Journal of Political Affairs: 2020 American Election Preview

FOREWORD Welcome to the first ever edition of the JPA Magazine!

As the world’s most powerful democracy heads to the polls on November 3rd, I believe that it is important for all of us to step back from the circus that is political media coverage.

Much like the year in which it is taking place, the 2020 American Election has been unique, intense and at times outright weird. Social distancing protocols put in place in an attempt to control the COVID-19 pandemic have transformed the political campaigning landscape.

Candidates have reached out to citizens primarily via virtual means, and the vast majority of in-person events have featured minimal attendance, as well as social distancing markers and people wearing masks. The unconventional campaign has also been accompanied by a transformation in the manner by which ballots are being cast, with an unprecedented number of Americans voting either early or by mail. These stories have dominated the news cycle, and we here at the Journal of Political Affairs decided to take it upon ourselves to provide students with an election preview that strayed away from these topics and focussed instead on the more traditional aspects of an election: Where do the parties stand on the major issues? Who will win the election and how? The answers to these questions are inside of this magazine.

The past four years in the United States have featured mass amounts of division, and there is no doubt that division in the US can trickle over to the rest of the world. I think it is important at this time for us all to remember to respect our fellow human beings, no matter their ethnic, racial, or religious backgrounds, or their sexual or gender identifications. We must reject the notion that racism, bigotry, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia or hate of any form have a place in partisan politics. As people, we have a responsibility to work together, to find common ground when discussing issues that we may disagree on, and to not let our political views become the determinants of our character. Most importantly, no matter where we are from or what our political philosophies are, we must always make our voice count when we have the opportunity to by exercising our right to vote.

Quinn Bunke, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Political Affairs, Concordia University

The viewpoints expressed in this magazine reflect the views of the authors themselves. These opinions do not reflect the position of Concordia University, the Political Science Students Association, or the Journal of Political Affairs.

Contents Policy Areas: Partisan Comparison COVID-19 Recovery Plan..................................................................................................................1 Gun Control and the Second Amendment……………………………………………………………….………………..3 Healthcare.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….5 Climate Change.…………………………………………………...…………………………………………………………………..7 Immigration Policies….………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………..9 Police Reform.………..……………………………………………………….……………………………………………………….12 Economy….………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………..……….14 Systemic Racism…….………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………16 Women’s Rights…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19

The Path to Power: How the Parties can Win in 2020 Presidency………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……..21 Senate…….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………..23 House of Representatives…………………………………………………………………………………………..……………25

A Deeper Analysis Partisan Media Spheres…….…………………………………………………………………………………………………….27 Voter Suppression.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….29

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COVID-19 Recovery Plan: Where does America Stand?

By Anthony Issa Edited by Brenagh Rapoport The American election is scheduled for the 3rd of November. The campaign has been divisive, and the Republican and Democratic Parties hold very separate visions of what they want for the United States. One thing that concerns both parties is the COVID-19 recovery plan after the elections. What exactly are the policies that each party is proposing?

Beginning with the Republican Party, their 2020 platform is the same one that they used in the 2016 Election. As such, no COVID-19 recovery plan is mentioned. Instead, we will need to consider statements made by President Trump and by the Republican National Committee.

The Republican pandemic response centres primarily around the economy. Back in May, the current administration signed a US$2 trillion stimulus package aimed at bringing urgent relief to families and businesses. Government checks of $2000 were sent to American families with an annual income under $75,000, as well as a check to households of $500 per child. The federal government sent money directly to state governments and supported unemployment programs. They also put forward loans and tax breaks for businesses facing bankruptcy.

Looking forward, the Republicans have proposed more stimulus packages. They are willing to implement another $1 trillion plan to protect the economy. This would include investing $100 billion in education and more financial aid for citizens. They also would reduce unemployment benefits from $600 to $200 so that states can install a target system that covers 70% of a worker’s wage before they were unemployed. 1 As for the presidency, in May of 2020, the Trump-Pence Administration launched Operation Warp Speed, a program aimed at delivering 300 million prescriptions for a COVID-19 vaccine by 2021. The administration has spent about $10 billion on six potential vaccine trials. 2 President Trump also used the Defense Production Act to force private companies to create medical equipment such as N95 masks and ventilators. 3 Finally, President Trump’s strong attempts on “America First” policies will continue despite the economic hardships of the pandemic. 4 This has guided his “Opening Up America Again” approach in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This three-phased economic plan assists state and local officials to reopen their economies, increase employment, and place COVID-19 safety measures without returning to lockdown. 5 As for the Democratic Party, their 2020 election platform is available on their website. The party platform contains a detailed list of promises they wish to accomplish if they win the election. The recovery plan is robust, and I will aim to highlight its most important aspects.

BBC News, “Republicans Introduce $1tn Pandemic Recovery Plan,” July 27, 2020.

HHS Office of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA), “Fact Sheet: Explaining Operation Warp Speed,” October 14, 2020.

3 BBC News, “Coronavirus: Trump Signs into Law Largest Bailout in US History,” March 30, 2020.

4 BBC News, “Donald Trump Policies: Where Does the President Stand on Key Issues?” September 28, 2020.

5 The White House, “Opening Up America Again,” 2020.

1 2

2

Firstly, the Democrats want to make COVID-19 testing free and accessible for all Americans. They want to increase funding and staffing for contact tracing in both state and local health departments. 6 Another key goal is the expansion of the Affordable Care Act. This would increase insurance coverage for Americans during the pandemic. The federal government would cover most medical bill costs, create subsidies to make it easier for Americans to pay for health insurance, and allow a public marketplace option with minimal costs for low-income Americans. 7 The Democratic recovery plan also encompasses workers’ rights. They want to improve unemployment insurance for workers by encouraging payroll support and requiring that companies maintain employees’ benefits. Other employment measures include assistance for the public sector such as education workers, in the form of federal aid and employment assistance. The Democrats also pledge that once elected they will immediately enact a universal paid sick leave program. 8 As for a Democratic presidency, candidate Joe Biden’s economic recovery plan “Build Back Better” presents additional proposals to tackle the crisis. The Biden-Harris ticket includes a demand to double the number of drive-through testing sites. To replenish PPE stockpile completely and help hard-hit communities, they wish to implement the Defense Production Act. 9 The platform also includes the demand that Congress pass another emergency relief package. This package should give schools extra resources to adapt to the pandemic. It should help smaller businesses with the cost of safety measures installations such as plexiglass and PPE. Additionally, Biden is in favour of including $200/month Social Security checks and additional emergency checks for those in need. He also wants to clear at least $10,000 off federal student loans per person.

Biden also promises to invest $25 billion for vaccine manufacturing so that all Americans have access to free COVID-19 vaccinations. Finally, a Biden administration would work to recuperate the US relationship with the World Health Organization, which they consider vital to organizing the global pandemic response. 10 In conclusion, the two parties have distinctly different plans for the country’s ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response. From how they present their solutions to how they want to lead the country out of the pandemic, clear contrasts show on both sides. The path of the country’s recovery will be determined by the outcome of this election.

Democratic National Committee, “Protecting Americans and Recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic,” 2020.

7 DNC, “Recovering from the Pandemic.”

8 DNC, “Recovering from the Pandemic.”

9 Joe Biden, “Build Back Better: Joe Biden’s Jobs and Economic Recovery Plan for Working Families,” 2020.

10 Joe Biden, “Build Back Better.”

6

3

Gun Control and the Second Amendment: Where do Democrats and Republicans Stand?

By Julia Grimm Naumkin Edited by Brenagh Rapoport With the 2020 elections in the United States, the familiar conversation on regulation of firearms remains heavily partisan. The Republican Party advocates for greater liberty for gun owners and users based on the rights enshrined in the Second Amendment, while the Democratic Party has called for tighter restrictions on gun purchases and ownership to reduce gun violence across the country. 11 The two parties therefore have vastly different plans for gun control should they win the upcoming election.

