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The upcoming 2020 election is, undeniably, one of the most important yet — as indicated that the political energy in the U.S. is unlike anything else we’ve seen in decades. Before November comes around, make sure you know what you need to know about our presidential candidates, starting with Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, and where he stands on the most important issues.

Economy

Minimum wage: Biden is in support of the Raise the Wage Act, which raises the federal minimum wage to $15/hour and is currently in place for 2025. 

Paid medical leave: Biden believes that US families should be given paid time off for medical reasons via his campaign website. 

Education

College: Biden believes that two years of community college education should be free, extending US public education to grade 14. 

Student debt: Biden plans to expand on/fix the current student debt crisis by reconstructing the program so that it is “fixed, simplified, and actually helps teachers.”

Environment & climate change

Nuclear energy: Supports advances on new nuclear power technologies to make efforts fighting climate change.

Oil and gas drilling: Biden supports ending new oil and gas leases on federal land as well as offshore drilling. 

Healthcare

Medicare: Biden does not support Medicare for all, but plans to expand coverage, assisting those who are more financially-affected by high healthcare costs. 

Abortion: Supports abortions rights with some limits, but hasn’t always. Biden has a history of voting against abortion rights in office, for example, supporting the Hyde Amendment until June 2019. 

Affordable Care Act: Biden plans to further build on the ACA, making reforms slowly to improve and make the act more applicable to the public. 

Gun control

Background checks: Biden is in favor of the conduction of universal background checks prior to purchasing firearms, closing any loopholes for illegal purchases of guns.

Assault weapons: Supports the federal gun buyback program to reduce number of privately-owned firearms. This program would allow owners of assault rifles to sell their guns to the government and not risk prosecution by law. 

Weapon registry: Biden supports government-mandated personal gun possession, requiring gun-owners to receive a license before purchasing firearms.

Immigration

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): In support of citizenship for Dreamers (undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children). 

Illegal entry: Biden supports keeping illegal entry to the US as a criminal offense, while many other Democratic candidates in the past have supported eliminating said offense.

Military

Defense budget: Biden stands with a more moderate view on defense spending, supporting larger defense budgets for the US military.

Deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq: Biden believes that troops deployed overseas should continue supplying military support to troops in Afghanistan and Iran.

Taxes

Wealth tax: Biden supports an increase in taxes on those who are upper class, planning to raise the tax rate to 39.6%

Corporate Income tax: Biden plans to raise taxes on corporations that make at least $100 million in profits to 15%.

While these issues are not the only ones worth considering when casting your ballot in November, they are certain to be the most discussed throughout the next four years.

Megan is a senior majoring in Marketing Communications and Publishing at Emerson College and is currently an Editorial intern at Her Campus Media. She's spending her final summer in Boston and is making the most of it by trying all the take-out in Allston that she can get. Apart from writing, she is passionate about baking, thrift-shopping, ice cream, and making an honest attempt at reducing her Tik-Tok screentime.
Gina was formerly the Beauty & Culture Editor at Her Campus, where she oversaw content and strategy for the site's key verticals. She was also the person behind @HerCampusBeauty, and all those other glowy selfies you faved. She got her start in digital media as a Campus Correspondent at HC Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she graduated in 2017 with degrees in English and Theater. Now, Gina is an LA-based writer and editor, and you can regularly find her wearing a face mask in bed and scrolling through TikTok.