This page describes the stances held by Democratic candidates in the 2020 United States presidential election on a variety of policy issues (e.g. domestic and foreign issues). Only candidates still in the race during the 2020 Iowa caucuses are included.
Candidate | Tuition-free public college | Debt relief for student loans | Affirmative action | Universal child care | Universal pre-kindergarten | Increase funding for primary and secondary public education |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | Partial[note 1][1] | No[2] | ? | Yes[3] | Yes[4] | Yes[4] |
Joe Biden | Partial[note 2][5][6] | Partial[note 3][7] | Yes[8] | Yes[9] | Yes[7] | Yes[7] |
Mike Bloomberg | Partial[note 4][10][11] | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[12] |
Pete Buttigieg | Partial[note 5][13] | Partial[14] | Yes[13] | Yes[15] | Yes[16] | Yes[13] |
Tulsi Gabbard | Yes[17][18] | Yes[19] | ? | Yes[20] | Yes[21] | Yes[22] |
Amy Klobuchar | Partial[note 6][17] | Partial[17] | ? | Yes[23] | ? | ? |
Deval Patrick | Partial[note 6][24] | Yes[25] | Yes[26] | Yes[27] | Yes[28] | Yes[29] |
Bernie Sanders | Yes[17] | Yes[30] | Yes[31] | Yes[32] | Yes[33] | Yes[34] |
Tom Steyer | Partial[note 6][35] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Elizabeth Warren | Yes[17] | Yes[17] | ? | Yes[36] | Yes[36] | ? |
Andrew Yang | Partial[note 7][37] | Yes[37] | Yes[38] | Yes[39] | Yes[40] | Yes[41] |
Candidate | Universal background checks | Ban assault weapons | Gun buyback | Require gun license |
---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | Yes[109] | Yes[110] | Voluntary[111] | No[111] |
Joe Biden | Yes[112] | Yes[113] | Voluntary[114] | Partial[111] |
Mike Bloomberg | Yes[115] | Yes[116] | Voluntary[111] | Yes[111] |
Pete Buttigieg | Yes[117] | Yes[118] | Voluntary[114] | Yes[111] |
Tulsi Gabbard | Yes[119] | Yes[120] | Unclear[111] | Unclear[111] |
Amy Klobuchar | Yes[121] | Yes[122] | Voluntary[111] | Unclear[111] |
Deval Patrick | Yes[123] | Yes[124] | Voluntary[81] | Yes[111] |
Bernie Sanders | Yes[121] | Yes[122] | Voluntary[114] | Partial[note 1][111] |
Tom Steyer | Yes[125] | Yes[125] | Voluntary[111] | Yes[111] |
Elizabeth Warren | Yes[121] | Yes[122] | Voluntary[111] | Yes[111] |
Andrew Yang | Yes[126] | Yes[127][128] | Voluntary[114] | Yes[111] |
Candidate | Support single-payer healthcare system | Support public health insurance option | Eliminate private health insurance | Import prescription drugs from Canada |
---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | No[129] | Yes[130] | No[131] | No[132] |
Joe Biden | No[133] | Yes[134] | No[131] | ? |
Mike Bloomberg | No[135] | Yes[136] | No[135] | Open[137] |
Pete Buttigieg | No[138] | Yes[139] | No[131] | Yes[140] |
Tulsi Gabbard | Yes[141] | ? | No[131] | Yes[142] |
Amy Klobuchar | No[143] | Yes[144] | No[131] | Yes[145] |
Deval Patrick | No[146] | Yes[146] | No[146] | ? |
Bernie Sanders | Yes[147] | ? | Yes[131] | Yes[145] |
Tom Steyer | Yes[148] | ? | No[149] | ? |
Elizabeth Warren | Yes[150] | ? | Yes[131] | Yes[132] |
Andrew Yang | No[151] | Yes[152] | No[131] | Partial[153] |
Candidate | Proposed Trump border wall | Trump travel ban | Support DACA | Allow more visa workers | Demilitarize Mexico–US border | Invest in ports of entry | Abolish ICE | Decriminalize illegal immigration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | No[154] | No[155] | Yes[156] | Yes[157] | ? | Yes[158] | No[159] | No[160] |
Joe Biden | No[161] | No[162] | Yes[163] | Yes[164] | ? | Yes[165] | No[166] | No[167] |
Mike Bloomberg | No[168] | No[169] | Yes[170] | ? | ? | Yes[169] | ? | ? |
Pete Buttigieg | No[171] | No[172] | Yes[117] | Yes[173] | Yes[117] | ? | No[174] | Yes[175] |
Tulsi Gabbard | No[176] | No[177] | Yes[178][179] | Yes[180] | ? | ? | No[159] | ? |
Amy Klobuchar | No[181] | No[182] | Yes[183] | ? | ? | Yes[citation needed] | No[184] | ? |
Deval Patrick | No[81] | ? | Yes[185] | ? | ? | Yes[81] | No[186] | ? |
Bernie Sanders | No[187] | No[182] | Yes[188] | No[188] | Yes[188] | Yes[188] | Yes[189] | Yes[175] |
