The Democratic Party currently has 18 people who have placed their bid in for the 2020 Election; though Beto O’Rourke is the name you should be watching for. Beto O’Rouke, who has served three congressional terms as a Democrat in Texas, put in his bid in mid-March. His campaign broke previous records set by Bernie Sanders, raising $6.1 million in the first 24 hours after launch and averaging at around $50 per donation.
What does this mean for voters? This means Beto is a very strong contender for winning the primaries, and people should become more aware of the presidential candidates so they can make educated votes during voting season. Here are five reasons Beto deserves your vote.
- Beto Cares About a Women’s Right to Choose
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According to NARAL, Beto scored 100% from 2016–2018 on voting for a women’s right to choose. For many women, the right to choose is very important when deciding on who to vote for. On Beto’s website, it goes over what he believes “universal healthcare” means: “… universal healthcare means everyone gets primary healthcare, mental healthcare—and universal also means every woman makes her own decisions about her own body.”
- Beto Cares About Climate Change
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According to the League of Conservation, Beto has a lifetime rating of 95%; in perspective, Bernie Sander’s lifetime score is 92%. This means he has majority voted in favor of bills benefiting the environment. Considering scientists have time and again warned of the life-altering effects global warming is having on this world, many politicians have brushed these issues aside.
On Beto’s website, he states his stance on climate change as, “… let us organize this country around an historic effort to free this economy from a dependence on greenhouse gas emissions, invest in the technologies and jobs in renewable energy that will speed this transition, and reassert our international leadership before it is too late.”
- Beto Doesn’t Want to Build a Wall
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Beto is from El Paso, Texas: a border city that would be greatly affected if a wall was to be built. Beto has served his community for several years and knows that a wall isn’t the way to go when it comes to national security. According to his website, he states this about national security,
“… treating one another—regardless of our status or how many generations, or days, we’ve been in this country—with dignity and respect.
And if we’re serious about security, let this country of immigrants – Republicans, Independents and Democrats—rewrite our immigration laws in our own image, from our own experiences, and in the best traditions of this great country.”
- Beto Cares About Everyone
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According to the Human Rights Campaign, Beto has a score of 100%. This score encompasses things like immigration laws and laws affecting the LGBTQ+ community. In regard to equality, Beto states on his website that, “Let’s ensure everyone can succeed regardless of their family dynamics, their gender, their sexual orientation or their race.”
He then goes on into immigration, “Let’s not only honor our asylum laws and never again take another child from another parent at their most desperate and vulnerable moment, but guarantee that all separated families are reunited. Let’s acknowledge that every man, every woman, every child in detention — including those behind fences and barbed wire under our international bridges connecting us with Mexico—are our fellow human beings and deserve to be treated like human beings.”
- Beto is Genuinely a Cool Guy
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Beto used to be in a band, uses a song by The Clash for his campaign, is named after a Kennedy, and even used to be in a “hacktivist” group. He also has a wife who absolutely adores him, and three kids who stand by his side (also a dog named Artemis who is super cute). So far, Beto seems to be the most genuine candidate who also seems really down to earth. He is 100% for the people, and if you watch 10 seconds of a speech you can tell he cares about each person he meets.
Though it’s still early in the 2020 Election season, it isn’t too early to start becoming educated on the candidates. Even if you don’t support Beto O’Rouke, I hope this leads you to seek further education on the candidates you care about to ensure the most educated vote come the 2020 election time!