America After Trump: An Election Game (Gameplay Thread)

[OBD]

Turn 1

Until October 31, 2023

News

Green New Deal shot down in House

In a major defeat to Democratic progressives, a Green New Deal bill was defeated 225-204 with Republicans united in opposition and 11 Democrats defecting. Minority Leader McCarthy, as well as the Republican Party organization, touted the vote as a rejection of 'radical socialism', while liberal Democrats and activists bemoaned the bill's failure. The White House has thus far remained mum on the issue, as President Biden's efforts to orchestrate a compromise a month ago were spurned by both Republicans and the bill's sponsors (Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Merkley). Our sources tell us that tensions are running high between the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the White House as a result of this vote, with many high-ranking CPC officials blaming White House inaction for crippling the bill's chances of passage (though several Democratic representatives had announced steadfast opposition to the bill from the start). In a joint statement to the press, the offices of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Merkley stated that the bill's failure would only intensify the calls for comprehensive climate response, and urged climate activists to continue their work.

Supreme Court rules in SPLC vs. Marshall

In a stunning 5-4 decision this week, the Supreme Court has overturned major portions of the famous Roe v. Wade case by ruling mostly in favor of an Alabama statue baninng abortion procedures. In an opinion authored by Chief Justice Roberts, the Court held that abortion was a private affair during the first trimester, and held that states could not regulate first trimester abortions. However, the Court dramatically reversed itself by declaring that the State had a legitimate interest in protecting prenatal life after the first trimester, opening the way for conservative states to extend bans of abortion procedures. The ruling has sparked tremendous outcry, as well as protests in the cities of Seattle, Portland, Oakland, Chicago, Washington D.C, and New York, and outraged liberal activists have called for President Biden to either remove Roberts from the Court or appoint more liberal justices, arguing that the legitimacy of the court has been permanently sullied. There has also been extreme unease in the LGBTQ+ community, as a discrimination case out of Oklahoma works its way towards the Supreme Court.

Turn Guidelines
For this turn, please post an announcement and a rough schedule up until October 31. Ads and/or responses to current events are also encouraged. Additionally, each candidate is allowed two free endorsements (except for Donald Trump Jr., who recieves his father as a free endorsement), excluding major Democratic Party officials (Obama, Biden, Sanders, Duckworth). Responses to this turn are due, for now, on April 1, until which new candidates will be allowed to join.

In the future, the following credits system will be used:
1 credit for every 4% in national polls

3 credits: Governors, former Presidents
2 credits: Senators, current and former Cabinet Officials, former Governors, major celebrities, newspapers, unions
1 credit: U.S Representatives, former Senators, state officials, etc.

Home state endorsements are avaliable at a discount of 0.5 credits.

Additionally, internal state polls will be avaliable from the start of Turn 2 for no charge, though there will be a 4-poll limit per turn and internals will be skewed towards the candidate conducting them. Of course, you're welcome to pool your polls to get more data.

[OBD]

Endorsement Tracker

DEMOCRATS

Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA): 5.25 credits
House Speaker Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

Governor Jared Polis (D-CO): 0.75 credits
Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM)
Governor Tina Kotek (D-OR)
Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA)

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY): 4.25 credits
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY): 3.5 credits
OPEN
OPEN

Governor Roy Cooper (D-NC): 3 credits
Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY)
Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA)

REPUBLICANS

Donald Trump Jr. (R-FL): 6.75 credits
Fmr. President Donald Trump (R-FL)

Fmr. Ambassador Nikki Haley (R-SC): 4.5 credits
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Fmr. Ambassador Terry Branstad (R-IA)

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY): 1.75 credits
OPEN
OPEN

Businesswoman Carly Fiorina (R-CA): 3 credits
Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)
Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY)

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL): 2.25 credits
Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL)
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR): 1.75 credits
OPEN
OPEN

[OBD]

Schedule black text = both parties red text = only Democrats blue text = only Republicans

February 6: Washington | Iowa Caucus
February 13: New Hampshire
February 20: Nevada | Michigan | Wisconsin
February 27: South Carolina
Super Tuesday (March 5th)
Alabama
American Samoa
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Dems Abroad
Kentucky
Maine
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Super Tuesday II (March 12th)
Idaho
Kansas
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
North Dakota
Oregon
Wisconsin
Washington
Super Tuesday III (March 19)
Guam
Northern Marianas
Arizona
Florida
Illinois
Ohio
Georgia
March 26:
Puerto Rico
Florida
Illinois
Little Tuesday (April 2)
Alaska
Hawai'i
Louisiana
Wyoming
April 9: Ohio
April 16: Georgia
Acela Primaries (April 23)
Connecticut
Delaware
Maryland
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
May 7: Indiana
Mini Tuesday II (May 14)
Indiana
Virgin Islands
Nebraska
West Virginia
May 21:
Iowa
Virgin Islands
Final Round (June 4)
Montana
New Jersey
South Dakota
New Mexico
District of Columbia

[OBD]

Announcement

Interviews are now avaliable as a means of increasing your national profile. They'll generally take the format SCAaron demonstrated in his above post, though the questions will be sent by me. If you'd like an interview, DM me for the questions and you can feel free to post them and your responses in the thread.

