Tag: 2020 election

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Mayor Pete Raises Over $7 Million In First Quarter For White House Run

Openly gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced today his team raised over $7 million in the first quarter of 2019 for his potential presidential campaign.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana

Openly gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced today his team raised over $7 million in the first quarter of 2019 for his potential presidential campaign.

“This is just a preliminary analysis, but our team’s initial report shows we raised over $7 million dollars in Q1 of this year,” tweeted Mayor Pete. “We (you) are out-performing expectations at every turn. I’ll have a more complete analysis later, but until then: a big thank you to all our supporters.”

In an email to supporters Monday morning, Buttigieg added, “With a first fundraising report like this, we certainly cannot be ignored.”

Even though he has only announced an exploratory committee and not officially entered the race, the 37-year-old’s campaign haul definitely puts him squarely on the map.

Although, the South Bend mayor will still have some catching up to do.

CNN reports that Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont reported taking in $5.9 million the first day of his campaign. And former Rep. Beto O’Rourke raised $6.1 million in the 24 hours after his announcement.

In addition to campaign dollars, Democratic White House hopefuls are also looking to qualify for the first two debates according to the rules set by the Democratic National Committee.

To take the stage for those all-important debates, candidates must show donations from at least 65,000 individuals from 20 states, or earn at least 1% support in multiple polls.

Buttigieg has already announced he’s surpassed the 65,000 threshold.

And, he’s begun moving up in the polls.

A recent Emerson Poll of Iowa caucus-goers, Buttigieg surged to a double-digit third place garnering 11% support behind former Vice President Joe Biden (25%) and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont (24%).

In the January edition of that same poll, Buttigieg was getting zero percent support.

Even though he’s the youngest contender in the Democratic field, Buttigieg points to his two terms as mayor as well as his experience as a military veteran as worthy credentials that more than qualify him for the presidency.

Just a few weeks ago, we were seeing comments like, “Never gonna happen” in reference to a realistic run by Buttigieg.

Now, that statement doesn’t seem to be so accurate.

Stay tuned, folks…

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Stacey Abrams On Biden Rumors: “I Don’t Think You Run For Second Place”

During an appearance on THE VIEW today, co-host Joy Behar asked Georgia Democrat about rumors that she might be announced as a running mate for former Vice President Joe Biden. Abrams shot the idea down tout suite.

During an appearance on THE VIEW today, co-host Joy Behar asked Georgia Democrat about rumors that she might be announced as a running mate for former Vice President Joe Biden.

Abrams shot the idea down tout suite.

“I think you don’t run for second place,” Abrams told the co-hosts and studio audience. “If I’m going to enter a primary, then I’m going to enter a primary.”

“And if I don’t enter the primary, then my job is to make sure that the best Democrat is the nominee, and that whoever wins the primary, that we make sure that person gets elected,” she added.

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Iowa: Mayor Pete Buttigieg Jumps To Double-Digit Standing In Democratic Poll

Openly gay presidential hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, has jumped to a double-digit third-place ranking in a new Iowa poll.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Openly gay presidential hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, has jumped to a double-digit (11%) third-place ranking in a new Iowa poll.

Via The Hill:

Eleven percent of likely Democratic Iowa caucus goers surveyed by Emerson Polling said they would pick Buttigieg to be their 2020 presidential nominee.

Overall, Buttigieg placed third behind Former Vice President Joe Biden, at 25 percent, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), at 24 percent.

The only other candidate to receive double-digit support was Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who was the choice for 10 percent of respondents.

“The biggest surprise in this poll is Mayor Pete, last week we saw him inching up in our national poll, and now he’s in double digits in Iowa, America is going to be asking who is ‘Mayor Pete’?” Spencer Kimball, director of the Emerson Poll, said.

Buttigieg, who has formed an exploratory committee but has not officially declared, was polling at 0 percent in Emerson’s January survey of Iowa, which shows his recognition and support have grown significantly in the last few months.

