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About This Quiz
The field of contenders for the Democratic candidate in the 2020 presidential election is the largest seen in politics since Florida held the first presidential primary in 1901. For Democratic voters, deciding who should represent them in next year’s presidential race amounts to casting a vote for the future of the country. Should the country try to regain some sense of moderation and balance to recover from the polarization dividing the country? Or should progressives take a stand for the radical changes they want to enact, from a Green Revolution to Medicare for All?
In an enormous field of (currently) 19 candidates, how can a voter know who to support? One tactic may be to figure out which candidate most resembles your stances on policy as well as your personality. If you feel intensely about racial justice, which of the leading candidates would mirror your passion? Who can stare down the stark challenges of climate change in a way that would satisfy the gnawing anxiety you feel about the warming earth? Are you willing to reach across the aisle to talk to friends and family members who disagree with the policies you advocate? Then your candidate should, too!
Take this quiz about how you would vote on key issues and your style of political engagement, and we’ll match you to the top candidate who mirrors you. Whether you should vote for them is up to you!
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How would you suggest working to improve the health care system?
I agree with this Medicare for All plan.
We need to improve the Affordable Care Act.
Clearly we need Medicare for All, as I’ve been saying for a decade.
We need single payer system where whoever wants to can opt in.
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When you’re faced with a political question at a dinner party, what kind of answer do you give?
I lay out all the statistics to support my argument and systematically go through them all.
I make a general claim and offer some anecdotal evidence to support it.
I get really fired up and dive into the philosophical and ethical reasons for why it's crazy to not see it my way.
I try to find a nuanced angle to approach the question so that we can continue to have an authentic conversation.
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Should people be able to have guns in their homes?
My family has always had guns, and everyone else should be able to, too.
Of course, and we’re not going to take that right away.
If they’re used in a sportsmanlike way
People should be able to defend themselves.
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Should there be a cap on how much money a person can amass?
Yes, when there are people struggling to just get by while working full time, people shouldn’t be allowed to get more wealth without paying their share.
People should be free to earn what they can.
Yes, having a billion dollars is grotesque.
I don’t personally judge them.
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When people look too closely at your personal history, what might they see that would make them question you?
My characterization of my ancestry
My overly affectionate demeanor
My personal wealth
My interactions with racial issues
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Do big tech companies like Facebook and Google need to be broken up?
Yes, they can’t be the regulator and the regulated.
We should take a hard look at that issue.
Yes, these corporations must be held accountable.
They should not be allowed to merge into larger companies.
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Should the Supreme Court remain the same size?
We could talk about it. It’s not determined by the Constitution.
Sure, I’d think about it.
Yes, changing that would have negative consequences in the future.
Size isn’t the problem here.
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What is something about your past that has taught you what it means to struggle?
My work as a teacher showed me the work that happens in the trenches of education.
My personal experience with tragedy has taught me the struggle that daily life can be.
My experience on the Senate has shown me the struggle necessary to make real change.
When I served in the military, I learned what it means to struggle for freedom.
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What did your classmates make fun of about you in junior high?
I always had the right answers.
I never had my homework done.
I had crazy ideas and wouldn’t stop talking about them.
They made fun of my name. A lot.
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What’s the most crucial thing for the Democratic Party to focus on in this moment?
Getting the government working for the people again
Returning the party to the glory days of the Obama era
Instituting radical change to move in the right direction
Regaining our moral ground as a country
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What kind of change should we realistically expect to make to curb climate change?
We can get to net zero emissions by 2030.
We can reach net zero emissions by 2050.
In this country, can get to 100% renewable energy by 2030 and complete decarbonization by 2050.
We will aim to create a clean economy and reach net zero emissions by 2050.
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It’s Saturday night after a long week of work—how do you decompress?
I like to get a cool beverage and a notebook and review what I could have done better over the week.
I just want to put my feet up, have some pizza and watch the game.
I like to get together with friends to talk shop in a pub.
I love to be with my partner and go eat some fine food at a restaurant.
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What part of the country feels like home to you?
The Midwest
The Northeast
New York
The northern Midwest
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Why in the world would you want to be involved in politics?
The experiences I’ve had and witnessed in the struggles of everyday Americans compel me to work for justice for them.
After having studied the political landscape for so many decades, I have an obligation to use my knowledge for good.
When I see the injustice in this country, I I have to act to create change.
I have the energy to work for the good of the people.
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When you make a mistake, what kind of mistake are you prone to making?
I take one of my positions too far.
I slip up in my words.
I get caught not practicing what I preach.
I take a stand against something that mainstream Democrats strongly support.
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What group of people do you dearly want to agree with you, but you just can’t get them on your side?
Wealthy white men
Young radicals
Women of color
People of color
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Who is your political hero?
Theodore Roosevelt
Barack Obama
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Abraham Lincoln
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How much sleep do you get on a regular night?
I try for eight.
About seven
Not nearly enough
It depends on the night.
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What is your position on the death penalty?
We should not put criminals to death, because we make mistakes and so many of those mistakes are racially biased.
I used to be for it, but now I’m against it.
We should not be in the business of murdering.
Putting people to death doesn’t make us safer.
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How long have you been convinced that Trump should be impeached?
I supported impeachment before anyone else did.
Oct. 9, 2019
Late September
I’m for it, but I keep quiet about it.
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What is your preferred way to relax?
Walk the dog
Spend time with my wife
Spend time with my grandchildren
We used to watch "Game of Thrones," so now we need a new show.
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How can we best help Americans who are saddled with college debt?
Cancel debt for 95% of borrowers.
Income-based repayment
Wipe it all out.
Improve public service loan forgiveness.
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What is something you have done to embarrass yourself?
Mistook a boy for a girl
Confuse the dates of major national events
Not meet my own expectations
Get confused for a staff member
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Is President Trump a criminal?
We have the evidence that points to that.
He’s the most corrupt president in history.
Let’s trust the impeachment process to determine that.
There’s an atmosphere of corruption around him.
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Before you were in your current line of work, what was one of your former jobs?
Public school teacher
Attorney
Carpenter
Intelligence officer
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What religious background has influenced your life?
Methodist
Roman Catholic
Liberal Judaism
Episcopalian
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Should U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan?
Nope
Move them to Pakistan
I don’t think so.
If we can get out in a way that doesn’t do harm, then we should get out.
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What is the biggest problem facing us as concerns immigration?
We need to address what’s happening in Central America.
Immigrants are good for the economy; we need to create a path to citizenship.
It’s not as big a problem as some people make it out to be.
The inhuman policies of this administration
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Which comfort food do you go to when you’ve been on the campaign trail for a long stint?
Chips and guacamole
Angel hair pasta
Too much comfort food isn’t good for you.
Beef jerky
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What is the best way to take on Trump?
By creating policies that will work for the American people
By calling out his corruption
By advocating for radical change
By showing what real moral leadership looks like
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