On a related note, the first debates will be during Turn 2, and I'll have a relevant announcement for that shortly.

[OBD]

Announcement

Okay. As it appears a lot of candidates aren't posting yet, I'll extend the deadline for this turn to April 8 unless it appears unnessecary. The 'deadline' for candidate joining will remain April 1, though candidates can still jump in after that.

I'll also be posting a debate around April 1 or April 2. In lieu of typical personal questions, and as a means to simulate rebuttals, I'll accept one question submission per candidate, directed towards another candidate of the same party. For example, Carly Fiorina could ask a critical question aimed at Donald Trump Jr.. If a candidate doesn't recieve a question, I'll make one for them. Deadline for question submissions and debate entry will be April 1.

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EXCLUSIVE: Kirsten Gillibrand Interview
by: Politico Editorial Board

POLITICO: You have one of the better pedigrees of the candidates in the race - an energetic, experienced progressive woman. Yet, your campaign in 2020 failed pretty miserably. What mistakes do you think you made, and how will you avoid replicating them this year?

KG: 2020 was a tough year to run, as it was a crowded field with new rules for qualifying for debates, and we had to get my name recognition up. When I dropped out, I said it was important to know when it’s not your time, and unfortunately that year it wasn’t. However, we’re already seeing something different this year.

This year, we don’t have a president that sucks all of the oxygen out of the room, leaving space for real, impassioned policy discussions within the party. That’s where I intend on leading, I’ve already got plans for government transparency, paid family leave, and for protecting reproductive rights. This isn’t where we’re stopping either, and I fully intend on pushing forward the conversation on cancelling student loan debt, ending the revolving door between politics and lobbying, and getting dark money out of our politics.

POLITICO: It's been fairly well-covered that you were a relatively conservative Democrat during your time in the House before 2008. How do you reconcile this with your political positions today, and should the American people be concerned about the volatility of your ideology?

KG: The truth is, I listened and I learned, and I think more people could stand to do the same. When I was in the House, I was in a bit of a bubble, our district wasn’t as diverse as the state, and was significantly more rural.  When I was appointed to the senate, the first thing I did was hold several town halls where I just listened to people’s concerns. When I realized the hurt I had caused by not being informed, I knew I needed to change. I’m not afraid to say I was wrong and that I learned when I listened to everyday people with experiences different than my own. But, I haven’t sold out my values, I still believe in Medicare for All like when I first ran for the House, I still believe in protecting LGBTQ rights, and I still believe in fighting for paid family leave. Any change I’ve made over my career in public service has been inspired by learning, and my values remain consistent.

POLITICO: With the SPLC v. Marshall ruling and the failure of the Green New Deal, progressive Democrats have been dealt a series of body blows. How will you lead the liberal wing of your party out of this malaise?

KG: First of all, I’d like to address the SPLC v. Marshall ruling. This is a dangerous precedent for the court to rule against itself in a way that is more restrictive. We’ve heard from Republicans that progress like same sex marriage is a settled issue, yet they said the same about Roe and look at where we’re at. We can’t let the next President be someone who packs the court with conservative, partisan justices who do not represent the views of everyday people.

My plan to lead is to be a thought leader for progressives, and it’s why I’m so happy to have Elizabeth and Pramila’s endorsements and participation in this campaign. These two women are real policy leaders in the progressive movement, and their advice has already gone into some of my policy plans and I will continue to consult them when drafting these plans. My faith calls for me to not grow weary, and I don’t intend on giving up this fight for progress, and I know that Americans agree.

POLITICO: What will the first 100 days of the Gillibrand administration look like?

KG: The focus of my first 100 days will be to overturn some of these egregious Supreme Court rulings, enshrining reproductive rights federally and overturning Citizen’s United. We have to tackle these overreaches before we can even dream of getting anything else done.

The next move of my administration will be to finally pass paid family leave, which would bring our workforce into the modern era and help reduce the wage gap. Then, I will call on Congress to pass common sense regulations on guns, including a federal licensing and background check program that will keep us safer. Finally, I think any candidate running for the Democratic Party’s nomination should commit to acting on climate change within her first 100 days as President. I would commit to action on climate change now, passing a Green New Deal and getting us to net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. This is our generation’s walk on the moon, something that requires big, bold ideas to get us to a brighter future.

