JEB BUSH

Website: https://jeb2016.com/

Home state: Midland, Texas

Residence: Coral Gables, Fla.

Education: University of Texas at Austin

Previous positions: Real estate developer, broker, Florida’s Secretary of Commerce, Governor of Florida

Net worth: up to $22 million 

Stance on —

Abortion: In 1998, Bush stated that he supported the restriction of abortions to instances of rape, incest, and health. He corroborated this stance in 2007 with sponsored license plates declaring: “Choose Life.”

Same-sex marriage: With several anti-gay comments as late as 2007, and an Op-Ed written in 1994 which stated LGBTQA anti-discrimination laws essentially “elevat[ed] sodomy,” Bush walks a fine line today with his much more moderate view—respect these unions, even if one doesn’t agree with them.

Immigration: As of  August 2015, Bush voiced himself a supporter of a path to citizenship—not simply amnesty—for immigrants.

Education: Bush supports Common Core, though he has suggested an amendment which would provide states with the option to “opt out.”

Environment: While Bush admits that climate change is real, he has in the past voiced skepticism as to whether that change is the result of human behavior.

Gun Control: Bush signed into law a stand-your-ground bill  written by the NRA on Dec. 11, 2009. Bush also supported stricter sentences for perpetrators of violent crimes in 2001.

Healthcare: Bush opposes Obamacare. He has also stated his support for across-the-board vaccination.

Economy: While Bush served as Florida’s governor, the budget grew by 27 percent. Bush has promised 4 percent national economic growth for the 28th time since World War II and that this growth will prove much faster than Obama’s six-year recovery.

TED CRUZ

Website: https://www.tedcruz.org/

Home state: Houston, Texas (born in Calgary, Alberta)

Residence: Houston, Texas

Education: Harvard Law School, Princeton University

Previous positions: Law clerk, lawyer, domestic policy advisor to George W. Bush, U.S. Senator

Net worth: $1.5 million

Stance on —

Abortion: Cruz has made his position on abortion clearly evident in the past several years, including the support of companies withholding birth control benefits for their employees and the support of prosecuting Planned Parenthood on criminal charges.

Same-sex marriage: Cruz is a supporter of “traditional marriage” and has even gone so far as to say that states may ignore the Supreme Court decision to legalize same sex marriage in all 50 states. 

Immigration: Cruz stated in 2015 that he does not support amnesty or a path to citizenship for immigrants.

Education: As of March 2015, Cruz opposes Common Core standards in school.

Environment: Cruz continues to vehemently deny climate change on Aug. 2, 2015.

Gun Control: Cruz supports the Second Amendment as corroborated by his action in Congress: on April 17, 2013, Cruz voted “no” on banning high-capacity magazines carrying 10 or more bullets.

Healthcare: Cruz strongly supports the repeal of Obamacare, as evidenced by the numerous statements he has given on the subject.

Economy: Cruz has stated his intent to focus on the affairs and economics of young people. He has accused the top one percent of the nation of exploiting the middle class under Obama’s terms.