Candidates are officially announcing themselves for the run up to the 2020 U.S. presidential elections and so far the majority are female.
These first two years of Donald Trump’s reign as President of the United States of America have been fraught with controversy, criticism and contempt. From accusations of white supremacy and alleged sexual harassment, to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and a years-spanning investigation into alledged collusion with Russia. Ever since the latest POTUS began his presidential campaign the news, and the resulting vitriol, has been unrelenting and daily. Politics has never been so polarised in America and the people have become even more divided by racial, gender and religious tensions since Trump’s vie for office.
After what seems like a long two years, it is that time again. Presidential candidates are being announced for the 2020 United States presidential election. Here we go again.
In recent years the U.S. has seen some new firsts, most notably in 2008 with the election of Barack Obama, the first African American to become President of the United States. In 2016, the U.S. saw the first female presidential candidate nominated by a major party (Democratic), Hillary Clinton, who only narrowly lost to the current POTUS, Donald Trump.
The allure of Donald Trump to the voters mostly hinged around his, let’s say, unconventional mannerisms. However, since his election to office these unconventional mannerisms have been shown (many, may times) to be nothing more than regressive attitudes towards gender equality, racial equality, economic equality; just equality, in general. Trump is only half way through his Presidential term and already America is reaching a breaking point. The progressives have spoken and they are tolling a bell for the time of old, white, rich men in office.
Amid the historically long and still ongoing government shutdown, not one but three female candidates have so far announced their candidacy for the 2020 elections. All Democrats. But who are they?
Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic representative from Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District, announced her candidacy on January 11, 2019.
Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democratic Senator from New York, announced her candidacy on January 15, 2019.
Kamala Harris, a Democratic Senator from California, announced her candidacy on January 21, 2019.
(It is also worth noting that Senator Elizabeth Warren formed an exploratory committee on December 31, 2018 but has yet to officially announce her candidacy. An announcement to such is expected soon.)
Could 2020 be the year we see the first elected female President? The Democratic Party won a major victory in the recent midterm elections, securing a majority in, and thus now controlling, the House of Representatives, ending the one-party rule of the Republicans which had been in effect since Trump took office. Voter turnout was the highest in over a century for the 2018 midterm elections (49.3% of the voting-eligible population), up 12.6% from the previous 2014 midterm elections (which was the lowest turnout in 72 years at 36.7%).
There has clearly been a shift in position when it comes to the government and the GOP. The midterm elections and their record voter turnout were evidence of this change. More recently, the government shutdown — which has resulted in some 800,000 U.S. citizens now going unpaid or furloughed (and some 50,000 of those still having to work) — has proven only to outrage American citizens further. Even Trump voters are now beginning to blame Trump for the shutdown, as reported by The Washington Post, who regard Trump’s stand on the border wall “too disruptive”.
Although many are still behind Senator Bernie Sanders, who has yet to confirm a second run for the White House but all signs point to that eventuality, public opinion has waned on his potential presidency. Early evidence is pointing toward the Democratic Party once again nominating a female candidate for the elections, which are set to take place Tuesday, November 3, 2020. With the apparent change in position by many in the country, some are already allowing themselves a small amount of hope that America may see its first elected female President take office in 2021.
SANKEY REPORTS 