In the wake of Trump’s ascension to the highest political office in the U.S., over 500 candidates have filed to run for president in the 2020 presidential election, with a majority of candidates registering to run on the Democratic ticket. With all of the announcements for the bid for the presidency, 56 percent of voters are looking through candidates to see who will be able to take down Trump.
Although Hillary Clinton lost the election in spite of winning the popular vote, Democratic voters still feel a responsibility to make up for the defeat by pushing for a candidate that is able to run a positive and democratically supportive campaign in opposition with Trump. Through his racist antics, consistent displays of misogyny, and unprofessional behavior, Trump tore down the former high standards and expectations for how a president should conduct themselves while campaigning and after taking office.
Voters now seek refuge with a presidential candidate that would be willing to clean up Trump’s messes, and this has left room for more diverse candidates than ever before. Now that so many Democratic candidates have given voters more options to choose from for the presidential election, what factors will ultimately narrow down all the contenders for the final vote?
While the RNC has already committed to backing Trump’s presidential re-election, many politicians who have come forward with presidential bids for the Democratic nod have already been rumored to run for over the last year. Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Elizabeth Warren are all among the list of Democratic candidates who have either made television appearances, written books, or used social media to win over voters based on branding as the “favorable alternative.”
Every setback offers you the opportunity to despair or to reaffirm hope. Be stubborn. Be relentless. Be irrational. Choose hope.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) July 31, 2013
Popularity has always contributed to the success of a presidential campaign. However, Trump’s image as a reality television host and “bad boy” millionaire has made it easier for the public to get used to his presence in politics. Democratic candidates now must use this prerequisite to their advantage, combining their popularity with all that Trump lacks — political or military experience — in order to qualify as a viable nominal candidate in the eyes of voters.
Trump may have lowered the bar in terms of political qualifications, but with billions of dollars and a prominent name, he was able to have an edge in the presidential race. In the race for the Democratic ticket, other potential candidates are hoping for the same outcome, including bids from former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and author Marianne Williamson.
Even though Trump was able to leverage his power of influence and financial resources, these weren’t the only factors that encouraged his lead in the 2016 election. Past presidential candidates, such as Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, have had both celebrity endorsements and large financial contributions from backers. However, each still suffered defeat in the 2016 presidential election. A huge fan base or significant monetary support isn’t enough to push a candidate forward. What matters is the connection they cultivate with their voters, which often is communicated through their stances on key issues. Furthermore, once this connection is established, candidates need to be compelling enough to inspire more voters to get to the polls and cast their votes.
Since the inauguration of 45, political parties have become more polarized, making the majority of voters seem more determined to label themselves as either liberal, conservative or moderate. A recent Gallup poll found that Republican voters would like to see their party as “more conservative,” while Democratic voters wanted to see their party as “more moderate.” Liberals are usually referred to as those who are in support of policies that reduce social and economic inequality. Conservatives tend to support policies that keep the current structure of government and society in place, usually because they benefit from its operation. Moderates claim to be in the middle of the political spectrum between liberal and conservative but often support policies that appease both political ideologies.
This Democratic moderate lean can be attributed to the need for a presidential candidate that will appeal to Republican voters in a similar way that Trump once appealed to them. In an effort to elect someone who can match Trump’s ridiculous stances on national issues, Democrats seem more likely to choose a candidate that is moderate. Candidates who fit the moderate criteria can be Kamala Harris, who is a supporter of LGBTQ rights while supporting mass incarceration or even Cory Booker who advocates for criminal justice reform but caters his votes in support of large pharmaceutical companies that are overcharging customers. Democratic voters may be more open to forgiving moderate candidates' lack of firmness on political issues and past harmful political decisions if their approach will get Trump out of office.
Perhaps, a popular moderate can go toe-to-toe with Trump. While several presidential candidates can fit that description, what will really help them stand out has to be their ability to be one step ahead of Trump’s antics. Based on Trump’s behavior during his initial election and the past two years of his presidential term, it’s evident that whoever ultimately wins the bid for the Democratic ticket needs to hold Trump's presidential actions up as a reminder of the lack of progress that he has brought to the country and offer themselves as the better alternative. By reflecting on the effects of the current presidency, carving a non-reactionary defense in the debates, and ensuring an upbeat image with the people, Democrats may have a strong and effective political strategy that stands a chance in defeating Trump for the big seat in the White House.
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