The controversy over government regulation of gun ownership in the US is uniquely defined by the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. The Amendment protects the individual right for Americans to keep and bear arms. It reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The Republican Party’s position on gun ownership centres around defence of the Second Amendment. 12 The party has consistently opposed legislation that could impose restrictions on the circulation or sale of firearms. They receive strong support from the arms lobby, especially having a close relationship with the influential National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA is a highly influential force in US politics, in particular having spent more than $30 million on behalf of the Trump campaign in the 2016 election. 13 The current Trump administration has emphasized protecting the individual right to firearm ownership. In general, Trump has been a strong ally of the gun lobby; his administration has loosened regulations on the export of firearms and the online publication of technical information about guns, as well as reversing an Obama-era restriction on gun purchases by people deemed mentally unfit by the Social Security Administration. The NRA praised Trump and endorsed his re-election in July 2020. 14 According to the Republicans, lawful gun ownership is essential for people to exercise their right to self-defence. The Republicans therefore have not introduced gun control legislation and have blocked Democratic attempts to do so. Their election platform does call for regulation of firearms in one area, citing the need to clamp down on illegal gun sales to those with violent criminal histories. 15

Matt Pearce, “Trump and Biden on Guns: Far Apart on Policy and Perspective,” The Los Angeles Times, August 19, 2020.

12 Republican Party, 2016 Republican Party Platform, The American Presidency Project.

13 Center for Responsive Politics, “National Rifle Assn, Targeted Candidates, 2016 Cycle,” Center for Responsive Politics.

14 Peace, “Trump and Biden on Guns.”

15 2016 Republican Party Platform.

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In contrast, the Democratic Party platform proposes legislative reform on gun control, calling to “reduce gun violence while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners”. 16 The main policy proposal of the Democrats regarding gun control is to expand and strengthen background checks for purchasing firearms. 17 These are conducted through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Currently, despite legislation preventing persons with criminal records and serious mental health issues from purchasing firearms, an estimated 1 in 5 firearm sales do not involve a background check. 18 Nevertheless, the expansion of background checks is highly controversial among certain groups, most vocally of which has been the NRA. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has been involved in advocating for gun control throughout his political career. In his platform, Biden has proposed an extensive list of gun control measures. These include reinstating the ban on the purchase of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines by individuals, requiring registration by owners of assault weapons, enacting universal background check legislation, and more. 19 The issue that inevitably arises with gun control is the outrage of the gun lobby and Americans with personal firearms who rally in support of the right to bear arms. So much so that nuclear non-proliferation expert Joseph Cirincione previously claimed, “Democratic presidents seem to be always looking over their right shoulder, fearful of attacks for being ‘weak on defense’.” 20 Nevertheless, the Democrats are promising to implement gun control measures if elected this year.

Implementing any policies on gun control in the US is highly controversial and it remains highly unlikely that the Republicans will agree to enact legislation that imposes limits on the freedoms guaranteed by the Second Amendment. Enacting gun control would likely require Democratic majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, if not also the presidency. Even so, this did not prove enough during the Obama administration, most notably in 2013 when the Senate voted against a series of gun control proposals despite a Democratic majority and the support of a few Republican senators. 21 The advisability of changing federal regulations for the purchase, circulation, and possession of firearms is frequently discussed by both parties. The Republicans remain in favour of increasing liberty surrounding gun ownership and use. The Democrats continue to push for legislative changes and increased regulation. It remains to be seen whether this year’s election outcome will result in change on firearm regulation for the United States.

Democratic National Committee, “Preventing Gun Violence,” The 2020 Democratic Platform.

DNC, “Preventing Gun Violence.”

18 Matthew Miller, Lisa Hepburn, and Deborah Azrael, “Firearm Acquisition Without Background Checks: Results of a National Survey,” Annals of Internal Medicine 166, no. 4 (2017): 233-239.

19 Joe Biden, “The Biden Plan to End our Gun Violence Epidemic,” Joe Biden for President, 2020.

16 17

20

Joseph Cirincione, “Republicans do it Better,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 56, no. 5 (2000): 18.

21

Jonathan Weisman, “Senate Blocks Drive for Gun Control,” The New York Times, April 17, 2013.

5

From a Pandemic to Planned Parenthood: Healthcare’s Role in the 2020 Election

By Gloria Manege Edited by Brenagh Rapoport The 2020 American election is taking place in the midst of a global health crisis.

The United States has become one of the nations most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a staggering eight million cases and 200,000 deaths to date. 22 Although conversations surrounding healthcare have always been fueled by tension, this year has made this topic of healthcare reform particularly controversial. With the virus hitting certain communities harder than others, it is a salient time for an investigation into the plans for healthcare reform by the Democratic and Republican Parties.

The Democratic Party has used the Trump administration’s management of the spread of COVID-19 to demonstrate the ways in which America’s healthcare system is in desperate need of reform. 23 The main focus on healthcare for the Democrats is to expand the Affordable Care Act so that more Americans can access free public healthcare, particularly in primarily Republican states where healthcare access tends to be more limited. They plan on executing this by automatically enrolling low-income citizens in the program that offers the public health option, as well as lowering the age eligibility to enrol in Medicare from 65 to 60 years of age. 24 The Democrats also plan on financing community and rural clinics in more remote areas. This will be done in hopes of providing medical treatment to those living in areas where access to clinics is extremely sparse and largely unaffordable.

The Democrats have emphasized the need to make healthcare more inclusive when it comes to accessibility. This inclusion aims to target people of colour, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples. 25 One way that they hope to fulfil this goal is by repealing funding cuts by the Trump administration that have been imposed on Planned Parenthood, a healthcare provider for many marginalized communities. Increased funding for Planned Parenthood would enable women to have better access to facilities that offer more options for reproductive healthcare. 26 In contrast, the Republican Party’s healthcare agenda is rooted in repealing what the Democrats have been trying to firmly hold on to: namely, the Affordable Care Act. 27 The Republicans have claimed that this Act has ruined the traditional American healthcare dynamic emphasizing the importance of the patient-physician relationship. In an attempt to restore this relationship, the Republicans plan on decreasing reliance on public health options offered by federal government programs such as Medicaid. Instead, states will take it upon themselves to provide their residents with healthcare providers that they believe 22

“Covid in the US: Latest Map and Case Count,” The New York Times, October 19, 2020.

“Achieving Universal, Affordable, Quality Health Care,” Democratic National Committee, 2020.

DNC, “Achieving Universal, Quality Health Care.”

25 DNC, “Achieving Universal, Quality Health Care.”

26 DNC, “Achieving Universal, Quality Health Care.”

27 “Republican Platform 2016,” Republican National Committee, August 24, 2020.

23 24

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will be most cost efficient and the choice will be left to the consumer. 28 Ultimately, the Republicans will focus on creating consumer markets that are filled with medical alternatives from which all Americans can freely choose.

Another main goal of the Republic Party is implementing policies that limit abortion access. The Republicans are stern on the belief that abortion should not be considered a healthcare need. This will be executed by cutting all federal funding for clinics that offer these services, such as Planned Parenthood, and healthcare plans that cover any abortion costs. In circumstances where women choose to travel to states in which these services are still legal, there will need to be parental consent. 29 Although the two opposing parties do not agree on the route that should be taken to reach their healthcare goals, it is clear that they are both concerned with providing Americans with medical options that they view to be most beneficial. The issues of medical access, surprise billing, and advanced medical research are all pressing subjects that both the Democrats and Republicans have included in their electoral agendas. 30,31 It can be argued that one party may be looking out for the interests of particular groups over others, and this interpretation is what will determine the votes of Americans. The outcome of the election will also determine how the American government will continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RNC, “Republican Platform.”

RNC, “Republican Platform.”

30 DNC, “Achieving Universal, Quality Health Care.”

31 RNC, “Republican Platform.”

28 29

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Partisan Division on Climate Change in the Upcoming Election

By Stella Forbes This upcoming election is important for many reasons, one of those being climate change. Climate change is something that affects the entire population, even if this fact is not widely recognized. The transition from Obama to the Trump administration has brought about several changes to the climate action of the United States of America. However, Joe Biden promises to attempt to repair the damage caused by President Trump and his administration.

