*(Via Medium) – The Democratic party is gearing up to take on president Trump in the upcoming 2020 presidential election. Big names like Bernie Sanders, Kirsten Gillibrand, Corey Booker and Elizabeth Warren are among the most notable Democratic candidates hoping to take back the White House next year.
Here in California, Senator Kamala Harris has received quite a bit of attention after she launched her presidential candidacy. But Senator Harris, an Oakland native, is not the only Californian up for the Democratic nomination.
Daphne Bradford, an educator at Dorsey High School in South Los Angeles, announced in December that she too will be running for president of the United States. Bradford, a Compton native, said her South L.A. upbringing has shaped who she’s become today.
“[Growing up in South L.A.] makes you understand the issues, it makes you dream bigger,” said Bradford.
Bradford is running on a platform advocating for universal healthcare, common sense gun laws, support for women’s rights in the workplace, and improvements in the education system.
She plans to use her candidacy to teach students at Dorsey High School about the political process. She will guide her students through the voting process and offer them the rare opportunity to follow an actual presidential candidate as she runs her campaign. The students will participate in lessons and complete assignments that cover the political process.
“These kids don’t even know what the political process is,” Bradford said. “Dorsey and King Drew High School students are going to be able to follow along and see what it is… It’s a great experience and it’s fun to let the kids know you can do anything you put your heart to.”
Bradford’s candidacy may make some wonder how an everyday person like herself can become a presidential candidate. Bradford said she was encouraged to run after receiving advice from a friend.
“[It started] when one of my girlfriends said, ‘you should run for president, look at all of the stuff you’ve done,’” Bradford said.
Bradford said the process of becoming a candidate was an easy one.
According to usa.gov, the requirements for becoming a presidential candidate are: being a natural born U.S. citizen, being over 35 years of age, and having lived in the country for at least 14 years. After you raise over 5,000 dollars for your campaign, you register with the FEC.
With the help of her friends, Bradford was able raise the initial funds she needed to start her campaign.
HER PLATFORM
Fixing the healthcare system is Bradford’s top priority. She said she’s in favor of Medicare for all, but also wants to support the private healthcare industry with a plan similar to that of President Obama.
“Healthcare is too expensive.” Bradford said. “Medicare for all is good, but I’m for keeping private industry. I don’t mind paying $200, but I’m paying like $700. It’s too much. So healthcare is [my] number one [issue].”
Bradford is also a gun owner and a proponent of what she called, “common sense gun reforms.” While Bradford said she supports the rights of a person to own a gun, she believes some restriction is necessary.
Find out what presidential hopeful Daphne Bradford has to say about the gun control issue and lots MORE at Medium.
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