Tom Steyer | No[190] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Elizabeth Warren | No[191] | No[182] | Yes[192] | ? | ? | ? | No[159] | Yes[193] |
Andrew Yang | No[194] | ? | Yes[195] | Yes[196] | ? | Yes[197] | No[159] | Limited[note 1][198] |
Candidate | Reinstate net neutrality | Treat private data as personal property | CASE Act |
---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | Yes[199] | ? | No[200] |
Joe Biden | Yes[201] | ? | ? |
Mike Bloomberg | ? | ? | ? |
Pete Buttigieg | Yes[202] | ? | ? |
Tulsi Gabbard | Yes[202] | Yes[203] | Yes[204] |
Amy Klobuchar | Yes[202] | ? | No[200] |
Deval Patrick | ? | ? | ? |
Bernie Sanders | Yes[202] | ? | No[200] |
Tom Steyer | Yes[205] | ? | ? |
Elizabeth Warren | Yes[202] | ? | No[200] |
Andrew Yang | Yes[202] | Yes[206] | ? |
Candidate | Estate tax | Postal banking | Reparations for slavery | Wealth tax | Breaking up the largest banks | Support NAFTA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | Yes[207] | ? | ? | ? | No[208] | ? |
Joe Biden | Yes[209] | ? | Partial[note 1][210] | No[211] | ? | Yes[212] |
Mike Bloomberg | ? | ? | ? | Yes[note 2] | ? | ? |
Pete Buttigieg | Yes[214] | ? | Partial[note 3][215] | Yes[216] | ? | No[217] |
Tulsi Gabbard | Yes[218] | ? | Yes[219] | ? | Yes[220] | No[217] |
Amy Klobuchar | Yes[221] | ? | Partial[note 3][222] | ? | ? | ? |
Deval Patrick | Yes[81] | ? | ? | No[223] | ? | ? |
Bernie Sanders | Yes[224] | Yes[225] | Partial[note 3][226] | Yes[227] | Yes[228][229] | No[230] |
Tom Steyer | ? | ? | Yes | Yes[231] | ? | ? |
Elizabeth Warren | Yes[232] | Yes[233] | Yes[234] | Yes[235] | Yes[228] | ? |
Andrew Yang | Yes[236] | Yes[237] | Partial[238] | No[239] | ? | ? |
Candidate | Raise minimum wage | Basic income | Paid family leave | Paid sick leave | Limit right-to-work laws | Job guarantee |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | $12[note 1][240] | ? | Yes[241] | Yes[241] | ? | ? |
Joe Biden | $15[242] | No[243][244] | Yes[245] | Yes[246] | Yes[247] | ? |
Mike Bloomberg | $15[248] | ? | Yes[248] | Yes[249] | ? | ? |
Pete Buttigieg | $15[13] | Partial[250] | Yes[251] | ? | Yes[252] | ? |
Tulsi Gabbard | $15[253] | Yes[254] | Yes[255] | Yes[255] | Yes[256] | No[257][258] |
Amy Klobuchar | $15[259] | ? | Yes[245] | Yes[245] | Yes[260] | ? |
Deval Patrick | ? | ? | Yes[261] | Yes[262] | ? | ? |
Bernie Sanders | $15[259] | No[263] | Yes[264] | Yes[264] | Yes[265] | Yes[266] |
Tom Steyer | $22[267] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Elizabeth Warren | $15[259] | Open[268] | Yes[245] | Yes[269] | Yes[270] | Partial[271] |
Andrew Yang | No[note 2][272] | Yes[273] | Yes[274] | ? | Yes[275] | No[276] |
Candidate | Withdraw troops from Afghanistan | Intervention in Syria | Military Intervention in Venezuela | Intervention in Yemen | Defend Taiwan | Drone strikes | Decrease the annual military budget |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | By end of 1st term[288] | ? | ? | No[323] | ? | ? | No[324] |
Joe Biden | By end of 1st term[325] | Yes[326] | No[327] | No[328] | ? | Yes[329] | No[324] |
Mike Bloomberg | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Pete Buttigieg | 1st year[330] | Yes[331] | No[332] | No[333] | ? | ? | No[324] |
Tulsi Gabbard | 1st year[330] | No[334] | No[335] | No[336] | ? | Limited[337] | Yes[338] |
Amy Klobuchar | By end of 1st term[288] | Yes[339][340] | ? | No[341] | ? | ? | Yes[324] |
Deval Patrick | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Bernie Sanders | By end of 1st term[342] | No[343] | No[344] | No[345] | Yes[346] | Limited[347] | Yes[348] |
Tom Steyer | ? | ? | ? | No[349] | ? | ? | Yes[349] |
Elizabeth Warren | By end of 1st term[350] | Unclear[351][352] | No[332] | No[353] | ? | ?[354] | Yes[355] |
Andrew Yang | By end of 1st term[288] | ? | No[356] | No[357] | ? | ? | Yes[358] |
Candidate | No corporate PAC donations | Overturn Citizens United | Publicly funded elections | Democracy vouchers | We the People Amendment | Fundraising from billionaires? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | Yes[407] | Yes[407] | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Joe Biden | No[408] | Yes[409] | Yes[410] | ? | ? | Yes[411] |
