Politics

A primer on the primaries: Candidates on 5 issues college students care about

Primary election sticker from 2016. Voice File Photo

By Catherine Hadley-Engstrom
Staff Writer

On March 10,  Michigan voters will choose a candidate to battle it out in the presidential race. With the recent mayhem in Iowa over voting errors during the caucus, a leader from the Democratic race is still unclear.

This election will be the first major one since Proposal 18-3 passed, which allows any Michigan resident to vote via absentee ballot without a reason. Michigan voters can register as absentee and vote by mail in elections instead of having to go to the voting booth.

 

Bernie Sanders

Health Care: Medicare for all

College: Free tuition; cancel loan debts

Climate Change: Supports the Green New Deal

Gun Control: Ban assault weapons

Marijuana: Legalize it

 

Elizabeth Warren

Health Care: Medicare for all

College: Free tuition; cancel loan debts

Climate Change: Supports the Green New Deal

Gun Control: Ban assault weapons

Marijuana: Legalize it

 

Andrew Yang

Health Care: Expand access; lower costs

College: Lower tuition; free or nearly free community college

Climate Change: Supports the Green New Deal

Gun Control: Clearly define and ban assault weapons

Marijuana: Legalize it

 

Michael Bennet

Health Care: Expand Affordable Care Act

College: Free community college; increase financial aid

Climate Change: Net-zero emissions by 2050

Gun Control: Unclear

Marijuana: Legalize it

 

Joe Biden

Health Care: Expand Affordable Care Act

College: Free community college; increase financial aid

Climate Change: Supports the Green New Deal

Gun Control: Ban assault weapons

Marijuana: Unclear

 

Pete Buttigeig

Health Care: Universal coverage for all who want it

College: Free public tuition for 80% of American families; increase financial aid

Climate Change: Supports the Green New Deal

Gun Control: Ban assault weapons

Marijuana: Legalize it

 

Amy Klobuchar

Health Care: Expand Affordable Care Act

College: Free community college; increase financial aid

Climate Change: Supports a Green New Deal

Gun Control: Ban assault weapons

Marijuana: Legalize it

 

Michael Bloomberg

Health Care: Public option; expand Affordable Care Act

College: Improve schools

Climate Change: Decarbonize by 2050

Gun Control: Ban assault weapons

Marijuana: States should decide

 

Deval Patrick

Health Care: Merge Medicaid and Medicare; expand coverage

College: Supports free community college; reduce student debt

Climate Change: Carbon-neutral by 2040

Gun Control: Ban assault weapons

Marijuana: Legalize it

 

Tulsi Gabbard 

Health Care: Medicare for all

College: Free tuition

Climate Change: End fossil fuel subsidies

Gun Control: Ban assault weapons

Marijuana: Legalize it

 

Tom Steyer

Health Care: Public option; expand Affordable Care Act

College: Increase financial aid; lower student debt

Climate Change: Carbon-neutral by 2045

Gun Control: Ban assault weapons

Marijuana: Legalize it

 

 

Donald Trump

Health Care: Against Affordable Care Act and pro-shrinking Medicare

College: Implemented year-round Pell Grant access

Climate Change: Withdrew from Paris Climate Agreement; increased fossil, coal energy projects; expanded oil, gas drilling

Gun Control: Has discussed gun regulation previously

Marijuana: Unclear

 

William Weld

Health Care: Keep and adapt Affordable Care Act

College: Two free years for displaced workers and low-income students

Climate Change: Rejoin the Paris Accords

Gun Control: Keep automatic weapons illegal

Marijuana: Pro-medical marijuana

  

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Cat Engstrom

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