The 2016 Presidential race in the United States has been called “a volatile campaign”, “embarrassing”, and even “a freak show” – and that’s just by the New York Times. Most high schoolers can’t vote yet, or don’t plan to. However, it’s still important to pay attention to the race because the elected individual will likely be in office as Fossil Ridge students get jobs, apply to colleges, and become adults.
For those who don’t understand the major political parties of the United States, here’s a basic overview. The Democratic party, often known as the left-wing and liberal party, currently has two candidates competing for the nomination: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. The Republican party, the GOP and conservative group, has three: Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich.
Hillary Clinton – Democrat
Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State in the United States from 2009-2013. She was previously a Senator in New York, from 2001-2009. If elected, she would be the first female president, as well as the first president to have first resided in the White House as First Lady. Clinton ran for president in 2008, but lost to current president Barack Obama.
Clinton recieved a degree in Political Science from Wellesley College, then went on to get her Doctor of Law degree from Yale. She currently resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband Bill, who is a former president (1993-2001). Born in Chicago, Illinois, she will be 69 on election day. She is a Methodist.
On education, Clinton would make public college debt-free, establish universal pre-K, and disavow No Child Left Behind. She would also ban most assault weapons, and create a comprehensive background check system for gun purchases. Clinton wants government to have a role in setting insurance rates and would expand Obamacare, but wouldn’t try to create a universal healthcare system.
Clinton supports giving undocumented residents a path to legal status, and wants to continue programs that waive deportation. She plans to raise federal minimum wage to $12 an hour and give tax credits for jobs. Her plan for taxes involves tax cuts for the middle class, and raising taxes on capital gains.
Access to legal abortion is important to Clinton. In the past, her statements about same-sex marriage have changed. However, she continues to support the legalization of it in all states. In Iran, Clinton supports a nuclear deal, along with some sanctions. In the fight against ISIS, she would avoid sending in troops, instead focusing on supporting the troops already in the region, particularly the Iraqis.
Bernie Sanders – Democrat
Bernie Sanders served in the House of Representatives for Vermont from 1991-2007, and has been a Senator since. He is technically an independent candidate, but is running as a Democrat in this race. He is a ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. Considered the most liberal candidate, particularly for his policies on health care, Social Security, and free trade, Sanders has described himself as a Democratic Socialist in the past.
Sanders graduated from University of Chicago with a degree in Political Science. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he currently lives in Burlington, Vermont with his wife Jane. He has four children, and will be 75 on Election Day. If elected, Sanders would be the first Jewish president.
In office, Sanders proposes a Constitutional amendment that would cap corporations and nonprofits from spending unlimited amounts on campaigning. He is the only 2016 candidate to have rejected financial assistance in his campaign from a super PAC. Sanders would also open up the Federal Reserve and break up big banks. He would raise income taxes on those making more than $250,000 per year.
Sanders would charge companies for their carbon emissions in an effort to combat climate change, and use the money to fund renewable energy technology. He would establish free, universal preschool and make tuition free at all public colleges and universities. To do so, he would increase taxes on the wealthy and on some Wall Street transactions.
In addition to banning assault weapons, Sanders would repeal laws that protect gun manufacturers. He intends to launch universal and government provided healthcare, believing that the Affordable Care Act didn’t go far enough. Sanders would waive some deportations, and offer a path to citizenship for immigrants.
Sanders opposed the Iraq war, and wants troops withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan as soon as possible. He wouldn’t put U.S. troops on the ground in the fight against ISIS. Sanders supports the current deal with Iran, and doesn’t want to tighten sanctions any further.
Donald Trump – Republican
Donald Trump has never held an elected government position, instead making his fortune as a businessman. The son of Fred Trump, a wealthy real estate developer, he hosted the show “The Apprentice” on NBC for several years. Trump has spoken at multiple Conservative Political Action Conferences, and is widely known as this election cycle’s most brash candidate.
With a major in economics from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Trump currently resides in his birthplace: New York City, New York. He was been married three times, and his current wife is named Melania. Trump has five children, and will be 70 on Election Day. He is a Presbyterian.
Trump believes that government should further reduce spending in the United States, and that climate change is a hoax, as well as expressing fervent disapproval of wind turbines. In 2013, Trump stated that Republicans should not cut Social Security or Medicare, but the economy should be grown to save the programs. He has yet to propose a plan for this save, and would repeal and replace Obamacare as soon as possible.
On gun control, Trump wants to limit restrictions. However, he would support banning certain assault weapons and extend waiting periods on gun purchases. In terms of social issues, Trump believes abortion should be banned except in cases of rape and when the life of the mother is in danger. In addition, he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Arguably his most controversial view is that of immigration. Trump would deport all undocumented individuals as president, and ban all Muslims from entering the country. He has expressed interest in a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and maintains that Mexico would pay for it. On the international front, Trump would increase sanctions in Iran and Israel, and walk away from nuclear talks. He would put American troops in oil-rich areas that have been taken over by ISIS.
Ted Cruz – Republican
Ted Cruz was elected to the U.S. Senate by the state of Texas in 2013, and previously was a partner at Morgan Lewis law firm. He was also the solicitor general for Texas, and argued cases in front of the Supreme Court. Born in Canada to an American mother, he faced controversy over the legality of his candidacy.
Cruz majored in Public Policy at Princeton University and went on to receive a Doctor of Law degree from Harvard. He currently resides in Houston, Texas, with his wife Heidi and two children. On election day, Cruz will be 45.
A Southern Baptist, Cruz has openly supported ending common core. He has opposed corporate income tax, and agrees that a Constitutional amendment should be added to mandate a balanced budget. In office, he vows to repeal Obamacare and set strict abortion limits.
Cruz’s immigration stance is that any effort to allow illegal immigrants to remain in the country should be blocked. He believes that the IRS should be abolished, and that a flat income tax of 10% should be laid on all families with incomes above $36,000 per year.
International relations are a hot topic this election cycle. Cruz vows to toughen sanctions in Iran, and increases airstrikes in Syria without putting troops on the ground.
John Kasich – Republican
John Kasich was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. He has served as the governor of Ohio since 2011, and had a 22-year stay in Congress, acting as a Senator from 1979-1983. He was on the House of Representatives for Ohio for nine terms, from 1983-2001. Kasich also hosted “Heartland with John Kasich” on Fox News for several years.
Kasich graduated from Ohio State with a degree in Political Science, and lives in Westerville, Ohio with his wife Karen and two children. He is an Anglican who converted from Catholicism, and will be 64 on Election Day.
Criticized by other Republicans for his support of common core, Kasich expanded Medicaid in Ohio through Obamacare. He believes in climate change, but does not support the EPA regulating emissions. He has worked toward reducing criminal sentences for nonviolent crimes, instead focusing on rehabilitation and treatment.
Kasich believes in allowing undocumented immigrants to remain in the country, preferably with a legal status below citizen. However, a path to citizenship might be a compromise in his campaign. In office, Kasich would keep the Medicaid portion of the Affordable Care Act and repeal the rest.
Kasich would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, unless the mother’s life was in danger. He would cut income and corporate taxes, and increase sales taxes as a form of revenue, as well as removing some current tax breaks.
On the International front, Kasich wants to put American troops on the ground to combat ISIS. He supports an international plan to battle the terrorist group, and agrees with his fellow Republicans that the Iran nuclear deal is a cause for concern.
