Amy Klobuchar for President

Britt Bardman

Staff Writer

Amy Klobuchar should be the next President of the United States.

The first comment that follows that statement is typical: “who is she?” Klobuchar is a 59-year-old United States Senator born in Plymouth, Minnesota- granted; her name recognition is not as high as Biden’s, Sander’s, or Warren’s. Still, she is undoubtedly the best candidate to be the Commander in Chief of this country and as that becomes clear to more voters, her name will grow as well known as the frontrunners.

Klobuchar became Minnesota’s first elected female senator in 2006 and was then reelected in 2012 and 2018. Her experience in the Senate speaks volumes to how she would act in her presidency: as someone who gets things done. In our current political climate- a partisan stalemate in most instances- Americans need to prioritize a candidate’s ability to compromise and pass legislation. That’s how the changes our country desperately needs after Trump’s administration can be successfully made.

According to GovTrack, Klobuchar was the primary sponsor of 34 bills that were enacted, the most recent, including America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 and the Combating Human Trafficking in Vehicles Act. By reaching to her colleagues across the aisle, Klobuchar was able to get past partisanship and prioritize the American people before any political party.

Being able to beat Trump is the most important quality for a presidential candidate in 2020, and Amy Klobuchar is more than capable.

“Donald Trump’s worst nightmare is a candidate who will bring people in from the middle, I think we need someone to head up this ticket that actually brings people with her instead of shutting them out,” Klobuchar said at a campaign rally.

Klobuchar is the Goldilocks of the democratic presidential primary. At age 59, she’s not too old, like Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, and she’s also not too young and inexperienced, like Pete Buttigieg. She’s not too left, like Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. She’s not buying the nomination like Tom Steyer, either.

At the Democratic debate in New Hampshire, Klobuchar had a powerful closing statement that speaks to how she’ll fight for everyday Americans: “I do not have the biggest name up on this stage, I don’t have the biggest bank account. I’m not a political newcomer with no record, but I have a record of fighting for people… if you are tired of the extremes in our politics and the noise and the nonsense, you have a home with me.” 

The idea that the presidency is also a position of moral leadership is a part of his job Trump has forgotten. Amy Klobuchar will lead us on an honest front, slowly eliminating the venomous extremes that have crept into our politics as she unites the country back together.

Klobuchar already has 100 actions planned for her first 100 days. She will prioritize combating climate change by re-entering into the International Climate Change Agreement, restoring the Clean Power Plan, and working to bring back gas mileage standards.

Klobuchar is realistic in that she doesn’t support free four-year college for all. “If I were a magic genie and could afford to give that to everyone, I would,” she said in February 2019 at a CNN town hall. She would expand loan forgiveness for people in “in-demand jobs” and refinance student loans at lower rates- showing yet again; she can create realistic solutions and compromises for the American people.

Klobuchar also pledged to raise the federal minimum wage, ensure planning for Planned Parenthood and ban assault weapons, bump stocks, and high-capacity magazines. She supports expanding Medicare or Medicaid, but voiced skepticism about the “Medicare for All” legislation eliminating the private insurance industry and “kicking half of America off their health insurance in four years.” Including a pathway to citizenship for legal immigrants, refugees, and undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US is also a priority for Klobuchar.

Klobuchar is what America needs. Voters are yearning for a candidate in the middle of the age range and political spectrum with legislative success, and it’s time for them to step out of their name-recognition comfort zones and vote for the Democratic candidate who will serve this country the best.