Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado
We need to fix the broken politics in Washington DC. That means beating Donald Trump, but it also means overcoming the blockade - the stranglehold - that Mitch McConnell and the freedom caucus have perpetrated on this country for the last decade or more. They have immobilized our government. Trump is the star of his own 3-ring circus in Washington, but there is no doubt who the actual ringmaster is: Mitch McConnell.
Source: Iowa Democratic Hall of Fame (May 2019) View More Positions
Former Vice President Joe Biden
You all know in your bones that this election is more important than any that we've ever been engaged in. We have a president that has promoted hate and division, encourages white supremacy, praises dictators, and in fact, goes around the world weakening our alliances. Our children are watching - and it matters what presidents say and do. Four more years of Donald Trump will permanently change the character of this country. We can't let that happen. We have to beat Donald Trump. I am unwilling any longer to postpone the potential of this nation.
Source: South Carolina Democratic Convention (June 2019) View More Positions
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey
50 years ago this month, my family moved into the town I grew up in because after being denied a house because of the color of their skin it was activists, mostly white activists, who stood up and fought for them. That's the best of who we are as America. That is why, when I got out of law school, I moved into the inner-city of Newark to fight as a tenant lawyer for other people's rights. I've taken on bullies and beat them. I've taken on tough fights and we've won. And we win those fights, not by showing the worst of who we are, but by showing the best. Donald Trump wants us to fight on his turf and his terms. We will beat him. I will beat him by calling this country to a sense of common purpose again. This is a referendum on him and getting rid of him, but it is also a referendum on us, who we are and who we must be to each other. It's time we win this election and the way I'll govern is by showing the best of who we are because that is what this country needs and deserves.
Source: MSNBC Democratic Primary Debate #1 (June 26, 2019) View More Positions
Governor Steve Bullock of Montana
Money has broken the political system’s power to take even the first step. We have to do more than just win this election — we have to make Washington work for us. Not for Big Money, not for the special interests, but for each one of us in the communities we call home.
Source: Campaign Website View More Positions
Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana
Nothing about politics is theoretical for me. I've had the experience of writing a letter to my family, putting it in an envelope marked, 'just in case', and leaving it where they knew where to find it just in case I didn't come back from Afghanistan. I have the experience of being in a marriage that exists by the grace of a single vote on the US Supreme Court. I have the experience of guiding a community where the per capita income was below $20,000 when I took office into a brighter future. I'm running because the decisions we make in the next 3 or 4 years will decide how the next 30 or 40 will go. And when I get to the current age of the current president, in the year 2055, I want to be able to look back on these years and say that my generation delivered climate change solutions, racial equality and an end to endless wars. Help me deliver that new generation to Washington before it's too late.
Source: MSNBC Democratic Primary Debate #2 (June 27, 2019) View More Positions
Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro of Texas
We can promise young people that college doesn’t have to equal a future of crushing debt. We can promise our seniors that they can count on a life of dignity. We can promise our veterans that they’ll be respected and honored when they come home. We can promise people of color that they are safe, and promise immigrants that they are welcome.
Source: Campaign Website View More Positions
Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City
When I talk to working people, and not just Democrats, but Independents and Republicans too, they want change.They want us to invest in working people and their communities: affordable housing and education and infrastructure – things that will help people. Any time I talk about it, any time we talk about investing in people, you know what you hear? There's always those pundits and critics who say there's not enough money. We can't afford to invest in people. Well, here is what I say to them every time. There's plenty of money in this world. And there's plenty of money in this country. It's just in the wrong hands. And we need to put money back in the hands of working people. And I'm here to tell you it can be done, because we have been doing it in New York. I run the biggest, toughest, most diverse city in the world. I have 8.6 million highly opinionated constituents. All of them have an opinion. But one thing we agree on is putting working people first. We got sick of waiting for Washington...
Source: Iowa Democratic Hall of Fame (May 2019) View More Positions
Representative John Delaney of Maryland
We need to ensure that America works for hard-working Americans. We need to become the party of ideas. The party that embraces debate. The party that wants to build a big tent - so that progressives that want change, moderates that want solutions, independents who just want their elected officials to put their country first, and even those disaffected republicans who look at this president and see that he has no moral compass and have turned their back on that party. If we become that party, we're going to win every election.
Source: Iowa Democratic Hall of Fame (May 2019) View More Positions
Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii
Our nation was founded on the principles of service before self. People who fled from kings who literally profited off the backs and sacrifices of people coming here to this country, instead putting in place a government that is of, by, and for the people. But that's not what we have. Instead we have a government that is of, by, and for the rich and powerful. This must end. As president, our White House, OUR White House will be a beacon of light: providing hope and opportunity, ushering in a new century where every single person will be able to get the healthcare they need, where people will have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. Where we will have good paying jobs in a new green economy. Join me in ushering in this new century with peace, prosperity, opportunity and justice for all.
