Get to know the candidates of the 2020 presidential election

Savannah Wesley, Former Editor-in-Chief|September 29, 2020

With the 2020 elections coming up, it can be difficult or even tiring to do a deep dive research into the presidential candidates so here is a quick rundown of former Vice President Joe Biden and incumbent President Donald Trump’s platforms.

Joe Biden – Democratic Candidate

Kamala Harris – VP Candidate

“Battle for the Soul of the Nation”

ENSURE THE FUTURE IS “MADE IN ALL OF AMERICA” BY ALL OF AMERICA’S WORKERS

Make “Buy American” Real and Make a $400 billion Procurement Investment
Retool and Revitalize American military electronic manufacturing services.
Make a New $300 Billion Investment in Research and Development (R&D) and Breakthrough Technologies
Ensure Investments Reach All of America so we draw on the full talents and invest in the potential of all our communities and workers
Pursue a Pro-American Worker Tax and Trade Strategy
Bring Back Critical Supply Chains to America

COMBAT CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND PREPARE FOR FUTURE GLOBAL HEALTH THREATS

Restoring trust, credibility, and common purpose.
Mounting an effective national emergency response that saves lives, protects frontline workers, and minimizes the spread of COVID-19.
Eliminating cost barriers for prevention of and care for COVID-19.
Pursuing decisive economic measures to help hard-hit workers, families, and small businesses and to stabilize the American economy.
Rallying the world to confront this crisis while laying the foundation for the future.

4-POINT PLAN FOR OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS

Ensure all frontline workers, like grocery store employees, qualify for priority access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 testing based upon their risk of exposure to the virus, as well as child care assistance, and other forms of emergency COVID-19 support
Expand access to effective personal protective equipment, including through use of the Defense Production Act
Establish and enforce health and safety standards for workplaces
Enact premium pay for frontline workers putting themselves at risk

HEALTHCARE

Give every American access to affordable health insurance
Provide the peace of mind of affordable, quality health care and a less complex health care system
Stand up for abuse of power by prescription drug corporations
Ensure health care is a right for all not a privilege for just a few
Supporting health, no rewarding wealth

EDUCATION

Support our educators by giving them the pay and dignity they deserve.
Invest in resources for our schools so students grow into physically and emotionally healthy adults, and educators can focus on teaching.
Ensure that no child’s future is determined by their zip code, parents’ income, race, or disability.
Provide every middle and high school student a path to a successful career.
Start investing in our children at birth.

GUARANTEE GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE

Reduce the corrupting influence of money in politics and make it easier for candidates of all backgrounds to run for office
Return integrity to the U.S. Department of Justice and other Executive Branch decision-making
Restore ethics in government
Rein in Executive Branch financial conflicts of interest
Hold the lobbied and lobbyists to a higher standard of accountability.

STRENGTHENING AMERICA’S COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE (CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM)

We can and must reduce the number of people incarcerated in this country while also reducing crime
Our criminal justice system cannot be just unless we root out the racial, gender, and income-based disparities in the system.
Our criminal justice system must be focused on redemption and rehabilitation
No one should be profiteering off of our criminal justice system
Preventing crime and providing opportunities for all.
Eliminating racial disparities and ensuring fair sentences.
Offering second chances.
Reducing violence in our communities and supporting survivors of violence.

SECURE OUR VALUES AS A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS

Take urgent action to undo Trump’s damage and reclaim America’s values
Modernize America’s immigration system
Welcome immigrants in our communities
Reassert America’s commitment to asylum-seekers and refugees
Tackle the root causes of irregular migration
Implement effective border screening

END OUR GUN VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC

Hold gun manufacturers accountable
Get weapons of war off our streets
Keep guns out of dangerous hands
End the online sale of firearms and ammunitions
Create an effective program to ensure individuals who become prohibited from possessing firearms relinquish their weapons
Incentivize state “extreme risk” laws
Give states incentives to set up gun licensing programs
Adequately fund the background check system
Make sure firearm owners take on the responsibility of ensuring their weapons are used safely
Empower law enforcement to effectively enforce our gun laws
Dedicate the brightest scientific minds to solving the gun violence public health epidemic
Prohibit the use of federal funds to arm or train educators to discharge firearms
Address the epidemic of suicides by firearms

Among other policy ideas:

