The 2016 Presidential Race: Candidate Cheat Sheet

 

As the race for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations continues, the field remains 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:

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: 6.0%
  • Rating on Conservative scale

Donald Trump

  • We should all recognize the real-estate developer and former reality-TV star on The Apprentice
  • Favorability among Republicans: 32.5%
  • 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: 4.0%
  • Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 5.4

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: 6.0%
  • Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 9.3

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: 19.5%
  • Rating on Conservative scale (max 10.0): 6.5

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: 19.8%
  • 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: 49.3%
  • Rating on Liberal scale (max 10.0): 6.5

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: 36.5%
  • Rating on Liberal scale (max 10.0): 8.5

 

Note: Republican and Democratic poll numbers are averages of multiple national polls tabulated by Real Clear Politics. A portion of polled voters were undecided for both parties. Political stance ratings are courtesy of Crowdpac.