Let’s start with the current president of the United States and his position on climate change. To begin, President Trump’s website does not present a comprehensive plan for the future and what he plans to do if re-elected, rather he presents a list of the promises he previously made and kept. Trump kept his promise of reversing many of President Obama’s attempts to preserve the environment. The Trump administration rescinded President Obama’s Clean Power Plan (CPP), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methane emissions rule, these in his opinion are too costly and instead proposed the Affordable Clean Energy rule. 32 Trump stated on his website that “the Affordable Clean Energy Rule will reduce greenhouse gasses, empower states, promote energy independence, and facilitate economic growth and job creation” however he does not elaborate on how he will do so. 33 The reason that Trump has rescinded the past presidents attempts is because the National Economic Research Associates (NERA) economic consulting on the CPP would have increased electricity rates by 14 percent, costing American households up to $79 billion.34 Thus continuing his main promise to the American people that he has ``their best interest at heart” while attempting to save their money, yet at the cost to the environment. As the last nail in the coffin of President Trump continuing to ignore climate change was his announcement to withdraw the U.S from the unfair Paris Climate Agreement, signed previously by President Obama. 35 This leads us to the other candidate in this upcoming election, Joe Biden. To begin, Biden has been a long-time advocate for climate change and the environment. For a brief background, in 1986 Biden introduced the Global Climate Protection Act, which was the first climate change bill in the senate. 36 This is one of the many testaments to Biden’s dedication to climate change. Biden ambitiously plans “to build a modern, sustainable infrastructure and an equitable clean energy future”. 37 However when looking at his campaign's website, like many political platforms, it is quite vague. With statements such 32

“Energy And Environment.” President Donald J. Trump's Accomplishments, Trump 2020 ,

33

Ibid.,

34

Ibid.,

35

“Energy And Environment.” President Donald J. Trump's Accomplishments, Trump 2020,

Irfan, Umair. “What's Joe Biden Going to Do on Climate Change? Look at His Record under Obama.”

Vox. Vox, May 28, 2019 36

“The Biden Plan to Build a Modern, Sustainable Infrastructure and an Equitable Clean Energy Future.”

Joe Biden for President 37

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as “ we need millions of construction, skilled trades, and engineering workers to build new American infrastructure and clean energy economy”, yet no backing and explanation makes it confusing to what his actual plan is.38 Biden does however promise to ensure the U.S will achieve a 100% clean energy economy, and that they will reach a net-zero emissions no later than 2050, backing this claim by following three simple steps. 39 First by establishing an enforcement mechanism that includes milestone targets no later than the end of his first term in 2025, second by making a historic investment in clean energy and climate research, and third by incentivizing and rapid deployment of clean energy innovations across the economy, “especially in communities most impacted by climate change”. 40 Climate change is not new and is something that most politicians address. Yet, there is a division towards their approaches and opinions on the matter. As we can see Trump is taking the path of more cost-effective policies, damaging the environment in the process, while Biden is attempting to preserve the environment with a more aggressive approach, visible through goal deadlines. How these two candidates differ on environmental policy and the outcome of this election will determine the future of human life.

38

Ibid.

39

Ibid.

40

Ibid.

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Democrat and Republican Immigration Policies: A Stark Divide

By Martha Roussopoulos Edited by Stella Forbes Despite an American being native-born, one in eight of these Americans will have at least one immigrant parent. 41 Additionally, with one in seven residents of the United States of America being an immigrant, American voters should pay close attention to the electoral candidate's plans for immigration. 42 Joe Biden postulates, if the Democrats win the 2020 elections, new immigration policies will be implemented to welcome immigrants to the United States while modernizing and improving the current American immigration system.

Whereas, Donald Trump asserts that he will uphold the promises he has kept throughout his presidency, which includes making the removal of illegal immigrants from the United States a priority.

In the instance that Joe Biden wins the 2020 US elections, he has outlined six main goals he wishes to accomplish for immigration in the United States. The Biden plan for immigration includes: modernizing the American immigration system, welcoming in immigrants, establishing a commitment to asylum-seekers and refugees, determining what causes illegal migration, improving border screening, and undoing Trump’s damage. 43 The Democrats will aim to modernize the American immigration system by providing a plan for the 11 million undocumented immigrants to obtain citizenship. 44 In 2015, 23.6 billion USD was collected from 4.4 million undocumented workers without Social Security numbers. 45 Joe Biden’s proposed plan acknowledges that undocumented immigrants do pay their taxes, however many of them are paying for taxes they cannot benefit from due to the fact that they are not American citizens. 46 Therefore, providing these undocumented immigrants with a clear road map to gain American citizenship it will contribute as well as strengthen the American economy, thus creating a win-win situation for not only immigrants who are wishing to move to America fairly, but as well to help preserve and provide for the economy. 47

41

American Immigration Council. “Immigrants in the United States.” American Immigration Council,

42

Ibid.,

“The Biden Plan for Securing Our Values as a Nation of Immigrants.” Joe Biden for President: Official Campaign Website, 2020.

43

44

Ibid.,

45

Ibid.,

Campbell, Alexia Fernández. “Trump Says Undocumented Immigrants Are an Economic Burden. They Pay Billions in Taxes.” Vox. Vox, April 13, 2018.

46

47

Ibid.,

10

Joe Biden promises to welcome immigrants to the United States because they generate economic, cultural, and social value to their communities. 48 The Biden administration plans to implement initiatives in American communities to promote welcoming immigrants. 49 These initiatives include establishing Offices of Immigrant Affairs in city halls to ensure the adoption of inclusive policies. 50 The Biden Administration wants to ensure that inclusive immigration policies to welcome immigrants will be implemented at the federal-level and state-level. Making immigrants feel welcomed in American communities is key for the Biden Administration because they want to ensure these immigrants can fulfill the American Dream upon arrival to the US. Joe Biden stresses that Donald Trump has harmed the United States of America, thus he will urgently work to undo Trump's damage. 51 Joe Biden will work towards welcoming in more asylum seekers and refugees, which Trump has neglected and restricted throughout his presidency. 52 To do so, the Biden Administration plans on setting the annual refugee cap to 125,000 refugees. 53 The Republican Party has outlined the promises Donald Trump has kept during his presidency. Trump’s immigration policies focus on: the removal of illegal immigrants, the repeal of the DACA program, and restricting access to asylum seekers to the United States. 54 The Trump administration has made the removal of illegal immigrants a priority throughout his presidency because illegal immigrants threaten the American workforce.5 The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in 2016, removed 81,603 illegal immigrants from the US.5 In 2017, a significant increase in removals was conducted for a total of 226,119 illegal immigrants removed from the US. 55 Therefore, President Trump assures he has kept his promise to remove illegal immigrants throughout his presidency and will continue to do so if he wins the 2020 elections. 56 The removal of illegal immigrants reverses the negative effects they have caused to the American workers and taxpayers. 57 48 Campbell, Alexia Fernández. “Trump Says Undocumented Immigrants Are an Economic Burden. They Pay Billions in Taxes.” Vox. Vox, April 13, 2018.

Campbell, Alexia Fernández. “Trump Says Undocumented Immigrants Are an Economic Burden. They Pay Billions in Taxes.” Vox. Vox, April 13, 2018.

49

50

Ibid.,

“The Biden Plan for Securing Our Values as a Nation of Immigrants.” Joe Biden for President: Official Campaign Website, 2020.

51

52

Ibid.,

53

Ibid.,

54

“Immigration.” President Donald J. Trump's Accomplishments, 2020.

55

Ibid.,

56

Ibid.,

“Remarks by President Trump on the Illegal Immigration Crisis and Border Security.” The White House.

The United States Government, 2018.