Mike Bloomberg | Yes[412] | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[note 1][412] |
Pete Buttigieg | Yes[413] | Yes[414] | Yes[415] | ? | ? | Yes[416][417] |
Tulsi Gabbard | Yes[418] | Yes[419][420][421] | Yes[422] | Yes[423] | Yes[424] | ? |
Amy Klobuchar | Yes[425] | Yes[426] | Yes[427] | ? | ? | ? |
Deval Patrick | No[428] | Yes[81] | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Bernie Sanders | Yes[429] | Yes[430] | Yes[427] | Yes[431] | Yes[432] | No[433][434] |
Tom Steyer | Yes[435] | Yes[436] | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Elizabeth Warren | Yes[429] | Yes[437] | Yes[427] | ? | ? | Partial[note 2][438][439] |
Andrew Yang | Yes[440] | Yes[440] | Yes[441] | Yes[442] | ? | ? |
Candidate | Support right to abortion | Contraceptive mandate | Fund Planned Parenthood | Retain Hyde Amendment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | Yes[443] | Yes[444] | Yes[444] | No[445] |
Joe Biden | Yes[446] | ? | Yes[446] | No[445][note 1] |
Mike Bloomberg | Yes[449] | ? | Yes[450] | No[451] |
Pete Buttigieg | Yes[452] | ? | Yes[453] | No[445] |
Tulsi Gabbard | Yes[454] | Yes[455] | Yes[456] | No[457] |
Amy Klobuchar | Yes[458] | Yes[459] | Yes[460] | No[445] |
Deval Patrick | Yes[461] | ? | Yes[462] | ? |
Bernie Sanders | Yes[463] | Yes[464] | Yes[460] | No[445] |
Tom Steyer | Yes[148] | ? | ? | ? |
Elizabeth Warren | Yes[465] | Yes[466] | Yes[467] | No[445] |
Andrew Yang | Yes[468] | Yes[468] | Yes[468] | No[445] |
Candidate | Equality Act | Same-sex marriage | Transgender military service |
---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | Yes[518] | Yes[519] | Yes[520] |
Joe Biden | Yes[521] | Yes[522] | Yes[523] |
Mike Bloomberg | Yes[524] | Yes[525] | Yes[526] |
Pete Buttigieg | Yes[527] | Yes[528] | Yes[529] |
Tulsi Gabbard | Yes[530] | Yes[531] | Yes[532] |
Amy Klobuchar | Yes[518] | Yes[533] | Yes[534] |
Deval Patrick | ? | Yes[535] | ? |
Bernie Sanders | Yes[518] | Yes[536] | Yes[537] |
Tom Steyer | Yes[538] | Yes[538] | Yes[538] |
Elizabeth Warren | Yes[518] | Yes[539] | Yes[540] |
Andrew Yang | Yes[541] | Yes[541] | Yes[542] |
Candidates have been encouraged by organisations, namely Indivisible Project and Individual Action, to take a pledge of unity, known as 'We Are Indivisible'. This means supporting the eventual Democratic nominee, should the candidate's own nomination be unsuccessful. The stance of each candidate is stated as follows:[543]
Candidate | Took the pledge |
---|---|
Michael Bennet | Yes |
Joe Biden | Yes |
Mike Bloomberg | Yes |
Pete Buttigieg | Yes |
Tulsi Gabbard | No |
Amy Klobuchar | Yes |
Deval Patrick | No |
Bernie Sanders | Yes |
Tom Steyer | Yes |
Elizabeth Warren | Yes |
Andrew Yang | Yes |
Now, this year I've supported legislation like the College for All Act, which would eliminate tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities for families that make up to $125,000 a year, and it would make community college tuition fee-free for everyone-- something that's already practice in countries like Germany, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Since I've been in Congress, I've supported legislation to help alleviate the burden of student loans on our students and begin to find a solution to this crisis.
Tulsi supports the concept of The Green New Deal
What about banning assault weapons?" "I would support that.
He supports universal background checks, an assault weapons ban, gun licensing, closing loopholes in existing laws, repealing special legal protections for gun companies, federally funded research on gun violence, and creating financial incentives for firearm owners to obtain smart guns.
But we need to ban the most dangerous weapons that make mass shootings as deadly as they have become....
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[…] the state should not be in a position where someday, God forbid, we'll kill an innocent person.