[OBD]

All Images from Wikimedia Commons

SPECIAL REPORT (MID-TURN UPDATE)

As the one-year mark to the critical 2024 presidential election approaches, candidates on both sides jostle for position in two crowded, unstable fields. On the Republican side, Donald Trump Jr. has taken an early lead over his rivals, riding on name recognition and President Donald Trump Sr.'s continued popularity within the GOP. Former Ambassador Nikki Haley (who sources indicate is reassessing her campaign), as well as businesswoman Carly Fiorina, are also running strong. On the Democratic side, Senator Kamala Harris has a slim lead nationally, with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand running in second thanks to a strong campaign launch and energetic progressive messaging. However, these leaders aren't the only candidates - as many Senators and Governors scramble to increase their national profile and rise in the polls. Speaking of polls, here's what they look like right now - though there's plenty of time left for the situation to change:

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) 21%
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) 17%
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) 14%
Governor Roy Cooper (D-NC) 12%
Governor Jared Polis (D-CO) 11%

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Businessman Donald Trump Jr. (R-FL) 27%
Fmr. Ambassador Nikki Haley (R-SC) 18%
Businesswoman Carly Fiorina (R-CA) 12%
Governor Rick Scott (R-FL) 9%
Fmr. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) 7%
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) 7%

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THE DEBATES

Source: Creative Commons

Welcome, everyone, to the presidential debates for both parties! This is a national stage where the frontrunners must defend their positions and less known candidates can surge to the top with popular ideas and vigorous arguments. We at CNN (for Democrats) and Fox (for Republicans) are pleased to be hosting these events. The format for both debates is simple - all candidates will make opening and closing statements (where they can introduce themselves and make their cases for the nomination), and will answer some questions as well - both personal and group ones.

Democratic Debate

To ALL:  The Democrats are holding on to threadbare majorities in both Congressional houses, and face a daunting Senate map with multiple defensive struggles upcoming in Montana, Arizona, and Wisconsin, among others. How will you, as the leader of the ticket, ensure that Democrats can keep hold of the House and Senate in 2024 and beyond?

To ALL: The failure of the Green New Deal has reignited discussion within the Democratic Party as to how far Congress must go to combat climate change. We'd like you all to weigh in on this critical matter.

To Kamala Harris: You've become an early frontrunner, but more liberal elements in the party appear to be turned off by your candidacy, citing your history as a prosecutor and your more establishment politics. Prominent Rose Twitter commentators have threatened to vote third-party if you're nominated. How will you appeal to them in the primary and general?

To Kirsten Gillibrand: You've served as a Representative and Senator for New York for many years, but you haven't held an executive office yet. How will you be prepared to take on the challenges of the Presidency from Day 1?

To Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: You've been a fiery attacker of both the Democratic and Republican establishments, making many more centrist and independent voters fearful of what an AOC presidency may do to our nation's already tenuous unity. How will you ease these concerns?

To Roy Cooper: You've been a fairly popular governor of North Carolina over the past years. However, more of your actions have been blocking the moves of the overwhelmingly-Republican General Assembly rather than legislative initiaives, making it unclear how you will proceed on such liberal issues as President. Can you clarify how you'll use the office of the Presidency to continue Biden's legislative legacy, if at all?

To Jared Polis: If elected, you would be the first gay president in American history, a major landmark for the LGBTQ+ community. Does this have any effect on the mentality of your campaign as you seek your party's nomination?

Republican Debate
To ALL: The Supreme Court, as well as the U.S House, delivered two major victories for conservatives in recent days by rejecting the Green New Deal and Roe v. Wade abortion protections (overturning a 2022 federal law). Do you fully applaud these decisions, or do you believe that more nuance was required?

To ALL: Though it's been three years, the influence of the 45th President over the party still remains. Do you believe that Trumpism is a positive force for the party, and America as a whole?

To Donald J. Trump: How much will your father's financial acumen and visibility as a politician figure into your run, and what role is he taking in your campaign? Are you concerned that this may negatively impact the perception of you by the American public?

AND

Do you believe your conspiracy theories that you spread of twitter and other social media platforms undermined both your father's administration and Republicans in Washington work?"

To Nikki Haley: REDACTED until Nikki Haley player surfaces

To Carly Fiorina: Unlike your opponents, you've been willing to take a critical tone with President Trump's legacy. With 65% of the Republican Party approving of his job performance, how will you ensure that that doesn't take a toll on your campaign's popularity?

To Rick Scott: There has been consternation within your party that your run for the presidency is jeopardizing Republican ability to hold your seat in 2024, and Representative Stephanie Murphy has already announced her campaign. How will you address these concerns that your run could potentially kneecap Republican efforts to take the Senate, and how will you respond to the resulting attacks on your character?

To Rand Paul: Your dismissing attitude towards the COVID-19 pandemic and your resulting contraction of the coronavirus attracted much negative national attention in 2020. How will you provide better leadership as President?

To Tom Cotton: Your politics and campaign style are very similar to that of Donald Trump Sr., meaning that the voters that you appeal to may be going to Donald Trump Jr. instead. How will you combat this effect and emerge as a strong candidate in your own right?

Responses will be due on April 10th.

[OBD]

Just so everyone knows, deadline for early campaign material is TOMORROW!