57

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The Trump Administration stresses that the US is a welcoming country, however, there is a limit to the number of immigrants it can accept and a large influx of illegal immigrants does nothing but harm public safety and the economy. 58 The Republican Party aims at limiting the annual cap of asylum seekers to the United States annually to ensure that America is protected so Americans can feel safe in their communities. 59 In 2019, the annual cap for asylum seekers entering the US was set to 30,000 and, in 2020, the annual cap was almost reduced by half bringing the annual cap for asylum seekers entering the US to 18,000. 60 Finally, Donald Trump’s plans to reduce the cap once more for the upcoming year to 15,000 authorized asylum seekers to enter the US. 61 When looking at both political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, American values are of importance while adopting immigration policies. However, each party has a distinct interpretation of what it means to be American and to have American values. Joe Biden believes that generations of immigrants came to the United States in search of a new life. Biden asserts that "Immigration is essential to who we are as a nation, our core values, and our aspirations for our future”. 62 Therefore, Biden will adopt policies that reflect his recognition of the important values immigration brings to the US. In contrast, Donald Trump believes immigrants are a danger to American values. Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies reflect his desire to protect American communities and American jobs. Consequently, the victor of the 2020 elections’ immigration policies will reflect the party’s view on American values.

58

Ibid.,

“Remarks by President Trump on the Illegal Immigration Crisis and Border Security.” The White House.

The United States Government, 2018.

59

Krogstad, Jens Manuel. “Key Facts about Refugees to the U.S.” Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, August 20, 2020.

60

61

Hansler, Jennifer, and Priscilla Alvarez. “Trump Administration Sets Refugee Cap at

15,000, a New Historic Low.” CNN. Cable News Network, October 1, 2020.

“The Biden Plan for Securing Our Values as a Nation of Immigrants.” Joe Biden for President: Official Campaign Website, 2020.

62

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Police Reform and Race: The Stances of the Major Parties

By Analisa Wong Edited by Hannah Rogers 2020 is not only a year marked by Covid-19, but a year marked by the echoes of hundreds of thousands of protesters marching for Black Lives Matter, calling for justice after George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed in the custody of Minneapolis police. Racism in America, criminal justice, and policing have always been sensitive topics to broach and they have become particularly hypersensitive this U.S. election year. There is a range of perspectives regarding police reform. While some call for defunding the police, others demand a complete rebuild of the system. On the opposing side of the spectrum, the police are viewed as a legitimate institution that requires no changes. This election can determine which of these perspectives will be amplified. Let us take a look at how Republican and Democrat presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, address policing now and how they further intend to deal with policing if they are elected.

Trump – known to have said, in regard to rioters and the police, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts” – is clear about using force against civilians in light of the tumult time following Floyd’s death 63. Trumps supports the use of police force in response to crimes as well as situations of protest. Trump has opposed the defunding of the police and signed an executive order towards police reform. This is supposed to increase government grants so that police officers receive training in how they utilize force against civilians.

However, with this newly signed executive order, it does not include the ban of chokeholds, which as we can see in the death of George Floyd, is something that needs to be addressed. 64 Overall, it can be said that Trump’s approach to police reform is indeed to allocate funds toward the police department for additional training in handling civilian conflict, but it remains to be seen how much difference this will actually bring in reforming the police force itself.

Biden shares the notion of refusing to defund the police; however, that is as far as the commonalities go between himself and Trump in their attitudes toward police reform.

Biden’s campaign stance on criminal justice is with both police safety and civilians in mind. This is evident in his pledge to invest $300 million into police programs not only to hire more police officers but training them to be formless adversarial actors with local communities. 65 This promises to make a difference in the police-community climate on a local level. Perhaps the most noticeable comparison between Trump and Biden is in their police-civilian approaches to police reform. Trump’s stance on the police force is that they are an army head that draws the line of segregation between police and civilians, thus assuming that protesters are criminals and criminals are protestors. Biden, on the other hand, strives for agreement between the two and works to ensure the security of both sides.

Needless to say, police reform still has a long and difficult road ahead regardless of who 63

Trump, Donald. Twitter Post. May 29, 2020

64

Moore, Elena. “Trump's And Biden's Plans For Criminal Justice.” NPR. NPR, October 16, 2020.

Pearce, Matt. “President Trump and Joe Biden Offer Opposing Visions of Policing.” Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles Times, September 14, 2020.

65

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wins the presidency. An impactful shift is a process that will need to be tried, tested, and proven true in order to make a difference in the lives of Americans.

14

Build Back Better or Make America Great Again: The Blue and Red Plans for the American Economy

By Gregory Aderhold Edited by Hannah Rogers The party platforms provided by the two major political parties in the United States rival in many key regards. The first difference is that the Republican party is reusing a political platform from 2016 and making brief campaign statements for 2020. The second is that Democrats are taking the coronavirus economic devastation as an opportunity for “rebuilding the American middle class for the 21st century, making sure that this time everyone can make it and thrive, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, national origin, age, or ZIP code.” 66 On trade, housing, and reducing poverty, the parties have rivaling policies that should be analyzed for comprehension of the U.S. election.

On trade, there is a shared political revulsion to mainland China. The opaque view of China as an economic threat is stated in the democratic platform, “Democrats will take aggressive action against China or any other country that tries to undercut American manufacturing by manipulating their currencies and maintaining a misaligned exchange rate with the dollar...or providing unfair subsidies.” 67 This aggressive view towards trade with China mirrors the President’s. Despite Democratic criticism of President Trump’s competition with China, Democrats propose economic competition. The 2016 Republican party platform takes aim at current trade deals with mainland China as it states, “we cannot allow foreign governments to limit American access to their markets while stealing our designs, patents, brands, know-how, and technology. We cannot allow China to continue its currency manipulation…and subsidization of Chinese companies to thwart American imports.” 68 In a presidential campaign document, the president promises to “Bring Back 1 Million Manufacturing Jobs from China.” 69 Both parties promise extensive measures to populists demands, swing voters, industrial production, and the theoretical Chinese threat.

On housing, both parties promise to restore the American dream of home ownership.

Republicans seek to reduce “the federal role in the housing market, promote responsibility on the part of borrowers and lenders, and avoid future taxpayer bailouts.

Democratic Platform Committee, 2020. “Building a Stronger, Fairer Economy.” Democrats. Accessed October 18, 2020.

66

Ibid.

Fallin, Mary, John Barrasso, and Virginia Foxx. 2020. Republican Platform 2016. Ebook. Charlotte North Carolina: Republican National Convention, 2.

67 68

“Trump Campaign Announces President Trump's 2nd Term Agenda: Fighting for You!” Trump Campaign Announces President Trump's 2nd Term Agenda: Fighting for You! | Donald J. Trump for President, August 23, 2020.

69

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Reforms should provide clear and prudent underwriting standards and guidelines on predatory lending and acceptable lending practices.” 70 Republicans believe the ideal plan to increase housing is to end affirmative action in government home financing and to reform government programs to prevent government housing loans to affluent citizens.

Democrats believe it necessary to create “a new tax credit of up to $15,000 to help firsttime homebuyers.” 71 Additionally, Democrats have a desire to “leverage existing programs, including at USDA, to build more affordable, accessible housing and retrofit existing housing in rural areas.” 72 Democrats will provide direct aid to support marginalized communities, and reverse “decades of red-lining, rising income inequality, and predatory lending practices” 73 In the pursuit of ending poverty and blight, Democrats will increase the federal minimum wage to 15 dollars, while expanding key programs in health and nutrition to eliminate many of the gross inequalities regarding quality of life. Democrats want to expand health coverage by incentivizing, “states to expand Medicaid and enroll lowincome people who do not otherwise have health insurance in a new, high-quality public option without premiums.” 74Democrats will expand the usage of banks through, “affordable, transparent, and trustworthy banking services that are language-accessible for low- and middle-income families.” 75 Republicans do not see this heavy-handed approach as a feasible solution to the country's inequality and working-class woes.

Republicans propose entrepreneurship and individual economic freedom, unhampered by government involvement, “a central reason why the 20th century came to be called the American Century was the ability of individuals to invent and create in a land of free markets.” 76 Regarding the Dodd-Frank act, which reformed aspects of the post-2008 banking system, Republicans view it as one reason for the decline of the independent commercial banking system, seeking to “overturn the regulatory nightmare, created by the Dodd-Frank law.” 77 The Republican party, not keen on providing social aid, desires proper economic conditions for expansion and promoting the struggling middle class, simultaneously reducing the role of government.