Rebuild the Middle Class
Repair international relationships
Set up support for deserving small businesses
Scale up employment insurance by reforming short-time compensation programs
Bankruptcy Reform
Full participation and equality for people with disabilities
Fix campaign finance, voting rights, and gerrymandering
Tax cuts for the middle class, raise taxes for corporations and top 1% “Make The Wealthy And Corporations Pay Their Fair Share, And Provide Tax Relief For Working Families”.
Build back the economy and generate more employment
Advance racial equity as part of repairing the economy
Build a modern, sustainable instructure and an equitable clean energy future
Mobilizing American talent and heart to create a 21st Century caregiving and education workforce
Equality for Women, Black America, LGBTQ+
Reopen schools safely amid COVID-19
Build security and prosperity in partnership with the people of Central America
Keep our sacred obligation to our veterans
Fulfill our commitment to military families, caregivers and survivors
Strengthen worker organizing, collective bargaining and unions
Plans for education beyond high school
Invest in communities through housing
Secure environmental justice and equitable economic opportunity
End the opioid crisis and ensure access to effective treatment and recovery for substance use disorders

Donald Trump – Republican Candidate

Mike Pence – VP Candidate

“America First”, “Fighting for You!”

JOBS

Create 10 Million New Jobs in 10 Months
Create 1 Million New Small Businesses
Cut Taxes to Boost Take-Home Pay and Keep Jobs in America
Enact Fair Trade Deals that Protect American Jobs
“Made in America” Tax Credits
Expand Opportunity Zones
Continue Deregulatory Agenda for Energy Independence

ERADICATE COVID-19

Develop a Vaccine by The End Of 2020
Return to Normal in 2021
Make All Critical Medicines and Supplies for Healthcare Workers in The United States
Refill Stockpiles and Prepare for Future Pandemics

END OUR RELIANCE ON CHINA

Bring Back 1 Million Manufacturing Jobs from China
Tax Credits for Companies that Bring Back Jobs from China
Allow 100% Expensing Deductions for Essential Industries like Pharmaceuticals and Robotics who Bring Back their Manufacturing to the United States
No Federal Contracts for Companies who Outsource to China
Hold China Fully Accountable for Allowing the Virus to Spread around the World

HEALTHCARE

Cut Prescription Drug Prices
Put Patients and Doctors Back in Charge of our Healthcare System
Lower Healthcare Insurance Premiums
End Surprise Billing
Cover All Pre-Existing Conditions
Protect Social Security and Medicare
Protect Our Veterans and Provide World-Class Healthcare and Services

EDUCATION

Provide School Choice to Every Child in America
Teach American Exceptionalism

DRAIN THE SWAMP

Pass Congressional Term Limits
End Bureaucratic Government Bullying of U.S. Citizens and Small Businesses
Expose Washington’s Money Trail and Delegate Powers Back to People and States
Drain the Globalist Swamp by Taking on International Organizations That Hurt American Citizens

DEFEND OUR POLICE

Fully Fund and Hire More Police and Law Enforcement Officers
Increase Criminal Penalties for Assaults on Law Enforcement Officers
Prosecute Drive-By Shootings as Acts of Domestic Terrorism
Bring Violent Extremist Groups Like ANTIFA to Justice
End Cashless Bail and Keep Dangerous Criminals Locked Up until Trial

END ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND PROTECT AMERICAN WORKERS

Block Illegal Immigrants from Becoming Eligible for Taxpayer-Funded Welfare, Healthcare, and Free College Tuition
Mandatory Deportation for Non-Citizen Gang Members
Dismantle Human Trafficking Networks
End Sanctuary Cities to Restore our Neighborhoods and Protect our Families
Prohibit American Companies from Replacing United States Citizens with Lower-Cost Foreign Workers
Require New Immigrants to Be Able to Support Themselves Financially

INNOVATE FOR THE FUTURE

Launch Space Force, Establish Permanent Manned Presence on The Moon and Send the First Manned Mission to Mars
Build the World’s Greatest Infrastructure System
Win the Race to 5G and Establish a National High-Speed Wireless Internet Network
Continue to Lead the World in Access to the Cleanest Drinking Water and Cleanest Air
Partner with Other Nations to Clean Up our Planet’s Oceans

AMERICA FIRST FOREIGN POLICY