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On November 5, 2024, voters will head to the polls to decide on the forty seventh President of the USA. To explain this election as unprecedented maybe sells it brief. In no different election previously century have the stakes been so excessive for the automotive {industry}—and on a better airplane, for local weather science and for democracy itself. With the 2 major-party candidates set to sq. off in a debate, it is time to look at their previous, current, and future—and their {qualifications} to change into our subsequent chief.
Here is the place all the candidates stand on the problems above—first, the major-party candidates, then others, in alphabetical order:
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris
Social gathering: Democratic
Vice President: Timothy Walz
Expertise
- District Legal professional of San Francisco, 2004-2011
- California Legal professional Basic, 2011-2017
- U.S. Senator, 2017-2021
- Vice President, 2021-present
Coverage and positions
Local weather science. Harris backed the proposed Inexperienced New Deal, a plan that, like Biden’s huge infrastructure invoice (however together with social justice, well being care, and fairness), emphasised an accelerated transition to EVs and a shift away from fossil fuels. Harris has additionally stated that she opposes each fracking and offshore oil drilling, and he or she created an environmental crimes unit in San Francisco. Nonetheless, below the Biden-Harris administration the U.S. has reached file oil manufacturing ranges and power firm earnings.
Electrical automobiles. Harris was one of many key figures behind VW’s emissions-cheating scandal, and ensuring California obtained its personal further settlement and phrases, in a fund set for environmental mitigation. That fund is concentrated, partly, on getting EVs to low-income communities. “We should preserve and shield the environment for future generations and ship swift and sure penalties to those that break the legislation and pollute our air,” she stated as California AG, asserting that settlement. Harris additionally took on Huge Oil throughout her time as California Legal professional Basic.
Democracy: As a Senator, Harris launched a 2000 VoteSafe Act aiming to permit voting entry throughout the pandemic. Harris was additionally a co-sponsor of the John Lewis Voting Rights Development Act, which might ease entry to mail-in balloting, make Election Day a federal vacation, and would supplant measures invalidated by the Supreme Court docket’s 2013 Shelby resolution. The Shelby resolution gutted the requirements for voter redistricting in states that had been below Federal Election Fee oversight.
President Donald Trump (Picture courtesy DoD)
Donald J. Trump
Social gathering: Republican
Vice President: J.D. Vance
Expertise
- Former President, 2017-2021
Coverage and positions
Local weather science: Trump informed main oil-industry donors at a current fundraiser at his Mar-A-Lago resort that, had been they to donate $1 billion to his marketing campaign, that he would intestine all the present administration’s actions that will increase the gross sales of electrical automobiles. Throughout his administration, Trump tried to revoke California’s authority to set its personal emissions requirements, half of a bigger marketing campaign involving Supreme Court docket circumstances that will diminish or disrupt the work of companies such because the EPA, the so-called administrative state. He has deemed local weather change to be “a hoax.”
Electrical automobiles: Although he as soon as owned a Tesla Mannequin S, former president Trump has repeatedly voiced disdain for electrical automobiles: he has threatened to levy a 100% tariff on Mexico-made EVs, which might slam the brakes on a bunch of fashionable EVs bought within the U.S., together with the Chevrolet Equinox EV and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Democracy: The previous president has been charged with a spread of crimes in connection to plots to disrupt the switch of energy after the November 2020 election, which he misplaced to Joseph Biden. Each the prison trial on expenses filed within the District of Columbia, and that filed in Georgia for state-related election interference, have been delayed whereas the Supreme Court docket debated whether or not U.S. presidents get pleasure from full or partial immunity for crimes dedicated whereas in workplace. A number of the expenses could also be permitted to maneuver ahead if they’re decided to be non-official acts by a decrease courtroom.
In unrelated circumstances, Trump was discovered responsible on 34 counts of falsifying enterprise information in New York State, in relation to hush-money funds made to grownup actor Stormy Daniels. Previous to that, he was held accountable for the sexual abuse of E. Jean Carroll and for asset inflation in New York that resulted in a $450 million civil penalty.
Trump additionally faces expenses that he mishandled categorized paperwork in a Florida courtroom. No trial date has been set.
A bunch of Trump Cupboard members have indicated that they won’t vote for him for a second time period—as has former Vice President Michael Pence (R.-Ind.).
Different Candidates
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Social gathering: Unbiased
Vice President: Nicole Shanahan
Expertise
- Legal professional and talk-radio host
- Based clean-water advocacy group Waterkeeper Alliance
- Boosted Youngsters’s Well being Protection Fund into its present place because the distinguished anti-vaccine advocacy group
Coverage and positions
Local weather science: As a lawyer, Politico factors out, Kennedy served purchasers who sued for stronger environmental protections. As a candidate, he has criticized the Biden administration’s spending on clear power, and has known as local weather change “hysteria.” His shifting positions on not simply local weather however different humane points similar to vaccinations have been known as “bizarre” and “baffling” by MSNBC.
Electrical automobiles: Kennedy has advocated for UAW members who assemble electrical automobiles, however his positions on Biden administration insurance policies that will increase EVs within the U.S. have equated these insurance policies with totalitarianism.
Democracy: Kennedy, in response to what he believes is censorship of his social media channels, informed CNN that he may make the argument that President Biden is an even bigger menace to democracy than Donald Trump. He steered that he would select NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers as his Vice President, earlier than he in the end selected Silicon Valley legal professional Nicole Shanahan.
Jill Stein
Social gathering: Inexperienced
Vice President: But to be named
Expertise
- Doctor and former presidential candidate
Coverage and positions
Local weather science: Stein believes that prior efforts for a “Inexperienced New Deal” did not go far sufficient, and warns about “local weather collapse.” Shy on specifics, Stein posted on X that what’s wanted is “huge funding in inexperienced jobs & applied sciences to revitalize the American economic system, enhance our lives, shield our planet and safeguard our kids’s future.”
Electrical automobiles: Stein advocates for a full ban on new fossil gasoline infrastructure, The Washington Put up reviews, and a common swap to renewable power sources by 2030.
Democracy: Stein believes that the system of two political events has ruined our democracy. “Voters have a proper to decide on and to attempt to shove down the throats of voters two zombie candidates from two zombie events,” she informed Information Nation, “that actually have been serving the financial elites…is extremely undemocratic.” Critics recommend that any votes Stein attracts within the handful of states the place she is going to seem on the poll will draw from Biden totals, thus handing the presidency to Trump.
Cornel West
Social gathering: Unbiased
Vice President: But to be named
Expertise
- Political activist
- Professor at a clutch of Ivy faculties, together with Harvard and Princeton
- Theologian and thinker
Coverage and positions
Local weather science: West believes that “solely by unity, sustainable improvement, and unwavering dedication to renewable power can we hope to revive steadiness and guarantee a thriving planet for all.” He proposes local weather reparations for communities harmed by international warming.
Electrical automobiles: West’s platform advocates a fast and full finish to fossil gasoline dependency.
Democracy: West stated in 2003 that “democracy means extra decisions, not backroom offers; it means freedom to vote your conscience with out being shamed or bullied.” He has described former president Trump as a “bonafide gangster and neofascist.” NBC Information has reported that Republican politicos have been looking for methods to spice up West’s prospects in aggressive states the place he has gained poll entry.
This piece was initially printed June 26; it was final up to date July 24 to incorporate Kamala Harris as Democratic Presidential nominee.
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