These two rivaling parties view the country’s malaise through drastically rivaling lenses, one wishes to use the levers of government to create unprecedented social programs and reforms while the other seeks to create macroeconomic conditions that will result in the success of American businesses large and small. The two parties have many more priorities on social issues but this introduction to their general thesis should help to define what economic issues for which the 2020 election is being waged.

70 71

Fallin et al., Republican Platform. 2016, 4.

Democratic Platform Committee, 2020.

Ibid.

Ibid.

74 Ibid.

75 Ibid.

76 Fallin et al., Republican Platform. 2016, 6.

77 Ibid., 7.

72 73

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Systemic Racism: A Clear and Unsatisfying Choice, But One That Must Be Made

By Skye Miechkota Edited by Manisha Kumar Growing outcries against police brutality, white supremacist violence, and persistent socioeconomic and health inequalities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic have brought systemic racism into the focus of the presidential debate. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has brought increasing pressure to address structures and institutions that discriminate on the basis of race and result in violence and vast inequalities.

It was a key issue discussed in both of the presidential debates, and public opinion on the need for government action has polarized significantly along party lines. 78 The Republicans If you text “woke” to the Trump 5-digit number, you can be connected to “Black Voices for Trump,” a Trump-created group that promises economic opportunities for minority entrepreneurs and workers. 79 Trump’s current campaign has featured ads in Black newspapers and radio stations in order to gain the support of racialized voters 80 — however, underneath this strategy and rhetoric lies a plan that targets and criminalizes racialized Americans. The bullet-point campaign “agenda” published on the Donald Trump website, the nearest thing to a 2020 platform released by the Republican party, makes no mention of systemic racism 81. Nor does the 69-page 2016 platform that they recycled for this year. 82 Increased Policing & Incarceration Trump’s campaigning and presidency have been fueled with narratives of “law and order”. 83 In his agenda, he calls for increased funding for law enforcement as well as harsher penalties for assaults on police officers. 84 Blatantly targeting people of colour, the agenda specifies plans to deport all non-citizen “gang members” and schedule drive-by shootings as acts of domestic terrorism. 85 This, while the Trump government has ignored and repeatedly defended violent white supremacist organizations declared in October by the Department of Homeland Security as the largest domestic terror threat in the country. 86

Pew Research Center, “Voters attitudes about race and gender are even more divided than in 2016,” October 6, 2020.

78

“Black Voices for Trump,” Donald J. Trump for President, accessed October 11, 2020..

John Blake, “Trump Called Him 'My African American.' His Life Hasn't been the Same since,” CNN Wire Service, Sep 12.

81 “Trump campaign announces president’s 2nd term agenda: fighting for you,” Donald J. Trump for President, last modified August 23, 2020.

82 “Republican Platform 2016,” Republican National Committee, accessed October 13, 2020.

83 Kevin Drakulich et al., “Race and Policing in the 2016 Presidential Election: Black Lives Matter, the Police, and Dog Whistle Politics,” 84 “Trump campaign announces president’s 2nd term agenda: fighting for you.”

85 See note 7.

86 Department of Homeland Security, “Homeland Threat Assessment 2020,” October 6, 2020: 18, 79 80

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Trump’s list plans to end cashless bail, keep criminals incarcerated until trial, block financial support for immigrants, and end access to public services for undocumented immigrants such as welfare and education. He also calls to remove the status of all sanctuary cities, which protect immigrants from being detained or deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 87 A Racist Campaign Given the absence of an official 2020 platform, one can look at Trump’s current presidency and campaigning to evaluate his intentions in addressing systemic racism. He was condemned in September for releasing an overtly racist ad featuring Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, kneeling in front of members of the Black church community as flashing images of burning police cars, and violent crowds were cast on the screen. 88 When asked to directly condemn white supremacists during the first presidential debate, Trump did not and instead called for a known violent racist group to “stand back and stand by”, bringing images of a military call to action rather than condemnation. The group, Proud Boys, not only heard the message but embraced it, incorporating the phrase into their logo as their new slogan. 89 The Democrats In a direct response to the BLM movement, the Democrats promise to remove Confederate flags and statues and create a research commission on the effects of slavery, Jim Crow laws and segregation to begin to “study reparations” for Black Americans. Their platform acknowledges the historical and systemic abuses faced by Indigenous, Latino and Black communities in the United States. 90 With public criticism of Trump’s sympathy towards white supremacist groups dominating discourse, it can be easy to let the Democrats slip by without being held accountable for their claims. Their platform outlines a plan that, while beginning to make positive change, has been highlighted as lacking substance when it comes to structural change. 91 Tweaks for Policing In contrast with the Republican campaign, the Democrats address the need to make changes to policing — however, they fall short of meeting the BLM advocacy groups’ demands for an overall defunding of police departments. 92 They plan to increase transparency and incorporate mandatory anti-racism, bias and non-violence trainings into policing, as well as reduce barriers to prosecuting officers for civil rights violations. 93 The “Trump campaign announces president’s 2nd term agenda: fighting for you.”; Center for Immigration Studies, “Map: Sanctuary Cities, Countries and States,” 88 MSNCB, “Trump Campaign Ad Slammed as Overtly Racist,” September 14, 2020, 87

89 Osterheldt, Jeneé, “Trump's American Horror Story: 'Proud Boys, Stand Back and Stand by',” Boston Globe (Online), Sep 30, 2020.

90 Democratic National Committee, “2020 Democratic Party Platform,” July 27, 2020: 40, 91 Erikson, Bo, “Biden not in favour of defunding police, campaign says,” CBS News, June 8, 2020, 92 See note 14.

93 Democratic National Committee, 33.

18

platform recognizes that the “War on Drugs” is in itself a result of systemic racism leading to the mass incarceration of Black Americans. It details a plan to decriminalize marijuana and remove the discrepancies in drug laws, such as between crack and cocaine that discriminate on the basis of race. 94 Rather than take the lead of frontline communities and advocacy groups, who have called for community based first responders and alternative crisis support, the Democrats plan to “reinvigorate community policing approaches,” tweaking their operations rather than re-structuring their overall use and responsibilities.95 Decriminalizing Poverty & Tackling Social Inequalities In addressing underlying causes of disproportionate incarceration rates and violence, Democrats focus on measures for at-risk youth. They aim to break what they refer to as the “school-to-prison pipeline” of racialized children. Their reforms in education include increases in funding for social workers, psychologists and after school programs, as well as an incorporation of black history into school curriculums. 96 The disproportionate effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on racialized communities is also acknowledged in the platform, with plans to extend coverage of the Affordable Care Act. It also describes environmental factors causing health disparities, which Democrats plan to address through investments in housing and environmental regulations, and restrictions on gun laws. 97 They also vouch to increase funding for Indigenous health and education programs, ensure the honoring of treaty rights, and begin buy-backs for Indigenous lands. 98 A Vote for Human Rights The Trump agenda for the 2020-2024 term actively discriminates and criminalizes racialized Americans. While the Democrats’ platform addresses systemic racism and is tailored to appeal to the demands of the largest current anti-racist movement, it falls short of concretely addressing the needs of other racialized groups in the country such as Indigenous and Latino communities or in making deeper structural changes to the role of policing in the country. During a radio interview, Biden told the Black radio host interviewing him, “Well, I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't Black”. 99 Despite the clear dangers of a continued Trump government, citizens and supporters must be sure to continue to hold the Democrats accountable and not allow them to float in shallow rhetoric and inaction.

Democratic National Committee, 36.

Erikson, Bo, “Biden not in favour of defunding police, campaign says,”; Democratic National Committee, 37.

96 See note 16.

97 Democratic National Committee, 31, 47-8.

98 Democratic National Committee, 32, 44.

99 Love, David A, “Trump's a Disaster for Black Voters, but they also Need to Hold Biden Accountable,” CNN Commentary, May 27, 2020.

