Mike Gravel 2020 presidential campaign facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mike Gravel 2020 presidential campaign |
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| Campaign | 2020 United States presidential election (Democratic primaries) |
| Candidate | Mike Gravel U.S. Senator from Alaska (1969–1981) |
| Affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Status | Exploratory committee formed: March 19, 2019 Announced: April 2, 2019 Suspended: July 31, 2019 |
| Headquarters | Ardsley, New York |
Mike Gravel was a former U.S. Senator from Alaska. In 2019, he decided to join the race to become president of the United States. He wanted to be the candidate for the Democratic Party in the 2020 United States presidential election.
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Mike Gravel's Presidential Campaign
What is a Presidential Primary?
Before a big election, political parties choose their best candidate. This process is called a primary election. Many people from the same party might want to be president. They compete against each other in these primary elections. The person who wins the most support becomes the party's official candidate. This person then runs in the main election against candidates from other parties.
Starting the Campaign
Mike Gravel began his journey to become president on March 19, 2019. He first set up an "exploratory committee." This is a group that helps a person decide if they should really run for office. It helps them see if they have enough support and money.
Later that day, Gravel shared his thoughts on Twitter. He said he was not trying to win the election. Instead, he wanted to share important ideas and make people think. He also talked about other candidates from the Democratic Party. He shared his opinions on people like Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and Cory Booker. He also praised candidates like Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard, and Pete Buttigieg.
The Campaign Trail
On April 2, 2019, Mike Gravel officially announced his plan to run for president. This meant he had completed the first steps. He was now a formal candidate in the Democratic primary race. His campaign headquarters was in Ardsley, New York. People could learn more about his ideas on his website.
Ending the Campaign
Mike Gravel's campaign did not last very long. He stopped running for president on July 31, 2019. He had trouble getting enough support to join the important debates. These debates are where candidates talk about their ideas on TV.
After leaving the race, Mike Gravel decided to support two other candidates. On August 5, he said he believed Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard should be the next president.
