Political positions of the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primary candidates
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The Democratic candidates in the 2016 United States presidential election hold a wide variety of stances on issues related to domestic and foreign policy and their political ideological views.
Domestic policy
| Jeff Boss | Harry Braun | Lincoln Chafee (Suspended campaign) | Hillary Clinton | Paul T. Farrell Jr. | Keith Judd | Lawrence Lessig (Suspended campaign) | David Mills | Martin O'Malley (Suspended campaign) | Bernie Sanders | Sam Sloan | Vermin Supreme | Jim Webb (Suspended campaign) | Robby Wells | Willie Wilson | John Wolfe, Jr. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15 federal minimum wage | Yes[1] | Unknown[1] | Unknown[1] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[1] | Yes[1] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[1] | No[2] | Unknown[1] | Unknown | |
| American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[3] | Yes[4] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[5] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[5] | Unknown[6] | Unknown | Unknown |
| Cannabis legalization | Yes[7] | Unknown | Yes[8] | Unknown[9] | Unknown | Yes[10] | Yes[11] | Unknown | Unknown[12] | Yes[13] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[14] | Unknown[2] | Yes[15] | Unknown |
| Capital punishment | No[16] | Yes[17] | No[18] | Yes[19] | Unknown | Yes[20] | No[21] | Unknown | No[22] | No[19] | Unknown | Yes[23] | Yes[24] | No[2] | Unknown | Unknown |
| Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[25] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[25] | No[25] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[26] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[27] | Yes[28] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[26] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[27] | Yes[28] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| DREAM Act | Unknown | No[29] | Yes[30] | Yes[31] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[32] | Unknown | Yes[33] | Yes[34] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[35] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Equality Act of 2015 | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[36] | Yes[37] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[38] | Unknown | Yes[39] | Yes[40] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[41] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Expand Social security | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[42] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[43] | Unknown | Yes[44] | Yes[45] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[46] |
| Federal ban on conversion therapy for minors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[47] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[48] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Lifting the ban on military service for transgender Americans | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[49] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[38] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[50] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Maintain Obergefell v. Hodges | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[51] | Yes[51] | Unknown | No[10] | Yes[52] | Unknown | Yes[51] | Yes[51] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[53] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Maintain Roe v. Wade | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[54] | Yes[55] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[56] | Yes[57] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[58] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Merrick Garland Supreme Court nomination | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[59] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[60] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 | Unknown | Unknown[61] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[62] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[62] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Overturn Burwell v. Hobby Lobby | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[63] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[64] | Yes[65] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission | Unknown | Unknown[66] | Unknown[67] | Yes[68] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[69] | Unknown | Yes[70] | Yes[60] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[71] | Unknown | Unknown[72] | Unknown |
| Pro-choice | Yes[16] | Yes[17] | Yes[73] | Yes[74] | Unknown | No[20] | Unknown | Unknown[75] | Yes[76] | Yes[77] | Unknown | Yes[23] | Yes[78] | No[2] | Unknown | Unknown |
| Proposition 1 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[79] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[80] | Yes[79] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[81] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[81] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Reinstating Glass–Steagall Legislation | Unknown | Unknown | Yes (previously against until October 13, 2015)[82] |
No[83] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[citation needed] | Unknown | Yes[84] | Yes[85] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[86] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[46] |
| Religious Freedom Restoration Act | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[citation needed] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[87] | No[87] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Religious Liberty Accommodations Act | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[88] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[88] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Repeal of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[89] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[90] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[91] | Unknown | Unknown | No[91] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Repeal of USA PATRIOT Act | Yes[92] | Unknown[93] | Yes (previously against until October 13, 2015)[94] |
No[95] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[96] | Unknown | No[97] | Yes[98] | Unknown | Unknown | No[99] | Yes[100] | Unknown | Unknown |