94 95

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Women’s Rights According to America’s Parties

By Hannah Kalin Edited by Manisha Kumar In the history of the country of the United States, only four women have appeared on the presidential ballot for a major party. One, Hillary Clinton, in 2016, as president. The remaining three as vice president. Clinton as well as Geraldine Ferraro (1984) and Kamala Harris (2020) were all chosen by the Democratic party. Sarah Palin (2008) is the only female Republican to have achieved the feat 100. To date, no woman has ever been the president or the vice president of the United States. Given this information, where do both parties stand on women’s rights and issues?

The Democratic Party Platform has a page dedicated to “women”. That page contains the following quote, “[Democrats] are committed to ensuring full equality for women.

Democrats will fight to end gender discrimination in the areas of education, employment, health care, or any other sphere. We will combat biases across economic, political, and social life that hold women back and limit their opportunities” 101. This quote, on the official party platform, shows the Democratic Party’s verbal and written commitment to helping promote equality between genders.

Former Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, has a section of his election website dedicated to “the Biden agenda for women”. Biden’s agenda includes but not limited to: improved economic security (including equal pay and expanding access to education), ending violence against women, and helping women navigate work and families 102.

Contrarily, the Republican platform does not have a women’s section, nor does President Trump’s election website. As president, the Trump administration stopped an Obama-era rule from taking effect that was meant to help close the wage gap. As of now, he has not replaced it with anything more viable. In terms of ending violence against women, Trump has rolled back several programs and protections designed to help women and vulnerable people 103. During his 2016 campaign, Donald Trump promised policies supporting and empowering women — however, it has yet to be seen 104.

On the topic of reproductive rights, Democrats lean pro-choice, whereas, Republicans lean on the side of pro-life 105. Interestingly, President Trump was pro-choice “Women Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates: A Selected List.” Center for American Women and Politics, September 28, 2020.

101 “Women.” Democrats.

102 “The Biden Agenda for Women.” Biden Harris.

100

Khimm, Suzy. “Trump Halted Obama's Equal Pay Rule. What it Means for Working Women.” August 31, 2017.

104 Frothingham, Sunny and Shilpa Phadke. “100 Days, 100 Ways the Trump Administration Is Harming Women and Families.” April 25, 2017.

105 Keane, James T. “Explainer: If Joe Biden Wins, What Does That Mean for Abortion Policies?” October 6, 2020. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/08/18/biden-harris-abortion-2020-election.

103

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in his earlier years, even hosting a pro-choice fundraiser in 1989. It was only when he began thinking about running for president in the early 2010s that he declared himself pro-life 106.

This may be a result of Trump choosing to run as a Republican and allying himself with the party’s 72% (in 2016) of pro-life voters 107. This is only furthered by President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett is not only staunchly anti-choice, but is also against infertility treatments such as IVF 108.

Joe Biden’s views are the opposite of Donald Trump’s. Biden has stated that while he opposes abortion, he would not oppose others from being able to receive one — stating, he doesn’t believe he has “a right to impose [his] view on the rest of society”. In the past, he has voted to end funding for abortions for rape and incest victims. In a letter he wrote, “those of us who are opposed to abortions should not be compelled to pay for them”.

Since the writing of this letter, Biden’s views have changed. With Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination, he has promised that if elected he will do whatever he can to keep Roe v.

Wade legal (the Supreme Court case that ruled abortion legal) if overturned by the Supreme Court 109.

Women’s views of both candidates can be seen based on polling. Women favor Biden over Trump by 11 points 110

Alter, Charlotte. “Here’s What Donald Trump Thinks About Women’s Issues.” August 5, 2016.

“Abortion Trends by Party Identification.

108 Burkhart, Julie. “Amy Coney Barrett's extreme views put women's rights in jeopardy.” October 13, 2020.

106 107

109

Przybyla, Heidi. “Joe Biden's long evolution on abortion rights still holds surprises.” June 4, 2019.

110

“New Poll: Suburban Women Will Not Vote for Trump.” September 14, 2020.

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The Path to the White House: How Trump and Biden can Win the Electoral College

By Gonzalo I Rodao Edited by Brenagh Rapoport The 2020 presidential election is occurring in a highly tumultuous year. The United States has been facing an immense social divide caused by national Black Lives Matter protests, the appointment of a new Supreme Court Justice in an election year, and the global COVID-19 pandemic. National unity in the country seems to be at an all-time low as American politics are increasingly polarized, evidenced by the fact that partisanship is increasingly the dividing line in political values, surpassing age, gender, and race. 111 The road to the White House will require parties to secure the swing states and pull a few upsets, especially in the case of the Republican Party who are currently not favoured to win the presidency.

Unlike many other democracies, getting the most total votes (the “popular vote”) is insufficient to secure the presidency in the United States. Rather, the president is chosen by the 538 electors in the Electoral College. States have a varying number of electors assigned to them based on their number of congressional districts. Almost all states operate on a winner-takes-all system: the candidate who wins a simple majority of the votes in a state claims that state’s electors, who then vote for that candidate in the Electoral College.

A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to secure the presidency. Therefore, it is all about the states when it comes to American politics. The presidential election is often decided by the candidate that can secure the “swing states”, those whose allegiances do not lie firmly with either party.

Current polls at the time of this article favour Democratic candidate Joe Biden to win the presidency, with Biden averaging more than 9% above incumbent President Trump. 112 According to opinion poll analysis website FiveThirtyEight, Biden is favoured to win the election in 87 of 100 outcomes, based on over 40,000 statistical simulations.113 He has already practically secured 212 electoral votes thanks to states like California, New York, and Illinois that will predictably vote Democrat. 114 The question therefore lies with states that are leaning Democrat (less than a five-point predicted margin of victory for the Democrats), particularly Pennsylvania (20 electoral votes) and Michigan (16), and the swing states, especially Florida (29) and Ohio (18). 115 In an ideal scenario for the Democrats, Biden secures all the Democrat-leaning states and the swing states (375-163 electoral votes). Even in the case of Biden only winning the Democrat-leaning states and Trump winning the swing states, the total tally would be 290-248 electors for Biden. The

“In a Politically Polarized Era, Sharp Divides in Both Partisan Coalitions,” U.S. Politics & Policy, Pew Research Center, December 17, 2019.

112 Nate Silver, “2020 Election Forecast,” FiveThirtyEight, October 23, 2020.

113 Ibid.

114 Josh Holder and Alexander Burns, “The Battleground States Biden and Trump Need to Win 270,” The New York Times, September 1, 2020.

115 Ibid.

111

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deciding factor for the Democratic Party will therefore be whether they can secure a sufficient turnout among their voters, the failure of which cost them the 2016 election. 116 History favours the re-election of President Trump, as only ten American presidents have tried and failed to win re-election. 117 Nor is Trump’s current low standing in the polls a definite indication of the outcome, as he won the presidency in 2016 despite the polls favouring Democrat Hillary Clinton. 118 Many political analysts believe this was partly due to a factor the polls did not take into account: the secret Trump voter. 119 It is no secret that the business-magnate-turned-politician is quite controversial. Many Trump supporters were afraid of telling pollsters their real political affiliation in 2016, as it was an unpopular opinion to support him, causing inaccurate predictions based on polls. 120 It is imperative to remind the reader inclined to dismiss him based on the polls that Trump won states in 2016 where he was predicted to lose by double digits. Any scenario involving a victory for Trump would likely require him to win all the swing states, to give him a possibility to win by 270-268. This would give him one of the tightest victories in American history, besting even that of Bush v. Gore in 2000, which was decided by 5 electoral votes. 121 If Trump also manages to secure Democrat-leaning states (known as “flipping”), as he did in 2016, this would give him a wider margin of victory.

Therefore, the question arises: can we ultimately trust the polls as an effective way of predicting an election? One thing remains clear: those “secret” Trump voters did not hesitate to go out and vote for him in 2016, while his detractors, anticipating a relatively easy win, did not feel the urgency to vote. If Trump can again count on his base’s participation and the same idleness from the opposition, he will likely be elected to a second term in office.

