Learn About the 2020 Candidates
Olivia Allery, contributor
Presidential Candidates:
Joe Biden
Former vice president and a member of the Democratic party
Major Issues: Expanding the Affordable Care Act, restoring environmental protections undone by the Trump administration, allowing there to be a national response to COVID-19, upgrading housing for low-income Americans
Donald Trump
Incumbent and a member of the Republican party
Major Issues: Finishing the Southern border wall, fast tracking a vaccine for COVID-19, privatization of schools and cutting spending for public schools, repealing the Affordable Care Act
Vice Presidential Candidates:
Kamala Harris
Nominee for Joe Biden and member of the Democratic party
Mike Pence
Incumbent vice president under Donald Trump and member of the Republican Party
Along with the presidential and vice presidential candidates, there are also the District 5 Congressional and state Senate candidates up for election and re-election.
District 5 Congressional Candidates:
Ilhan Omar
Incumbent congresswoman and member of the Democratic Party
Major Issues: Supports a new COVID-19 relief package to “cancel rent and mortgage payments and provide cash assistance for families,” supports disbanding the MPD and remaking public safety, focuses on racial disparities and investing in communities that need it most
Lacy Johnson
Minneapolis businessman and member of the Republican Party
Major Issues: Believes in states rights, listening to experts when it comes to COVID-19, stimulating the economy along with helping Americans as COVID-19 relief, and undoing unjust racist policies, does not support the Green New Deal
Senate Candidates
Tina Smith
Incumbent senator and member of the Democratic Party
Major Issues: Supports systemic police reform, environmental stewardship when evaluating pipeline proposals, background checks for people purchasing firearms and banning assault weapons, working on a clean energy bill for climate change
Jason Lewis
Former U.S. representative and member of the Republican Party
Major Issues: Reopening the economy in the face of COVID-19, upholding the Second Amendment, stands with law enforcement, mitigating our current clean energy for climate change
While many Americans have already voted and returned their ballots, there is still time for in-person voting, sending in your ballot, and, in some states, even registering to vote.
Election Day is on Nov. 3, and Augsburg has officially declared the day a university holiday in order to encourage the community to cast their ballots. Classes have been canceled to make it easier for students and staff to vote. There will be an in-person voting location here on campus, located in the Marshall Room on the first level of the Christensen Center. Minnesota has same-day voter registration, so those voting on campus are able to both register and vote on the same day.