Here’s the full ranking from the Emerson Poll:

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Joe Biden Considering Stacey Abrams As Early VP Choice

Axios is reporting former Vice President Joe Biden is considering making his announcement to run for the White House in 2020 a two-fer by also announcing Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams as his running mate.
Stacey Abrams

Axios is reporting former Vice President Joe Biden is considering making his announcement to run for the White House in 2020 a two-fer by also announcing Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams as his running mate.

Via Axios:

Close advisers to former Vice President Joe Biden are debating the idea of packaging his presidential campaign announcement with a pledge to choose Stacey Abrams as his vice president.

The popular Georgia Democrat, who at age 45 is 31 years younger than Biden, would bring diversity and excitement to the ticket — showing voters, in the words of a close source, that Biden “isn’t just another old white guy.”

But the decision poses considerable risk, and some advisers are flatly opposed. Some have pointed out that in a Democratic debate, he could be asked why no one on the stage would be a worthy running mate. Advisers also know that the move would be perceived as a gimmick.

Even though she lost her race for Georgia governor in 2018, Abrams’ star continues to rise. She delivered Democrats’ response to President Trump’s State of the Union address in January, and is said to be considering a possible run for U.S. Senate.

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Democratic White House Hopefuls To Debate LGBTQ Policies For 1st Time In 10 Years

For the first time in ten years, Democratic presidential candidates will share their policy positions and views on LGBTQ issues at a debate to be hosted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Out Mayor Pete Buttigieg has already qualified for the Democratic LGBTQ Forum

For the first time in ten years, Democratic presidential candidates will share their policy positions and views on LGBTQ issues at a debate to be hosted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs.


Scheduled for October 10, coinciding with National Coming Out Day, the event will be held on UCLA campus.

The topics will range from hate crimes, transgender rights, so-called ‘conversion therapy’ and more.

To qualify for participation, a candidate needs to poll at least 1% in three separate national polls, OR receive campaign donations from over 65,000 people in at least 20 states.

As Instinct recently reported, openly Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, has already crossed that threshold.

The forum will be one of 12 debates to be held during the Democratic primary season leading up to the 2020 election.

The last forum sponsored by the HRC took place in 2008 with then-candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinish and Bill Richardson.

It’s notable that LGBTQ issues have shifted substantially since then.

According to Gallup polling: 

• In 2008, 55% felt “same-sex relations between consenting adults should be legal.” In 2018, that figure has reached 75% support.

• In 2008, only 40% of those polled agreed that “marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid.” In 2018, that figure had risen to 67% support.


There hasn’t been a Republican presidential debate on LGBTQ issues.

As NBC News points out, LGBTQ Americans have traditionally voted for Democrats in presidential elections.

According to an NBC News exit poll last November, 82 percent of LGBTQ voters cast a ballot for their district’s Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives. 

And in 2016, 78 percent of LGBTQ voters cast a ballot for the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton.)

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Morning Consult: Joe Biden Continues To Lead Among Democratic Contenders

New polling by Morning Consult (over 13,000 interviews with registered voters planning to vote) show former Vice President Joe Biden continues to lead as the choice for Democratic candidate for president in 2020.
Former Vice President Joe Biden

New polling by Morning Consult (over 13,000 interviews with registered voters planning to vote) show former Vice President Joe Biden continues to lead as the choice for Democratic candidate for president in 2020.

The recent polling showed Biden edging up 4 points nationally, and 6 points in early primary states.

Biden currently polls 35% among all Dems with Sen. Bernie Sanders coming in second at 27%.

The nearest contenders after the two leaders are Sen. Kamala Harris and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke coming in with 8% each.

Click the images below to enlarge.

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Cory Booker Promises To Reverse Trans Military Ban As President

Speaking to a crowd of 300 in Davenport, Iowa, presidential hopeful Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) pledged to repeal Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving openly in the U.S. military.
Sen. Cory Booker pledges to repeal the Trump military trans ban

Speaking to a crowd of 300 in Davenport, Iowa, presidential hopeful Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) pledged to repeal Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving openly in the U.S. military.

The topic came up as a trans woman asked the senator what he would do to protect LGBTQ rights as president.

