The 2016 Elections have dominated the news over the past several months. Despite the high level of coverage, it may be difficult to understand exactly where candidates stand on some of the most important issues. To help you make a more informed decision here is a breakdown of where each candidate stands on some of the biggest issues.
Immigration has been one of the most discussed and controversial issues throughout the Republican primary. While some candidates would like to pursue a path for undocumented immigrants to stay in the country legally, there are others who condemn granting what they consider amnesty.
Path to citizenship:
Candidates: Hillary Clinton (D), Bernie Sanders (D), Martin O’Malley (D), Lindsey Graham (R)
Polling Data: 75% of Democrats agree; 44% of Republicans agree
Path to stay:
Candidates: Jeb Bush (R), Ben Carson (R), Chris Christie (R), Carly Fiorina (R), John Kasich (R), George Pataki (R), Rand Paul (R), Marco Rubio
Polling Data: 9% of Democrats agree; 15% of Republicans agree
Against legalizing undocumented immigrants:
Candidates: Ted Cruz (R), Mike Huckabee (R), Rick Santorum (R)
Polling Data: N/A
Deport undocumented immigrants
Candidates: Donald Trump (R)
Polling Data: 12% of Democrats agree; 37% of Republicans agree
There have been a number of high-profile mass shootings this year, reigniting the nation’s long-running debate over gun violence and gun restrictions. While Hillary Clinton and Martin O’Malley have been vocal in pushing for new restrictions; Republicans have been, for the most part, uniform in their opposition to new restrictions.
Tighten Gun Control Laws
Candidates: Hillary Clinton (D), Bernie Sanders (D), Martin O’Malley (D)
Polling Data: 76% of Democrats agree; 23% of Republicans agree
Oppose new restrictions
Candidates: Jeb Bush (R), Ben Carson (R), Chris Christie (R), Carly Fiorina (R), John Kasich (R), George Pataki (R), Rand Paul (R), Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham (R), Ted Cruz (R), Mike Huckabee (R), Rick Santorum (R), Donald Trump (R)
Polling Data: 19% of Democrats agree; 59% of Republicans agree
Climate change has been a very controversial issue that has been a big priority for the Democratic candidates. Republicans, on the other hand, are divided between those who acknowledge the existence of man-made climate change (but oppose regulations that they say would hurt the economy) those who expressed doubts about man’s role or even deny that climate change exists.
Support action on climate change
Candidates: Hillary Clinton (D), Bernie Sanders (D), Martin O’Malley (D), Lindsey Graham (R)
Polling Data: 74% of Democrats agree; 53% of Republicans agree
Oppose regulations
Candidates: Jeb Bush (R), Chris Christie (R), Carly Fiorina (R), John Kasich, George Pataki (R)
Polling Data: N/A
Doubt man-made climate change
Candidates: Ben Carson (R), Rand Paul (R), Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz (R), Mike Huckabee (R), Rick Santorum (R), Donald Trump (R)
Polling Data: 22% of Democrats agree; 60% of Republicans agree
Republicans are adamantly opposed to the Affordable Care Act, the signature domestic policy achievement of President Obama’s administration. These candidates want to repeal it. Clinton and O’Malley would like to keep most of the health care overhaul while Bernie Sanders would like to move to a single-payer health care system.
Single-payer health care system
Candidates: Bernie Sanders (D)
Polling Data: 44% of Democrats agree; 9% of Republicans agree
Keep most of Affordable Care Act
Candidates: Hillary Clinton (D), Martin O’Malley (D)
Polling Data: 28% of Democrats agree; 5% of Republicans agree
Get rid of Affordable Care Act
Candidates: Jeb Bush (R), Ben Carson (R), Chris Christie (R), Carly Fiorina (R), John Kasich (R), George Pataki (R), Rand Paul (R), Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham (R), Ted Cruz (R), Mike Huckabee (R), Rick Santorum (R), Donald Trump (R)
Polling Data: 11% of Democrats agree; 60% of Republicans agree
The issue of abortion has largely split the candidates along party lines. Republicans have called for cutting off federal funds for Planned Parenthood. Those Republicans who oppose abortion are split over whether to allow exceptions in cases that involve rape or incest.
Support abortion rights
Candidates: Hillary Clinton (D), Bernie Sanders (D), Martin O’Malley (D), George Pataki (R)
Polling Data: 51% of Democrats agree; 16% of Republicans agree
Oppose abortion rights
Candidates: Jeb Bush (R), Chris Christie (R), Carly Fiorina (R), John Kasich (R), Lindsey Graham (R), Donald Trump (R)
Polling Data: 33% of Democrats agree; 43% of Republicans agree
No exceptions for rape or incest
Candidates: Ben Carson (R), Rand Paul (R), Marco Rubio (R), Ted Cruz (R), Mike Huckabee (R), Rick Santorum (R)
Polling Data: 13% of Democrats agree; 37% of Republicans agree
The Republican and Democratic parties want to follow very different paths on taxes. Democrats want the wealthiest Americans to pay more. Republicans are more focused on lower taxes, although they do disagree about whether to cut tax rates or more fundamentally overhaul how the country collects revenue.
Wealthy pay more
Candidates: Hillary Clinton (D), Bernie Sanders (D), Martin O’Malley (D)
Polling Data: 84% of Democrats agree; 38% of Republicans agree
Reduce tax rates
Candidates: Jeb Bush (R), Chris Christie (R), John Kasich (R), George Pataki (R), Donald Trump (R), Marco Rubio (R)
Polling Data: N/A
Candidates: Ben Carson (R), Ted Cruz (R), Carly Fiorina (R), Mike Huckabee (R), Rick Santorum (R), Carly Fiorina (R), Lindsey Graham (R), Rand Paul (R)
Polling Data: N/A
Information courtesy of The New York Times