Wikipedia

Bill Weld 2020 presidential campaign

On February 15, 2019, former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld announced the formation of an exploratory committee to consider running for the Republican nomination in the 2020 United States presidential election.[4][5] On April 15, 2019, Weld officially announced he would be running for president, challenging incumbent Donald Trump.[6] Weld previously was the 2016 Vice Presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party on the Gary Johnson ticket.[7] Weld suspended his campaign on March 18, 2020.[8] He subsequently endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president.[9]

Weld 2020 Presidential Campaign Committee, Inc.
Campaign2020 United States presidential election (Republican Party primaries)
CandidateBill Weld
Governor of Massachusetts (1991–1997)
AffiliationRepublican Party
EC formedFebruary 15, 2019
AnnouncedApril 15, 2019
SuspendedMarch 18, 2020
HeadquartersBoston, Massachusetts
Key peopleJennifer Horn (former campaign manager)[1]
Stuart Stevens (strategist)[2]
ReceiptsUS$1,740,043[3] (12/31/2019)
SloganAmerica Deserves Better
Website
http://www.weld2020.org
(archived - February 6, 2020)

February 2019 launch

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Weld announcing his formation of an exploratory committee

On February 15, 2019, Weld officially announced the formation of an exploratory committee in preparing to run for the 2020 Republican Party presidential primaries.[10] He appeared on both Bloomberg News[11] and MSNBC's Morning Joe the next day. On Morning Joe, he criticized Donald Trump as president, with a focus especially on what he labeled bad foreign policy in regards largely to North Korea and Russia.[12]

On April 15, 2019, Weld officially announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination during an appearance on The Lead with Jake Tapper.[13] Weld's campaign was managed by Jennifer Horn, the former chair of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee and also includes Stuart Stevens, a top strategist for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign.[2] On March 18, 2020, Weld suspended his campaign.

Political positions

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Abortion

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In May 2019, Weld described himself as "the most pro-choice person you’re ever going to meet." He said that recent abortion laws passed by states, such as Alabama's Human Life Protection Act, left him feeling "terrible".[14] As governor of Massachusetts, Weld introduced a bill increasing ease of access to abortion in the state.[15] In the 1990s, he publicly fought for removing anti-abortion language from the Republican Party platform, despite opposition from social conservatives.[16]

Drugs

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Weld believes that drug use should not be a criminal offense. Weld has also called for federal decriminalization of marijuana and the lowering of the drinking age.[17]

LGBT rights

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Weld has been a consistent supporter of LGBT rights, and the right to same-sex marriage.[18]

Economy

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Weld has described himself as fiscally conservative, with goals of reducing spending and balancing the budget. For this reason, he has been described as a "classic conservative". He has proposed to drastically reduce military spending, withdraw American forces from foreign engagements, and refocus American politics on domestic issues primarily.[19]

Education

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Weld has been a supporter of charter schools, having established the first twenty-five Massachusetts charter schools as governor.[20]

Environment

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Weld challenged Trump on the issue of climate disruption, saying that he had made no effort to combat the effects of global warming. "We've got the polar ice cap that's going to melt with devastating consequences if we don’t get carbon out of the atmosphere," Weld told "America's Newsroom," nothing that he would plan ahead for an "environmental catastrophe."[21] Weld supported rejoining the 2015 Paris Agreement, making the United States carbon neutral by 2050, and a carbon fee and dividend program.[22][23][24]

On Monday, April 15, 2019, Weld formally announced his candidacy for President of the United States on The Lead with Jake Tapper.[25] Weld received 1.3% of the vote in the Iowa caucuses and one pledged delegate on February 3.[26]

Impeachment

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See also: First impeachment trial of Donald Trump

On October 26, 2019, it was reported that while speaking at Tufts University, Weld suggested that Trump might not even appear on the 2020 ballot. Weld noted that choosing a secret vote about impeachment is an option available to the Senate, and that former Senator Jeff Flake suggested that a secret vote in the process could shield senators effectively from adverse political reactions by the "Trump base", thereby freeing them to vote for conviction. Weld estimated that under those circumstances, 30 to 35 votes to convict would be attained easily and that only 20 were needed.[27]

2020 campaign developments

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February 2020

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March 2020

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  • March 3: Weld wins 10.1% of the votes in the Vermont Primary, his best performance of any state.
  • March 3: Weld wins 1.52% of the vote in Alabama Primary.
  • March 18: Weld suspends his campaign.

