Malcolm Rivera
When it comes to voting, it is important to understand what the candidates stand for, what initiatives or issues are on the ballot, and how the candidates have voted on issues in the past. A candidate is an applicant for a position, typically a political office, and during their application, they are scrutinized by the public and the media for their political, economic, and social views and policies. Voters can use resources like Vote411.org, govtrack.com, and ontheissues.org to compare candidates and learn about their stances on various issues. Additionally, understanding the political party each candidate represents and what that party stands for can help voters make informed decisions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political, economic, and social views and policies | Fact-checking and journalism ethics are important to understand these |
| Personal background | N/A |
| Past voting records | N/A |
| Ballot measures | N/A |
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Abortion laws
The Republican Party has traditionally been associated with anti-abortion or 'pro-life' policies, and the majority of its 2024 candidates have expressed support for restricting abortion access to varying degrees. Former President Donald Trump, for example, has claimed credit for the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, as he appointed a third of the Supreme Court justices, all of whom voted to end the nationwide right to abortion. However, Trump has stopped short of endorsing a federal ban on abortion, instead arguing that abortion restrictions should be left to individual states. Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, has been more vocal in his opposition to abortion, calling for a nationwide ban after six weeks of gestation. Pence has also advocated for the removal of the abortion pill mifepristone from the market.
Other Republican candidates have expressed similar sentiments. Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, has stated that she would sign into law a federal abortion ban, but has not specified at which point in a pregnancy abortion should be prohibited. Meanwhile, former Vice President Mike Pence has challenged his competitors to endorse a 15-week federal ban, and several candidates, including the former governor of Arkansas, have signed on. However, some Republican candidates have expressed concern that a federal ban may be too extreme for a general election, and could alienate moderates and independents.
On the Democratic side, the Biden administration, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, has been vocal in its support for abortion access. Harris has toured the country, advocating for abortion rights and calling on Congress to pass a law restoring protections for abortion. The Biden administration has also taken steps to protect access to medication abortion, such as through telehealth appointments and pharmacies.
Overall, the 2024 presidential election has highlighted a range of opinions and policies on abortion laws, with Republican candidates generally favouring restrictions on abortion access, while Democrats support abortion rights and seek to protect and expand access.
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Climate change
On the other hand, Clinton proposed spending $60 billion to transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. She understood the need to take action to prevent the catastrophic consequences of unchecked climate change. The 2024 election also presents a contrast between the candidates' views on climate change. The Republican candidate, Donald Trump, continues to deny the climate crisis, considering it a "conspiracy". He has pledged to lower energy costs and increase fossil fuel production, with no intention of supporting initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act. Trump has a history of opposing wind power and has criticised solar farms for occupying too much land.
However, his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, has a different perspective. While Harris has not made climate change the central focus of her campaign, she recognises the importance of addressing the climate crisis for her supporters, especially younger ones. She has praised the Biden administration's efforts, including the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to tackle climate change and invest in clean energy. Harris has also promoted renewable energy plans and introduced the Climate Equity Act as a senator. She aims to protect public health, increase resilience to climate disasters, and hold polluters accountable.
The impact of the election outcome on climate policy extends beyond the presidency. The Democrat Policy Platform, for instance, references plans to promote solar, wind, and battery power, while the Republican platform focuses on "unleashing American energy" by lifting restrictions on energy production. As the US approaches its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, the choices made by the next administration will significantly influence the country's ability to address the climate crisis.
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Education reform
Kamala Harris, the current vice president, and former president Donald Trump have distinct visions for the future of education in the United States. Harris is calling for a wider role for the federal government and larger investment to improve educational opportunities. She has helped deliver the largest investment in public education in American history, providing nearly $170 billion in student debt relief for almost five million borrowers. She has also helped deliver record investments in HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and other minority-serving institutions. Harris has also pursued student loan debt forgiveness and supported expanding access to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. She has talked about the millions of borrowers who have already been approved for loan forgiveness because of previous Biden-Harris administration changes. As California's attorney general, Harris secured a $1.1 billion judgment against Corinthian Colleges for false advertising, providing refunds for students who were misled by claims. Harris is also in favour of universal preschool for all 4-year-olds and expanding the child tax credit. She has also called for federal funding to provide teachers with an average raise of $13,500.
On the other hand, Trump is focused on reducing the federal role in education and giving more control to states, localities, and parents. He wants to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, which he sees as a bastion of liberal bureaucracy and government overreach. Trump's 2024 campaign platform calls for sweeping changes to K-12 education policy, including universal school choice and more parental control over schools. He has also proposed a plan to give a $12,000 voucher to every child living in poverty, allowing parents to use educational funds to pay for private school through vouchers or tax credits. Trump has also expanded college savings 529 plans, allowing parents to save up to $10,000 per year tax-free for K-12 private school tuition. He has focused on promoting innovation by reducing regulation and expanding alternatives to traditional higher education, making it easier for online, faith-based, and for-profit institutions to be accredited.
