: 15.7% | Donations: $28 million
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders identifies himself as a democratic-socialist. To address gun control, according to CNN Politics, Sanders believes that individual states should handle gun restrictions, but supports a feder-al assault weapons ban and instant background checks. He has proposed a 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights, stating, “Every American, regardless of his or her income, is entitled to the right to a decent job that pays a living wage; the right to quality health care; the right to a complete education; the right to affordable housing; the right to a clean environment; and the right to a secure retirement.” To accomplish this, according to the Washington Post, Sanders supports a tax on the assets held by the wealthiest Americans and raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. In regards to immigration, he does not support extending the existing physical barriers on the US-Mexico border. In addition, Sanders believes that education is a basic human right and that the government should subsidize public four-year college for all families. Regarding health care, Sanders is the author and a vocal supporter of the “Medicare for All” health care plan.
Arjun Bhamra ‘22 expresess, “I think that Bernie Sanders’ policy on universal health care, while somewhat flawed, has a lot of merit […] Universal health care has proven time and time again to be successful in a lot of European countries.”
ELIZABETH WARREN: National Polling: 19% | EA Polling: 17.8% | Donations: $24.7 million
To address gun violence, Mass. Senator Elizabeth Warren endorsed legislation to reinstate the assault weapons ban and impose universal background checks. On the issue of taxes, according to CNN Politics, her tax plan would impose a 2% tax on those households with a net worth of more than $50 million and a 3% tax on those with a net worth of more than $1 billion. She also supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour nationwide, as well as the breaking up of big tech companies such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon. Her position on education is also very progressive. She proposes student loan debt forgiveness up to $50,000 for certain borrowers in addition to tuition-free public college. To combat climate change, Warren wants the government to stop subsidising fossil fuel production and to ban fossil fuel exports. She plans on forcing all federal companies to consider climate crisis when making decisions. Also, she would like the US to rejoin the Paris Agreement. Regarding immigration, Warren is in favor of a complete overhaul of the current system, including a path to citizenship for immigrants in the US illegally. Finally, Warren also supports Sanders’ “Medicare for All” bill.
Alex Gobran ‘23 says, “I think it’s really interesting how Warren is not only looking to help the US but the whole world and the environment. I like how fighting climate change is one of her main goals.”
MIKE BLOOMBERG: National Polling: 5% | EA Polling: 15.7% | Donations: Majority Self-Funded
Also running for the Democratic nomination, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is one of the world’s richest men. According to the Washington Post, Bloomberg supports state “red-flag’ laws, a federal law that requires gun owners to obtain a license, and a federal law that requires all assault weapons to be registered. On the issue of taxes, Bloomberg has sharply criticized Warren’s proposed “ultra-millionaire tax,” but has also criticized the 2017 tax cuts as too generous to the wealthy. With respect to immigration, Bloomberg wants the US to return to accepting 110,000 refugees a year and supports increasing foreign aid to countries like Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala to reduce asylum seekers in the US. According to CNN Politics, Bloomberg’s plan for education includes more focus on increasing “student achievement, college preparedness, and career readiness.” He would also like to cancel existing student debt based on each student’s income and supports the federal government subsidizing teacher pay. Additionally, Bloomberg supports setting a price on carbon, such as a carbon tax, and would eliminate fossil fuel subsidies. He also plans on creating renewable energy jobs in the future. Finally, Bloomberg is against a “Medicare for All” system that would replace private, employer-provided health insurance.
Adam Oliva ‘21 says, “I think that Bloomberg did a great job as mayor of New York City and is the closest there is to a bipartisan candidate, which is what I think the country needs right now. He knows the economy well and is also concerned about climate change.”
PETE BUTTIGEIG: National Polling: 7% | EA Polling: 13.5% | Donations: $19.2 million
Former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigeig also takes a moderate approach. As of January 15, Buttigeig had received approximately $19.2 million in donations. Buttigeig supports a federal assault weapons ban with a voluntary buy back option, believes that all gun owners should have to go through a background check and have a license, but that gun owners should not have to register every firearm they own. Additionally, on the economic front, Buttigeig supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour nationwide and returning the federal corporate income tax rate to 35%. Like Warren, he wants to break up big tech companies, such as Amazon, Facebook, and Google. On immigration, Buttigeig wants the US to return to accepting 110,000 refugees a year. He supports a path to citizenship for people brought to the US illegally as children. Furthermore, Buttigeig supports subsidizing four year college for low or middle income families, but not for high income families. He is also in favor of the federal government funding and implementing a national, free pre-K program for low income families. To combat climate crisis, Buttigeig would rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and supports a tax on carbon. Finally, he backs “Medicare for all who want it.”
Josephine Buccini ‘21 says, “I think Buttigeig’s youth is a huge advantage; I feel like everyone else is going to die in office.”