Endorsements

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Main article: Endorsements in the 2020 Republican Party presidential primaries § Bill Weld

References

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  1. ^ Trent Spiner (November 7, 2019). "Is Pence running for president in 2024?". Politico. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Costa, Robert (April 15, 2019). "Bill Weld launches campaign against Trump for 2020 Republican nomination". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  3. ^ "Form 3P for Weld 2020 Presidential Campaign Committee, Inc".
  4. ^ Linskey, Annie; Weigel, David (February 15, 2019). "Bill Weld, former Mass. governor, to challenge Trump for Republican presidential nomination". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  5. ^ Voorhees, Josh (February 15, 2019). "The Best-Case Scenario for Bill Weld's 2020 Primary Campaign Against Trump". Slate Magazine. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  6. ^ Brusk, Steve (April 15, 2019). "Bill Weld officially announces he is challenging Trump for GOP nomination in 2020". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  7. ^ Holly Ramer; Bob Salsberg (February 15, 2019). "Massachusetts ex-governor Bill Weld first to challenge Trump for Republican nomination". Globe and Mail. Associated Press.
  8. ^ Karni, Anni (March 18, 2020). "Bill Weld, Trump's Last G.O.P. Challenger, Exits Presidential Race". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  9. ^ Fordham, Evie (September 3, 2020). "Bill Weld, Rick Snyder among former Republican governors to endorse Biden". Fox News. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  10. ^ "Ex-Massachusetts Gov. William Weld to challenge Trump for Republican nomination in 2020". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  11. ^ John Hughes; David Westin (February 19, 2019). "Weld Says He Can Beat Trump With Help From Independent Voters". Bloomberg News. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  12. ^ Jeremy C. Fox. "Bill Weld bashes Trump on 'Morning Joe' as he considers GOP primary challenge". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  13. ^ Steve Brusk; Kate Sullivan (April 16, 2019). "Bill Weld officially announces he is challenging Trump for GOP nomination in 2020". CNN. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  14. ^ Woodall, Hunter (May 19, 2019). "GOP's Weld says he's most pro-choice candidate in 2020 race". AP. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  15. ^ Yadidi, Noa (April 15, 2019). "Bill Weld on the issues, in under 500 words". Axios. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  16. ^ "What does William Weld believe? Where the candidate stands on 5 issues". PBS NewsHour. February 15, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  17. ^ "Bill Weld on Drugs". On the Issues. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "Bill Weld on the Issues". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  19. ^ "Can Bill Weld Restore Conservatism?". National Review. June 21, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  20. ^ "Bill Weld mastered the classics – and disruption of education status quo". Pointer Lock. June 22, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  21. ^ GOP primary challenger Bill Weld: Trump doing nothing to stop climate 'catastrophe', Fox News, Joshua Nelson, February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  22. ^ Ropeik, Annie (September 16, 2019). "2020 GOP Candidate Bill Weld Supports Carbon Pricing, Paris Climate Accord". New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  23. ^ Weld, Bill (October 28, 2019). "Bill Weld: Price on carbon is "a fee, not a tax"". Yahoo! Finance (Interview). Yahoo!. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  24. ^ Zuckoff, Eve (February 24, 2020). "Still Fighting for GOP Nomination, Bill Weld Talks Climate Change in Woods Hole". WCAI. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  25. ^ Brusk, Steve (April 15, 2019). "Bill Weld officially announces he is challenging Trump for GOP nomination in 2020". CNN. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  26. ^ Iowa Republican Caucus Results 2020, New York Times, February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  27. ^ Smith, David (October 26, 2019). "Bill Weld: Trump faces higher risk of removal if senators go to secret ballot". The Observer – via www.theguardian.com.
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