The 2016 Presidential Race: Candidate Cheat Sheet
As the race for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations continues, the field has remained very large, and keeping track of all of the candidates is harder than ever. But fear not: the Hilltopper has the candidate cheat sheet for you! With short biographies, poll numbers, and political stance ratings, this quick list will get you up to date on the state of the election and those involved.
Republicans:
Jim Gilmore
- Gilmore was governor of Virginia from 1998 to 2002 after chairing the Republican National Committee for a year. In 2008, he lost the Senate race in Virginia.
- Favorability among Republicans: 0%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 7.1
John Kasich
- The current Ohio governor ran once before, in 2000, after a stint as Republican budget guru in the House of Representatives. Between then and his election in 2010, he worked at Lehman Brothers.
- Favorability among Republicans: 2%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 4.5
Chris Christie
- The aggressive New Jerseyan is in his second term as governor and previously served as a U.S. attorney.
- Favorability among Republicans: 4%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 3.3
Donald Trump
- We should all recognize the real-estate developer and former reality-TV star on The Apprentice
- Favorability among Republicans: 37%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 4.9
Jeb Bush
- The brother and son of presidents, he served two terms as governor of Florida, from 1999 to 2007.
- Favorability among Republicans: 5%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 5.4
Rick Santorum
- Santorum represented Pennsylvania in the Senate from 1995 until his defeat in 2006. He was the runner-up for the GOP nomination in 2012.
- Favorability among Republicans: 0%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 4.7
Mike Huckabee
- An ordained preacher, former governor of Arkansas, and Fox News host, he ran a strong campaign in 2008, finishing third, but sat out 2012.
- Current favorability: 2%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 7.1
Ben Carson
- A celebrated former head of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, Carson became a Conservative hero after a tirade against Obamacare at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast.
- Favorability among Republicans: 7%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 9.3
Carly Fiorina
- Fiorina rose through the ranks to become CEO of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005, before being ousted in and bitter struggle. She advised John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign and unsuccessfully challenged Senator Barbara Boxer of California in 2010.
- Favorability among Republicans: 3%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 7.3
Marco Rubio
- A second-generation Cuban-American and former speaker of the Florida House, Rubio was catapulted to national fame in the 2010 Senate election, after he unexpectedly upset Governor Charlie Crist to win the GOP nomination.
- Favorability among Republicans: 11%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 6.5
Rand Paul
- An ophthalmologist and son of libertarian icon Ron Paul, he rode the 2010 Republican wave to the Senate, representing Kentucky.
- Favorability among Republicans: 1%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 10.0
Ted Cruz
- Cruz served as deputy assistant attorney general in the George W. Bush administration and was appointed Texas solicitor general in 2003. In 2012, he ran an insurgent campaign to beat a heavily favored establishment Republican for Senate.
- Favorability among Republicans: 21%
- Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 9.6
Democrats:
Hillary Clinton
- She’s a trained attorney, former Secretary of State in the Obama administration, former senator from New York, and former first lady.
- Favorability among Democrats: 52%
- Rating on Liberal scale (max 10.0): 6.5
Martin O’Malley
- He’s a former governor of Maryland (2007 – 2015) and mayor of Baltimore (1999 – 2007).
- Favorability among Democrats: 2%
- Rating on Liberal scale (max 10.0): 6.9
Bernie Sanders
- A self-professed socialist, Sanders represented Vermont in the U.S. House from 1991 until 2007, when he won a seat in the Senate.
- Favorability among Democrats: 38%
- Rating on Liberal scale (max 10.0): 8.5
Note: Republican poll numbers were taken from January 26 ABC national poll of registered Republicans. Democratic poll numbers were taken from a January 25 CNN national poll of registered Democrats. Political stance ratings are courtesy of Crowdpac.