With the 2020 Presidential Election coming up, Democratic candidates are getting a start on campaigning.

The following is a list of major figures who have announced their candidacy for the presidency followed by a small outline of their views on a couple subjects that may define their platforms.

• Cory Booker – Senator from New Jersey, former Newark Mayor
  • Booker’s anchor point for his run is, in a time of increasing divisiveness among the people, a call to unify the country. Booker hopes to reform the criminal justice system and wants to increase educational equity.
• Pete Buttigieg – Mayor of South Bend, Indiana
  • Buttigieg believes in “net-zero” energy consumption and expressed his support for the Paris Climate Accords. Universal background checks to buy firearms is also high on his priority list.
• Julián Castro – Former Housing Secretary (under Obama) and mayor of San Antonio
  • Castro agrees with Buttigieg on rejoining the Paris Climate Accord as well as on gun control. One of his main driving points is to create a path to citizenship for most undocumented immigrants.
• John Delaney – Former Maryland Congressman
  • Delaney has expressed his support for a universal government run health care plan, but believes that private institutions shouldremain as an option. He also believes in increasing border security, while also creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
• Tulsi Gabbard – Congresswoman from Hawaii
  • Gabbard’s plans include mandating an end to fossil fuel use for electricity by 2050, providing free higher education for most families, banning assault weapons, implementing universal background checks, and pulling troops out of Afghanistan and Syria.
• Kirsten Gillibrand – Senator from New York
  • Wants to overturn Citizens United Supreme Court decision (ending unlimited funding for campaign), band new drilling sites and create cap and trade market (creates a carbon emission allowance for all corps).
• Kamala Harris– Senator from California
  • Harris recently announced a major plan to increase teacher salaries and supports universal health care.