Presidential Potpourri
Comedian Stephen Colbert once joked on his late night talk show about the President, saying, “Donald Trump is so privileged that the first job he ever had to run for was President of the United States.” Although that may be true, running for President is no easy task, and it definitely will not be in 2020. In fact, as of February, 11 Democrats plan to challenge Trump to claim the title of the most powerful person in the world, and up to a dozen more may test their chances. Despite the large number of candidates running, perhaps the most interesting aspect of 2020 Democrats is their diversity.
To see the prevalence of diversity in the pool of 2020 Democrats, one does not have to look any further than the example of Kamala Harris, who many consider her party’s frontrunner. The Californian daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father who identifies as an African American, Senator Harris is a perfect representation of the fact that America has become a melting pot of cultures. Obviously, Kamala Harris’ identity is not the only reason she is a frontrunner; many voters know the Californian Congresswoman for her progressive policy goals, such as Medicare for All, Universal Basic Income, and Criminal Justice Reform. However, one cannot ignore the fact that maybe even just 20 years ago, Harris’ character would have held her election chances back, rather than solidify her as a testament to American diversity.
The fact that long-oppressed minorities are finally having representation in the forefront of American politics can only be a good thing. In fact, as sophomore Aniyah Nelson explains, “I really like Kamala Harris. Not only is she pushing for legislation on important issues, such as climate change and helping struggling citizens financially, but she is also a major proponent and symbol for diversity. She has introduced diversity legislation in the past, and it is clear that she cares about inclusion. I believe that it is very important that Senator Harris, a woman of color, is gaining national attention.”
Clearly, people are noticing that they are finally seeing representation in American politics. Another great example of diversity in the pool of 2020 Democrats is Representative Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii. Gabbard is a person of many firsts. She was the youngest person to be ever be elected to Hawaii’s state legislature, at only 21. She was the first Hawaiian state official to step down from public office in order to serve her country in the armed forces in 2004. Perhaps most significantly, Tulsi Gabbard became the first Hindu member of Congress when the people of Hawaii elected her to the House of Representatives in 2013.
The importance of Gabbard’s possible election cannot be understated. Although the United States is obviously a majority-Christian country, it still has large religious minorities. However, these minorities lack representation in politics, as every single President has been a Protestant Christian, with the exception of John F. Kennedy, who was a Catholic Christian. Therefore, if Tulsi Gabbard were to become President of the United States, she would set tremendous precedent, showing Americans that they do not have to be Protestant to reach the highest office in the world.
However, just as with any major advance, there are complications about the diversity of 2020 Democrats. As freshman Praveen Kumar states, “Obviously, I believe the fact that there are so many Democrats from different backgrounds running for President is a good thing. However, I do not think we can ignore the fact that the vast array of candidates could be a political problem for Democrats. For one, with the difference between these candidates, such as the difference between the more moderate Sherrod Brown and the very progressive Kamala Harris, may actually divide the voter base. That might make it difficult for Democrats to take back the White House, because they need to be unified to win.”
Praveen’s viewpoint makes sense. Although many cannot deny that the diversity of 2020 Democrats will allow many formerly marginalized minorities to have their voices heard, growing ideological shifts in the Democratic Party, which largely line up with the differences in identities, may split the voter base. Because only one candidate, Bill Weld, has even thought of challenging Trump for the 2020 Republican Primary nomination, it is clear that the President will have the Republican Party united around him. If 2020 Democrats even hope to contend with President Trump’s political juggernaut, they will have to unite after selecting the Party’s candidate for the Presidency, something that may not be easy.
Overall, the Democratic Presidential candidates for 2020 are more diverse than ever. The fact that so many, such as Senator Kamala Harris and Representative Tulsi Gabbard, are at the forefront of American politics can only be a good thing; minorities are finally seeing increased representation. One can see this emphasis on diversity at Hawken, with initiatives such as the Diversity Council and Affinity Groups. Additionally, Hawken is increasingly diverse in terms of its makeup, with 33% of the student body being people of color. Therefore, the diversity of Democrats is an issue that can see commonality with Hawken. Despite this, Democrats may actually see division – something that they must avoid at all costs if they hope to challenge the incumbent President Trump in 2020. At least for now, with almost two years left until the night of the next Presidential Election, the race to claim the White House will be an interesting one for sure.