Source: MSNBC Democratic Primary Debate #1 (June 26, 2019) View More Positions
Senator Kamala Harris of California
Thank you all. I just want to leave you with a couple of things. One, we need a nominee who has the ability to prosecute the case against four more years of Donald Trump – and I will do that. Second, this election is about you. This is about your hopes and your dreams, and your fears, and what wakes you up at 3 o'clock in the morning. And that's why I have what I call a 3am agenda that is about everything from what we need to do to deliver healthcare to how you will be able to pay the bills by the end of the month. And when I think about what our country needs, I promise you I will be a president who leads with a sense of dignity, with honesty, speaking the truth, and giving the American family all they need to get through to the end of the month and to prosper. So I hope to earn your support. Please join us at kamalaharris.org
Source: MSNBC Democratic Primary Debate #2 (June 27, 2019) View More Positions
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
Three things to know about me. First, I listen to people and that's how I get things done. That is my focus. I have a track record of passing over 100 bills where I am the lead democrat and that is because I listened and I acted, and I think that's important in a president. Everything else just melts away. Secondly, I am someone who can win and beat Donald Trump. I have won every place, every race, and every time. I have won in the reddest of districts, ones where Donald Trump won by over 20 points. I can win in states like Wisconsin and Iowa and in Michigan. Finally, yeah, I am not the establishment party candidate. I got respect, but I am not that person. I am the one that doesn't have a political machine, doesn't come from money, and I don't make all the promises that everyone else up here makes, but I can promise you this: I am going to govern with integrity; I am going to have your back; and I am going to govern for you.
Source: MSNBC Democratic Primary Debate #1 (June 26, 2019) View More Positions
Mayor Wayne Messam of Miramar, Florida
For us to take the White House back, we have to hear from candidates like myself. One of the youngest candidates that's bringing fresh and dynamic ideas to this debate. We cannot forget those who are disenchanted. Issues that deal with people of color, with women, with the LGBT community - we need them to be energized, inspired, and to show up at the ballot box. And when we ignore their voices, it hurts our opportunities to win. So I'm running for president because I feel that the same American dream that I've been blessed to achieve because of the hard sacrifice of my parents is slipping away from too many Americans. Too many Americans have to work more than one job to make ends meet, too many seniors cannot afford their high-cost prescription medication, too many Americans cannot get access to healthcare.
Source: South Carolina Democratic Convention (June 2019) View More Positions
Former Representative Beto O'Rourke of Texas
We are all focused on the same goal for our country - beating Donald Trump in 2020 and to bring this country together again in 2021.
Source: Iowa Democratic Hall of Fame (May 2019) View More Positions
Representative Tim Ryan of Ohio
I'm from northeast Ohio -- the epicenter of industrialization in the United States. The next nominee for the Democratic party has got to deeply, deeply understand what the workers in America are going through. We have, in my community, watched the ripple effect of these devastating trade policies where you can't get mental health coverage, you don't have funding for your schools, you don't have funding for your roads, there's pollution in your river, there is lead paint and high rates of infant mortality as this ripples through the economy.
Source: Iowa Democratic Hall of Fame (May 2019) View More Positions
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont
Let me be frank with you for a moment, while we all agree on the need to get rid of Donald Trump, we disagree on the best way to do that. In my view, we will not defeat Donald Trump unless we bring excitement and energy into this campaign, unless we greatly expand voter turnout, and unless we give working people and young people a reason to vote, and a reason to believe that participating in politics will improve their lives. We can create a nation where all people have healthcare and unlimited educational opportunities as a right. Where veterans are not sleeping out on the street and children are not going hungry.
Source: Iowa Democratic Hall of Fame (May 2019) View More Positions
Representative Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania
Accountability means answering for oneself, not for one’s intentions, but for the deed. We need a leader who is trusted by the people because he is willing to be accountable to them – above self, above party, above any special interest, no matter the cost to him.
Source: Candidate Website View More Positions
Philanthropist Tom Steyer
Tom Steyer stepped down as head of his investment firm in 2012 to dedicate all his time to philanthropy and political action focused on making America more just by putting the people, not the corporations, in charge of our democracy.
Source: Candidate Website View More Positions
Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts
It is time for big structural change in America. The time for small ideas is over. It's time for big plans, and yeah, I've got some big plans.
Source: South Carolina Democratic Convention (June 2019) View More Positions
Spiritual teacher and author Marianne Williamson of California
Donald Trump won by touching the inner life. He harnessed fear. He harnessed hate. The only antidote to that, the only thing that can override that, is if you harness love for political purposes. There are public issues that have just as much moral significance as private issues do. And it has been to the detriment of the Democratic Party that the Democrats have seemed to have forgotten that in the last few decades. America is in need of a “moral and spiritual awakening
Source: PBS View More Positions
Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang of New York
An Asian man, running for president, that wants to give everyone $1000/month.
Source: Iowa Democratic Hall of Fame (May 2019) View More Positions
Former Governor of Massachusetts
I'm running for president of the United States against President Trump in 2020. I really think if we have 6 more years of the same stuff we've had out of the White House for the last 2 years that would be a political tragedy and I would fear for the republic.
Source: CNN Interview View More Positions