| Senate Bill 175 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[101] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[101] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Single-payer health care | Unknown[102] | Yes[17] | Unknown[103] | No[citation needed] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[104] | Unknown | Yes[103] | Yes[105] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[46] |
| Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[106] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[107] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Tuition-free public college | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[108] | No[108] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[108] | Yes[108] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[108] | Yes[109] | Unknown | Unknown |
| Update military service records of veterans dismissed due to their sexual orientation | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[47] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[110] | Yes[111] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Supports same-sex marriage | Yes[16] | Yes[17] | Yes[112] | Yes[113] (previously against) [114] |
Unknown | No[10] | Yes[115] | Unknown | Yes[116] | Yes[117] | Unknown | Unknown[118] | Yes[119] | No[120] | No[121] | No[122] |
| USA Freedom Act | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[123] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[124] | No (previously supported until June 1, 2015)[125] |
Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Universal background checks | No[16] | No[17] | Unknown | Yes[126] | Unknown | Unknown[20] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[126] | Yes[126] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[127] | No[2] | Unknown | Unknown |
Foreign policy
| Jeff Boss | Harry Braun | Lincoln Chafee (Suspended campaign) | Hillary Clinton | Paul T. Farrell Jr. | Keith Judd | Lawrence Lessig (Suspended campaign) | David Mills | Martin O'Malley (Suspended campaign) | Bernie Sanders | Sam Sloan | Vermin Supreme | Jim Webb (Suspended campaign) | Robby Wells | Willie Wilson | John Wolfe, Jr. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asylum for Syrian Civil War refugees | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[128] | Yes[129] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[129] | Yes[130] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[131] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Drone strikes on suspected enemy combatants | Yes[16] | No[17] | No[18] | Yes[132] | Unknown | Yes[20] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[133] | Yes[134] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Ending the United States embargo against Cuba | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[135] | Yes[136] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[137] | Yes[137] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[138] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Enlargement of NATO | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[139] | Yes[140] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[141] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Iran Nuclear Deal | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[142] | Yes[142] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[143] | Unknown | Yes[142] | Yes[142] | Yes[144] | Unknown | No[142] | Unknown | Yes[145] | Unknown |
| Keystone Pipeline System | Unknown | No[146] | Unknown[147] | No (previously undecided until September 22, 2015)[148] |
Unknown | Yes[20] | Unknown | Unknown | No[149] | No[150] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[151] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Maintain some troops in Afghanistan | No[152] | No[17] | Unknown | Yes[153] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[143] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[153] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Military intervention against ISIL | Unknown | Unknown | No[154] | Yes[155] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[156] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[157] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Military funding for the Free Syrian Army | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[158] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No[159] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| No-fly zone in Syria | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[160] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[143] | Unknown | No[160] | No[161] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Paris Agreement | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[citation needed] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[162] | No[163] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sanctions against Iran | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[164] | Yes[165] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[166] | Yes[167] | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[167] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership | Unknown | Unknown[168] | Yes[169] | No[170] | Unknown | Unknown | No[171] | Unknown | No[172] | No[173] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown[174][175] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Two-state solution | Unknown[176] | Unknown | Yes[177] | Yes[178] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes[179] | Yes[180] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Political ideologies
Note that some of these terms are self-identifiers (in quotation marks): the views linked to may not adequately represent all of their policy stances.
| Jeff Boss | Harry Braun | Lincoln Chafee (Suspended campaign) | Hillary Clinton | Paul T. Farrell Jr. | Keith Judd | Lawrence Lessig (Suspended campaign) | David Mills | Martin O'Malley (Suspended campaign) | Bernie Sanders | Sam Sloan | Vermin Supreme | Jim Webb (Suspended campaign) | Robby Wells | Willie Wilson | John Wolfe, Jr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| truther[7] | direct democrat[181] | libertarian-leaning progressive[182] | "progressive"[183] | "conservative"[184] | Unknown | "liberal"[185] | "liberal"[186] | "progressive"[187] | "democratic socialist"[citation needed] | Unknown | "anarchist" | moderate liberal[188] | "eaglist"[189] | social liberal[190] | "progressive"[191] |