With the 2016 presidential election having been perhaps the biggest upset in American political history, will the polls get it right this time, or will Trump pull off another underdog victory? Once again, voter turnout will be the single largest determinant of who is elected to the US presidency this year.

Eddy Fougier, “La Surprise Trump : Les Raisons d’Une Improbable Victoire,” L'Europe En Formation 382, no. 1 (2017): p. 9.

117 James Crump, “How Many US Presidents Have Lost out on a Second Term?” The Independent, October 23, 2020.

118 Eddy Fougier, La Surprise Trump : Les Raisons d’Une Improbable Victoire.

119 Ibid.

120 Ibid.

121 Sarah Pruitt, “8 Most Contentious US Presidential Elections,” History.com, April 26, 2016.

116

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Controlling the Upper Chamber: How Democrats and Republicans can Secure the Senate

By Quinn Bunke The United States Senate consists of 100 Seats, two from each of the 50 states. In each election cycle, Democrats and Republicans attempt to tilt the balance of power in the upper chamber. In recent history, the division of seats in the Senate has been nearly equal, with the current makeup consisting of 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and two Independents who caucus with the Democrats. In 2020, there are 35 seats up for grabs, 25 of which are currently held by the GOP. 122 With the Democrats looking to win the 3 or 4 seats that they need to take control of the Senate, there are a few key races to watch.

In Colorado, incumbent Republican Senator Cory Gardner is running ads touting his success as an across-the-aisle negotiator who has worked with Democrats to find common ground on environmental legislation. 123 He is also occupying his constituent’s television sets with messages from former Democratic President John F. Kennedy. 124 This is part of a struggle as old as American politics: trying to win a seat through ticket-splitters. This is looking increasingly less likely for Gardner, as he is running in a state that President Trump lost by five points in 2016 and is set to lose by at least 15 points this year. 125 It is looking like former Democratic Governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper is set to occupy this seat for the next six years.

In Arizona, Republican Senator Martha McSally is also trying to finesse the difficult balance of staying true to the incumbent Republican president, while also distancing herself from him enough to win over moderate voters who have soured on him. McSally is facing former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly in a race that is looking increasingly like the incumbent will lose, with recent polls indicating that Kelly has a commanding 10-point lead. 126 It is very likely that however this race swings in the presidential column will also determine who will capture this Senate seat. As of now, the advantage is with Biden and Kelly.

The Republican’s best opportunity to flip a Senate seat appears to be in Alabama, where incumbent Democrat Senator Doug Jones is looking likely to lose his seat to Republican challenger Tommy Tuberville. Alabama has stayed true to its partisan lean in polls leading up to this year’s race, as President Trump maintains a lead of better than 15 points. 127 This will heavily favour Tuberville, in spite of the fact that he is being outspent and out fundraised by the Democratic incumbent. 128 Other than in Alabama, opportunities for the Republicans to steal a seat currently held by a Democrat appear to be slim to none. With Colorado and Arizona appearing to be 270toWin, “2020 Senate Election Interactive Map” October 27, 2020 Simone Pathe, “The 10 Senate Seats Most Likely to Flip, One Week from Election Day” October 27, 2020.

124 Ibid.

125 538polls, “Colorado Polls,” October 25, 2020.

126 Simone Pathe, October 27, 2020 127 538Polls, “Alabama Polls” October 27, 2020 128 Simone Pathe, October 27, 2020 122 123

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all but secured, the Democrats will need one or two more seats, depending on who wins the White House and therefore holds the Senate tie-break (the Vice-President breaks a Senate tie). In races where the incumbent is a Republican, Democrats can seek to win their final one or two seats via both races in Georgia, a tight battle in Iowa, as well as in Maine.

The Senate race in North Carolina also appears to be neck-and-neck, as the state is shaping up to be an increasingly prominent electoral college swing. Otherwise, more long-shot races in which Democrats believe they have hope are in Montana, where incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Bullock is challenging Senator Steve Daines, and in South Carolina, where prominent Senator Lindsey Graham is facing a challenge from a very wellfunded Democrat challenger in Jamie Harrison.

With the two seats in Colorado and Arizona likely to swing and about seven other races where Democrats need to win either one or two seats, an aggregate consensus suggests that Democrats have about a 75% chance of regaining control of the Senate.129 Republicans, for their part, will attempt to hold on to all of the aforementioned seats in order to try to maintain their majority. Last-ditch fundraising efforts have been launched by many Republicans in jeopardy of losing their Senate seats, as the GOP desperately attempts to cling to their control in the chamber.

129

Economist, “Senate-Forecasting the US 2020 Elections� October 27, 2020.

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The House of Representatives: Democrats All but Certain to Maintain Control

By Quinn Bunke Projections for the House of Representatives currently show the seats in the lower chamber falling almost exactly as they did in the 2018 Elections Cycle. The popular vote projections fall pretty much in-line with those for the presidency, with about 53% of the votes being cast for Democrats, and approximately 46% for Republicans. 130 The national unpopularity of President Trump in certain regions of America appears as though it will hinder the Republicans ability to win down-ballot races and to make inroads in either the House or the Senate through ticket-splitters. Current consensus projections give the Democrats an average of 242 Seats in the House of Representatives, while allotting 192 to the Republicans. 131 The number of seats needed to secure a majority in the House is 218, thus the Democrats are well clear of this threshold.

Races that election viewers may want to keep an eye on include those of incumbent rookie congresswomen who have often been portrayed as a new age of Democrats, or at the very least as a counterweight to the Democratic establishment. These races, which are all but certain to be won by their incumbents, include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York District-14, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota District-5, Ayanna Presley of Massachusetts District-7, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan District-13. Often informally dubbed “the Squad”, this group of women of colour, all under the age of 50, have received unprecedented media attention for rookie members of Congress since their elections in 2018.

On the Republican side, 25-year old Madison Cawthorn is viewed by some as the counterweight to this youth movement in the Democratic party. Left partially paralyzed after a tragic car accident in 2014, Cawthorn uses a wheelchair. He upset a Trump-backed candidate in the June 2020 primary to be the House candidate in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District. The Seat was previously held by current White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who immediately endorsed Cawthorn upon his primary upset. 132 Cawthorn would be the youngest person ever elected to Congress should he win the seat against and his Democrat opponent Morris Davis. Aggerate polling currently suggests that the race is close, but that Cawthorn will likely secure the seat, in large part due to winning the fundraising race. 133 The dynamic in the House of Representatives is unlikely to shift much in 2020, as Democrats will maintain control, and it is anticipated that current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will remain in her role for at least the next two years. 134 Democrats view the House as one of three key pieces in regaining control over the American political arena in 2020, and it is the one that is likely to be the easiest for them to win. Barring unforeseen events, Economist, “House of Representatives-Forecasting the US 2020 Elections” October 27, 2020 Ibid.

132 Grace Panetta, “Madison Cawthorn Faces off against Moe Davis in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District” October 9, 2020 133 Ibid.

134 Chandelis Duster, “Pelosi Says She Will Run for Speaker Again If Democrats Keep Control of the House” October 25, 2020 130 131

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the race for the House of Representatives is likely to be much less exciting for viewers to watch in 2020. Current aggregate polling gives the Democrats a better than 99% chance of winning the House in the upcoming elections. 135

135

Economist, “House of Representatives-Forecasting the US 2020 Elections� October 27, 2020

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American Political Segregation, Vocabulary and Intentions

By Gregory Aderhold Edited by Quinn Bunke In order to understand shifts in the agora of modern American politics, we must analyze the American political environment through multiple lenses. The most recent wave of change in the American political arena stems from vast economic inequality, the domestic insecurity of American foreign policy and changing ideals of what it means to be a citizen of a community when the makeup of American identity, due to changing immigration demographics, have reshaped the image of the average American. However, the lens through which these changes are recognized is equally as important. Despite a consensus that these changes are occurring, the perception of them and action addressing them by American political organizations are not collaborative. In seeking to understand American politics, it is important to understand the role that these facts play in a larger discussion surrounding political bias and separation in the general media.