“When I am president, right away I will end this ridiculous, insulting, un-American ban on transgender Americans serving in the military,” replied the 49-year-old senator.

According to NBC News, the response was met with cheers from the crowd.Open service in the military by trans people began June 30, 2016, under the Obama administration.

But Donald Trump surprised the world when he tweeted on July 26, 2017, “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please advised that the United States government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.”

Trump went on to denounce “the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender military would entail.”

But, an analysis by RAND Corporation found that the Pentagon spends only $2.4 to $8.4 million on trans-related healthcare annually, out of an estimated Department of Defense (DoD) defense budget of $49.3 billion (in 2014). That represents an infinitesimal 0.017% of the Department’s total budget.

A day later several media outlets reported that the Joint Chiefs of Staff did not know the announcement was coming.

On August 1, 2017, 56 retired generals and admirals released a letter opposing the proposed ban on transgender military service members.

After multiple court challenges, the Pentagon released its plan last week to implement the new ban beginning April 12.

Other Democratic presidential candidates have called out the Trump/Pence administration’s dismal record on LGBTQ issues, but Booker is the first declared candidate to promise to repeal the trans ban.

Booker also pledged to revisit the Trump tax cuts, and expressed support for legalizing marijuana nationwide including expounging criminal records due to marijuana crimes.

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Beto Beats Bernie In First Day Campaign Donations

Beto O’Rourke raised more than $6 million online in the first 24 hours after announcing his presidential campaign last week, according to his campaign, outpacing his rivals for the Democratic nomination and making an emphatic statement about his grass-roots financial strength.
Beto O’Rourke

From the New York Times:

Beto O’Rourke raised more than $6 million online in the first 24 hours after announcing his presidential campaign last week, according to his campaign, outpacing his rivals for the Democratic nomination and making an emphatic statement about his grass-roots financial strength.

Mr. O’Rourke brought in $6,136,736 after declaring his long-anticipated bid with a web video and trip to Iowa on Thursday morning, raising the sum entirely online and from all 50 states, the campaign said.

Beto’s one day total tops the $5.9 million one-day total for Sen. Bernie Sanders after he launched, and the first-day fundraising total for Sen. Kamala Harris at $1.5 million

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Beto O’Rourke Announces 2020 Run For White House

Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke has announced he's joining the race for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.
Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke

Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke has announced he’s joining the race for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.

The Texan, who became a sensation during the 2018 midterm elections, made his announcement on Twitter:

From the New York Times:

Mr. O’Rourke made his town hall forums the centerpiece of his Senate candidacy, turning the race into a national cause — the underdog liberal running in a famously red state — trailed by a documentary film crew and endorsed by celebrities from Beyoncé to Willie Nelson. He made a point of visiting each of the 254 counties in Texas, helping him bulldoze fund-raising records and come within about 200,000 votes of Mr. Cruz on Election Day.

[Where Beto O’Rourke stands on the issues]

Mr. O’Rourke also attracted many fans outside the state, drawing them into a perpetual social media live-stream capturing not only his political events but unscripted moments on the road: late-night burger stops, skateboarding in a parking lot, reminiscing with a former bandmate behind the wheel. For many politically obsessed liberals, his inevitably upbeat musings offered a welcome online antidote to Mr. Trump’s Twitter rampaging.

Admirers believe it is this ability to generate his own narrative orbit that could separate him from his peers.

With the tagline, Beto For America, the 46-year-old hopes to upend the standings that currently show former Vice President Joe Biden (who hasn’t officially announced he’s in the race yet) and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the lead.

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren Announces Exploratory Committee For 2020 White House Run

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced today she is establishing an exploratory committee in advance of a presidential run in 2020.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts (image via Twitter)

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced today she is establishing an exploratory committee in advance of a presidential run in 2020.

You’ll note the multiple shots of pride events and LGBTQ folks in the announcement video below.

I’ve never personally connected with Warren on a visceral level. That said, I do like much of what she says and I’m happy to listen.

Bottom line is: I will be voting for the Democratic candidate in 2020 because Trump will not get my vote.