Other candidates for the 2024 presidential election include Chase Oliver (L), Jill Stein (G), DeSantis, Ramaswamy, Christie, and Scott. However, there is limited information available on their specific plans for education reform.
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Tax policies
Tax policy has become a significant focus of the US 2024 presidential election. Here is an overview of the tax policies of the major candidates:
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris (D) has provided a detailed overview of her tax policy plans. Harris proposes expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to $6,000 for newborns and $5,000 for other children, reinstating pandemic-era credits, and restoring the credit's full refundability. She also plans to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit for filers without children and permanently extend expanded health insurance premium credits. Additionally, Harris intends to increase the small business startup deduction and make it easier for small businesses to file returns. She also proposes enacting credits for new home buyers and the construction of starter homes. On corporate taxes, Harris suggests increasing the rate to 28% and the corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT) to 21%. She also plans to double the global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) rate to 21% and repeal the reduced foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) rate. Harris intends to replace the base-erosion and anti-abuse tax (BEAT) with rules consistent with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Pillar Two. She also proposes exempting tip income from taxation.
Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump (R) has not released a detailed tax plan but has commented on several areas of tax law and policy. Trump proposes creating a tax credit for family caregivers and a deduction for auto loan interest. He also intends to make the individual and estate tax cuts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent and lower the corporate income tax rate to 15% for companies manufacturing products in the US. Trump also plans to tax large private university endowments and exempt income from overtime pay and tips. He would impose a universal baseline tariff on all US imports and a 60% tariff on imports from China. Trump is also considering replacing personal income taxes with increased tariffs.
Other Candidates in Previous Elections
In the 2020 election, Joe Biden proposed increasing income and payroll taxes for high-income individuals and corporations, expanding various tax credits, and creating a new renter's tax credit. He also planned to eliminate tax preferences for fossil fuels and increase incentives for energy-efficient technologies. Tom Steyer proposed an additional 1% annual wealth tax on the top 0.1% of American families. Elizabeth Warren suggested a 7% tax on corporate profits above $100 million. Pete Buttigieg proposed the Rise Credit, which would provide up to $8,000 to working Americans, benefiting low-income students and caregivers. Mark Sanford supported a fairer and simpler tax system, while Joe Walsh opposed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
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Foreign policy
The war in Ukraine, China's aggression in the Indo-Pacific, and immigration are issues that voters care about. However, voters' beliefs about a candidate's personal attributes, such as strength and decisiveness, often play a more significant role in shaping their choices than specific foreign policy positions. For example, Joe Biden's policy towards Israel was seen as weak, and this may have cost him votes.
Former President Donald Trump, running again as a Republican, has criticised Biden's "radical left ideology" in the military and pledged to defend America against all threats. He has also said he would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to any NATO member that does not meet defence spending guidelines. Trump's victory in the 2024 election may indicate that Americans prioritise their country's strength and standing in the world.
Kamala Harris, Biden's vice president and the Democratic candidate, wants to ensure that the US military remains the strongest fighting force globally. She also supports Ukraine's sovereignty and believes it deserves protection. On China, Harris has criticised both Trump and Biden's records and offered a full-throated defence of continuing aid to Ukraine.
Other candidates have also weighed in on foreign policy. Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman and commentator, has said he will put American interests first and end aid to Ukraine. He has also pledged to defend Taiwan from a potential Chinese invasion until the US achieves semiconductor independence. Nikki Haley, a former UN Ambassador, has proposed pushing Congress to end normal trade relations with China and ban lobbying from the Chinese Communist Party. She has also referred to China as the biggest threat to the US.
In summary, while foreign policy may not be the primary factor in voters' decisions, it can still play a role, especially when there are clear differences between the candidates and highly salient international crises. The 2024 election may be shaped by how candidates are perceived on issues like Ukraine, China, and immigration, as well as their overall strength and decisiveness in foreign affairs.
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Frequently asked questions
You can find out what a candidate stands for by checking out their campaign website and social media. Ballot guides and sample ballots can also be useful, as they include information on candidates and issues up for a vote.
Candidates stand for a range of issues, often related to local and state-level policies. For example, candidates may have stances on natural gas, school choice, or ranked-choice voting.
You can compare candidates' stances by reviewing their campaign materials, such as their website or social media, and looking for contrasts in their priorities, values, and style.
You can find information on candidates' backgrounds by referring to nonpartisan online resources, which provide comprehensive looks at local election candidate information, including backgrounds, beliefs, and policy stances.
