Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) has become the fifth member of the Democratic Party to formally announce a candidacy for the presidency of the United States. She has formed an exploratory committee to help determine whether she should push ahead with her plan to run for the highest elective office in the United States.
The first Democrat to announce a run for the presidency, however, is Chinese-American entrepreneur Andrew Yang (楊安澤). A relative unknown, Yang filed his candidacy way back in November 2017.
Yang, 44, was born in Schenectady, New York. His parents are from the Republic of China (Taiwan). His presidential campaign slogan is, "Humanity First." His most stunning proposal: Yang wants to institute a Universal Basic Income that benefits most Americans.
He proposes a $1,000 per month "Freedom Dividend" to all U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 to 64, which is his definition of a Universal Basic Income.
Including Yang, there are 146 other Democrats that have indicated their intention to battle for the nomination as their party's candidate for president. These presidential hopefuls have filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run for president in the Democratic Party primary.
Of this staggering total, only about 24 candidates are given a realistic chance of winning the nomination. Sen. Harris, the former Attorney General for California, is one of these.
The fate of these 146 candidates (and counting), and the Democratic Party's choice as presidential standard bearer, will be determined at the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries and caucuses, which begin early February in New Hampshire.
Sen. Harris supports Medicare for all; lowering taxes for the working and middle-class; sanctuary cities; passing a DREAM Act, and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy. She has disavowed most corporate donations.
Her stand is similar in many respects to the other Democrats that have officially announced a run for the presidency and formed exploratory committees: Julián Castro, Sen. Tulsi Gabbard, Sen. Richard Ojeda, Rep. John Delaney and Andrew Yang. In addition, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have formed an exploratory committee but have not yet officially declared their candidacy
Among the most eagerly awaited announcement of a run is that of former Vice-President Joe Biden, who once said, "I'm the most qualified person in the country to be president."
Another much-awaited announcement is that of Beto O'Rourke, the former Texas congressman who barely lost an election as Senator during the November 2018 midterms. According to O'Rourke: "(My wife) and I made a decision not to rule anything out."
Among the big-name Democrats expected to announce a formal run are: Cory Booker, New Jersey senator; Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota senator; Michael Bloomberg, businessman; Sherrod Brown, Ohio senator; Marianne Williamson, author; Eric Swalwell, California congressman, John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado; Terry McAuliffe, former governor of Virginia; Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles; Eric Holder, former Attorney General; Stacey Abrams, former Georgia state Congresswoman; Andrew Gillum, former Mayor of Tallahassee and Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York.
The clear opposition front-runner at the moment isn't a Democrat but an Independent (albeit one who votes with Democrats) -- Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Sanders, who unsuccessfully opposed Hillary Clinton as the party standard bearer in 2016, is widely expected to announce his candidacy before the month ends.
