With the current political climate, greater attention has been placed on the U.S. president as well as his potential rivals. Although Donald Trump dominates Republican polls, the Democratic party offers a plethora of candidates with a generally mixed amount of support. While there is a lot of overlap between each of the candidates’ policies, what they prioritize is what differentiates them from one another.

Currently, the top five candidates to focus on and most likely to go head-to-head in the democratic primaries are Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, and Michael Bloomberg.

Joe Biden

Slogan(s): America Is An Idea; Our Best Days Still Lie Ahead

Joe Biden has an extensive history as a civil servant. In 1973, Biden joined the Senate and proceeded to be reelected six times. As a senator, Biden’s main focuses were criminal justice, foreign relations, and drug policies. However, Biden is most well-known for his run as Vice President under the Obama Administration—or perhaps the Biden-Obama friendship memes from circa 2016. 

Currently leading in popularity polls, Biden has honed in on supporting the middle class, particularly for rural Americans. In his plan for rural America, Biden plans to continue the Affordable Care Act (colloquially known as ObamaCare) and presents various solutions to revitalize the agricultural sectors.

Biden also places emphasis on repairing relationships with allies and alludes to cutting back the influence of corporations in the electoral process.

Bernie Sanders

Slogan(s): Not me. Us.

You may recognize Bernie Sanders from his previous bid for president during the 2016 election. With a long history of civil service, Sanders first started out as mayor of Burlington, Vermont, then moved on to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1990 to 2019, where he now serves as senator of Vermont. 

Sanders has been vocal about his initiative toward Medicare For All, earning himself a reputation as a socialist. As senator, he has proposed the Green New Deal, a legislation that addresses climate change and economic inequality. The legislation places emphasis on renewable energy systems as well as investment in public transportation and modern infrastructure.

As president, Sanders plans to implement more initiatives such as justice and safety for all, college for all, housing for all, and more.

Elizabeth Warren

Slogan(s): Persist; Dream Big Fight Hard 

Elizabeth Warren was elected to the U.S. Senate as a representative of Massachusetts in 2012. Known for her progressive policies and stances on social/economic issues, Warren has been jokingly reputed for having “a plan for everything” during her bid for the presidency.

Warren addresses this inside joke with her audience on her official website, wherein she states that she intends to combat corruption that favors the wealthy over the general public and empower middle-class voters both economically and socially.

A few of her plans address the following: rebuilding the middle class, equal justice under the law, addressing the skew toward the rich in court, and a foreign policy that resolves the strain on the military and solidifies the U.S.’s standing with its allies.

Pete Buttigieg

Slogan(s): It’s time for a new generation of American leadership.

At age 37, Pete Buttigieg is the youngest of the candidates on this list. A former veteran, Buttigieg currently serves as the mayor of his hometown South Bend, Indiana.

On his official website, Buttigieg compiles policies with a narrow focus on the Latino community. Called “El Pueblo Unido,” these policies concentrate very specifically on the wellbeing and needs of Latino citizens, from economic empowerment and criminal justice to education and more. Additionally, as a veteran and a married gay man, Buttigieg provides a unique insight into policies regarding the welfare of the military and LGBTQ+ communities.

Michael Bloomberg

Slogan(s): Rebuilding America; Fighting For Our Future

Michael Bloomberg is an American businessman known for founding a financial data-services firm. His experience in politics consists of his service as mayor of New York City from 2001 to 2013. Bloomberg declared his candidacy late in the game—on November 24, 2019—but has swiftly risen in popularity, already in the top five in the popularity polls.

A known climate activist, Bloomberg plans to make climate change his top priority, and places great emphasis on his push for 100 percent clean power.

His other policies address gun violence, affordable health care, and job creation.