The concept of media partisanship should be analyzed to explain some of the friction currently playing out across the nation. Before elaborating, it must be acknowledged that this process says nothing about the actual quality of American wellbeing: A nation can be united in its self-destruction and disjointed in its own prosperity.

The focus of this article is on a separation of vocabulary. This separation of vocabulary detaches the viewer from the reporting and actions of other news sources. These news sources explain and observe different events occurring in the country in different manners, creating distinct and rivaling political narratives. This separation increases political partisanship and splits the bed of truth on which prosperous debate relies.

The members of the two political organizations that hold duopolistic powers of American political affairs have recorded rivaling preferences of the media. In a January 2020 study, Pew Centre discovered that more Republican Party members, who have preferences for the Fox News Network, “express distrust than express trust of 20 of the 30 sources asked about. Only seven outlets generate more trust than distrust among Republicans.” 136 Democrats view the opposite as being true as “greater portions of Democrats express trust than express distrust in 22 of the 30 sources asked about.” 137 These trusted sources are also the inverses of each other on many key issues. Among conservative Republicans, 75% stated that they trusted Fox News, while 77% of liberal Democrats distrust Fox News. Inversely, 70% of liberals trust CNN while 67% of conservative Republicans distrust it. 138 This polarity is bound to create collision as the source of the debate is on partisan grounds. Pew Centre discovered in the same poll that among Democrats, 53% have received news in the last week from CNN, 33% from MSNBC, 31% read the New York's Time, 26% read the Washington Post and 22% watched BBC news.139 This is compared to 24%, 14%, 9%, 8% and 10% respectively of Republicans. 140 Among 136 Mitchell, Amy, Mark Jurkowitz, Elisa Shearer, and Mason Walker, “U.S. Media Polarization and the 2020 Election: A Nation Divided” January 24, 2020.

137 Ibid.

138 Ibid.

139 Ibid.

140 Ibid.

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Republicans, 60% received their news in the last week from the Fox news channel, 19% from Hannity Radio and 17% from Limbaugh radio. 141 Amongst Democratic Party members, these figures are 23%, 1% and 1% respectively. 142 It should be noted that while the partisanship seems steady there is a group of new sources which both Democrats and Republicans rely on, however, it must be noted that Republicans do trail Democrats in their usage of each of these sources. These sources are NBC news, ABC news, CBS news, the Wall street Journal, and USA today. For each of these sources, Republicans trail Democrats in reported news usage in the last week by a percentage that is significant but not drastic.

Divided is the house on which the United States is structured. Most viewers, most of the time, aren't exposed to a large swath of dissenting opinions, and most will never realize what they don’t know. If the media is segmented, then the viewers will become increasingly uninformed as complexity in debate and argument is absent. Most liberals are never exposed to the views of political actors on Fox and most conservatives are never exposed to the political views of actors on CNN and MSNBC. When an inherently partisan media is dealt with coverage of a controversial election, it is not difficult to see why this would lead to extreme political dispute.

When dealing with important but partisan issues, the average viewer knows little about the complex Iran-American relations and their effects on the balance of powers in central Asia and the middle east. Few Americans have the economic understanding to determine why the economy falls into crisis and few understand the complex economic reality behind environmental policies and the complexity that a fuel, such as natural gas, adds to such policies. In the current presidential election, every issue and scandal are divided among a public that is equally divided. When large swaths of a population are never exposed to a rivaling worldview and largely garner their information from large entertainment companies, then the opinions and vocabulary of their peers will become alien and political discourse will flounder. When on the simplest of matters, politics become sensationalist, conspiracy theories influential, and politicians inept, America becomes increasingly separated into two different realities, where a presidential election is less a referendum and more a matchbox.

141 142

Ibid.

Ibid.

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The Fight for Voting Rights: Voter Suppression in American Elections

By Lina Benredouane Edited by Quinn Bunke “I am American and it Took Me 7 Hours, 45 Minutes and 12 Seconds to Vote” I was as shocked reading that quote as you probably are right now. Or, perhaps, you were already aware that voter suppression is as grave a problem as it has ever been in American elections, and that it disproportionately impacts Black voters and people of color now more than ever before. In 1965, the United States of America adopted the Voting Rights Act. The Act had section 5 and section 4(b) to prevent states from making laws that infringe on people’s right to vote in democratic elections. States with history racist legislation like voting tests and literacy tests cannot make laws to limit people of color to vote without the Federal Government's permission (Eaton and Backen 2020). This preventative measure was removed in 2013, when the Shelby County v. Holder landmark decision of the US Supreme Court was made. The landmark decision was about the constitutionality of two provisions of the voting rights act of 1965 section 5 and section 4 (b). The main argument was that section 4 (b) is unconstitutional because the coverage formula is based on data over 40 years old. voter discrimation was out of date. It convinced the jury and the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote. The Shelby decision made it so that states would be able to change voting laws without the permission of the federal government. Shelby effectively took away an effective tool in regulating state voting rights (Eaton and Backen 2020).

“Republicans control the State House, Republicans control the Legislature, and they are, frankly, to implement the voting laws they see fit.”

- Astead W. Herndon 2020 There are 5 common vote suppression tactics: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Voter ID laws Polling place closures Proof of citizenship requirements Voter Roll Purges Cuts in Early voting

Hours after Shelby's decision, the state of Alabama implemented a law requiring photo ID as Missippi did. North Carolina eliminated seven days of early voting. Different legislations happened across the country to contribute to voting suppression, but the state that ticked every box is Georgia (Root 2020).

“In 2018, during the Governor’s election, County Chatham in Georgia removed nearly 300 voters from rolls because their name didn’t appear on a water bill” - Eaton & Backen

30

The gubernatorial election featured polar opposites as the major party candidates: Stacey Abrams, a Black progressive woman running for the Democrats, and Brian Kemp, a White conservative man running for the Republicans. Shocking statistics emerged from the 2018 Midterm Elections: Georgia has 157 counties and each county manages their own territory with the Secretary of State as top official which means that each county decides on how they want to establish vote offices (Eaton and Backen 2020). Several motions and complaints from voting rights advocates were expressed after the 2018 election cycle in Georgia. For example, Randolph County tried to close seven out of nine polling places in a county that has a population that is 60% Black (Eaton and Backen 2020). A study showed that the average minimum wait time at the polls in Georgia was around 51 minutes in 90% of communities that have visible minorities as the dominant demographic, versus only 6 minutes in 90% of predominantly White communities (Eaton and Backen 2020).

The voter suppression that took place in 2018 across the country made Americans skeptical about the upcoming 2020 Presidential Election. The COVID-19 pandemic is an added element that has had a direct impact on this election. In April 2020, in response to the pandemic, the Secretaries of State across the country sent out absentee ballots. On October 20 2020, the New York Times confirmed that 83.6 million mail-in ballots were sent out or requested in 47 states and the District of Columbia (Gamio and Denise Lu 2020).

However, since the idea of mail-in voting was introduced to limit in-person voting, there has been much discussion in the public discourse surrounding voter fraud. Mail-in voting is significant that the waiting line is going to be shorter which will encourage more people to vote.

President Donald Trump has expressed a lot of misinformation about voter fraud and has increasingly attempted to convey the message that the 2020 Election may be fraudulent. Trump is suspicious about mail-in voting because statistics indicate that Democrats receive more favorable outcomes as the voting process is simplified (Dazhanova 2020). Statistics released from the Brennan Center for Justice showed that the national voter fraud rate is between 0.0003 to 0.0025 %. It is less than one percent. The percentage of american voters casting ballots by mail has increased incredibly since 1996.

In 1996, we counted only 7.8% voters who cast a ballot by mail versus 18. 5 in 2012 and 20.9 2016 (Harting, Jones and Gomez 2020). The numbers will definitely increase with the 2020 presidential election due to the pandemic context. Post-Shelby decision had a real impact on how people of color face voting suppression. Mail-in voting can be a way to simplify voting and make it more accessible for Americans whatever their ethnicity. “You know, this is America, we can put a Tesla in space, but we can’t vote?�

- An American citizen

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