There’s a lot of time for my opinion to change, but I want to document where I am right now on the candidates for the Democratic nomination.
Firstly, I will vote for any of these people over Donald Trump. I’ll advocate for a specific platform during the primary, but the 2020 general election is about defeating a GOP that has embraced racist authoritarianism. Any of the Democratic primary candidates is preferable to the wannabe dictator currently in office.
Here’s broadly what I want from the Democratic candidate for President in 2020:
- Progressive policies — I want a candidate concerned with causes like wealth inequality, climate change, universal healthcare, mass incarceration, women’s rights, regulatory capture, a taco truck on every corner, etc.
- A meaningful record — even if a candidate’s stated positions are all ones I agree with, I’m disinclined to support them without a record of efficacious action on those positions, preferably on a national scale.
- Experience with pre-Trump Washington — there is so much rebuilding to be done in the wake of the Trump administration’s dismantling of governmental structures, I want a candidate already familiar with what has been destroyed.
- Preferably not an old white dude.
One of the thresholds for participation in the primary debates is polling at 1% or above in three or more polls. These are my preferences among the candidates currently meeting that threshold:
- Elizabeth Warren — She has a long, progressive voting record. Her policy proposals are more detailed than those of the other candidates. In creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau she is responsible for more actual redistribution of wealth than anyone else in the race. She has been incredibly consistent and vocal about getting corporate money out of politics. She correctly identifies domestic policy as the origin point for foreign policy. Judging people by their enemies, the financial industry hates her with a special passion. (Note: I have donated to the Warren campaign, largely because I want her to qualify for the primary debates, a result currently in doubt on the fundraising side.)
- Bernie Sanders — Has a very lengthy record of progressive policies and votes. Unabashedly identifies as a democratic socialist. Supports most of the same policies as Warren, and co-sponsors legislation with her. Has the drawback of being an old white dude. Has a poorly-behaved fan club.
- Kamala Harris — Good, though short, voting record in the Senate. Is in favor of the Green New Deal, expanding the earned income tax credit, increasing teacher salaries, decriminalizing marijuana. Said good things during the Brett Kavanaugh hearings. But her record as Attorney General of California is troubling.
- Kirsten Gillibrand — Has a good voting record, but no stark policy positions. Most notable for championing #MeToo.
- Amy Klobuchar — Fairly mainstream liberal politics. Good on women’s issues, statehood for Washington D.C. Is reportedly verbally and sometimes physically abusive to her employees.
- Cory Booker — Seems like a nice guy, but is overly cosy with pharmaceutical companies and the finance industry. Likes charter schools. Fairly centrist.
- Julián Castro — He was the Mayor of San Antonio, my hometown, and then HUD Secretary. He’s fine, though doesn’t have a lot of policy substance, and has no national voting record. After he gave the keynote speech at the DNC in 2012 it seemed like he wanted to be Hispanic Obama, but the moment passed him by.
- Beto O’Rourke — I voted for him for the Senate, as he’s massively preferable to Ted Cruz. He’s socially liberal in some laudable ways. But his voting record in the House is more conservative than average for a Democrat; in last two years he’s been in the top fifth of congressmen voting against their party’s majority position. He’s campaigning on an outmoded idea of bipartisan appeal. A Washington Post profile makes him seem like kind of a jerk to his family.
- Joe Biden — Old white dude who proudly identifies as a moderate. Senate voting record is not remotely progressive. Oversaw the Anita Hill hearings. Openly disdains Millennials. Running primarily on Obama-era nostalgia.
- Pete Buttigieg — No national record at all. This reading of his book makes him seem like a centrist elitist pretending to be a progressive populist.
- Andrew Yang — No political record at all. Supporter of universal basic income, but with few clear policy details. Tech startup guy. Weirdly obsessed with malls. Disturbingly favored by the alt-right.
Above is the view from my hotel window on the 45th floor. I’m in Toronto, en route to 
GenCon is coming up in a few days, and I’m going to be there. Here’s my programming schedule. Last time I checked the first two were sold out, but there were still tickets available for the rest.