Technology is advancing, the economy is growing, education costs are skyrocketing, the climate is changing at increasingly alarming rates, foreign powers continue to impose their will on American politics; America’s laundry list is ever-growing. It is this upcoming election that will define the identity of the United States. 

According to recent polls, Biden holds the majority of the support while Warren and Sanders are behind by a slim margin. Americans, middle-aged voters, in particular, have expressed their support for Biden as a moderate Democrat that can reach across the aisle. Meanwhile, young Democratic voters in traditionally liberal states are attracted to Warren or Sanders due to their more progressive agendas. All three candidates’ campaigns are being run on marginally differing views. Warren and Sanders advocate for more aggressive climate policy Green New Deal, free higher education, “Medicare for All,” whereas Biden does not fully agree with those policy ideas. It is important to recognize the ideological spectrum that each Democratic candidate stands for in the primaries because it shapes the agenda that they will push for in the 2020 elections, and in this modern era that we are entering.

 This is not the first election Americans have demanded for change in the United States. We have seen it in the 1932 election when the United States was going through the Great Depression and Americans wanted someone to hear and understand them. They voted for FDR, who passed significant legislation to uplift the American people out of poverty. We saw it in the 1960 election when Americans were tired of the oppression and the senior generation that carried little progress for Americans. JFK won the votes of many Americans and became the new face of the Democratic Party, one of hope and change. Americans witnessed change in 2008 when they could take no more of the big banks and the wars that created an economic collapse in the United States. The victory of Obama gave Americans hope and change in the United States with plans such as bringing the economy back up, healthcare reform, allowing same-sex marriage, to name a few. These leaders pushed and shifted the Democratic Party, however, while these presidents did bring some change, it is important to note that many were left out of the conversation.

Americans all over the country have been urging for a change, Americans are frustrated with the way the government has catered to Americans, and Americans are concerned with the current administration. Although some suggest that Democrats must go with the candidate that not only will win the Democratic votes, but also win pivotal votes in the swing states. Voters must understand that there is a deeper meaning to this election than simply taking Trump out of office. One of the main reasons being, whomever the president-elect will be, their administration will set the foundation for the direction in which the future of the United States will embark in this new modern era. This election is pivotal due to the fact that the United States is heading towards an influx of change that will affect Americans and the world, and as we have seen the Trump administration has regressed the United States in terms of policy-making, foreign relations, has violated human rights and a plethora of areas that have hurt the U.S. The Democratic Party’s three front-runners, former Vice President Joe Biden and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are battling to obtain the votes of many Americans. The top three Democratic candidates have established their party ideology and policy ideas to the American public. Biden has established himself as the moderate candidate of the party, making his ultimate plan to restore unity, compromise normalcy and bring back the Obama-era. On the other hand, Warren and Sanders are the most progressive candidates. They convey the idea that they represent the interests of the people and should have trust in the government due to the support that they promise to give to the American public if elected president. However, the decision for voters to choose which candidate they would support is split. 

Americans have a list of Democratic candidates to support for the 2020 election. There are a total of 18 Democrats running for office, 10 of which have met the threshold to run for office and participate in the debates. On the moderate lane are former Vice President, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar. Candidates such as Kamala Harris Cory Booker Andrew Yang  Tulsi Gabbard and Julián Castro represent the moderate-progressive spectrum. Leaving Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on the more progressive-left of the candidates. The Democratic party has established itself as the party of and for the people. The candidates have conveyed their messages along with the trends that many Americans in the Democratic Party agree with. Policies that the candidates align with are healthcare reform, dealing with the student debt crisis, advocating for climate change policy, gun control, immigration reform, increasing the minimum wage, taxing the top 1%, and addressing the criminal justice system, to name a few. While all candidates have expressed their main objective is to take Trump out of office, voters must understand that it is important for Democrats to take a stand on the issues that are impacting Americans. It is important that Americans use their vote so the government hears the people's voice. 

It is in dire times that people desire a change in the system--the government action-- and the hope that it will not fail them.