Celebrity President: 2020 (Primaries) (user search)

After a dismal four years and what would be a grueling reelection campaign approaching, incumbent President Hillary Clinton announces her retirement from politics upon finishing her term. The presidential field becomes wide open for both parties, with incumbent Vice President Tim Kaine declining a presidential run of his own and no prominent officeholders stepping forward on either side. By late 2019, none of the standing candidates have or have had prior experience in public office. The candidates are as follows:

Republicans

Donald Trump - The most recent Republican nominee to seek (and lose) the presidency, real estate mogul Donald J. Trump is the first to enter the 2020 field. He is running again on a platform of protectionism and strict immigration controls, saying the last four years have left him "vindicated" and that only he alone can fix "this total disaster" made by the Clinton presidency.

Kid Rock - "American Bad Ass" Kid Rock first entered the political scene with his high-profile endorsement of Mitt Romney in 2012. During his career, Kid Rock has been outspoken in his opposition to illegally downloaded music, and has promised to stiffen penalties against offenders if elected. He supports same-sex marriage, and has defended public display of the Confederate flag.

Ted Nugent - The hard rock musician is a lifelong Republican and champion of conservative causes, particularly gun rights, hunter's rights, and coalmining. He's been known throughout his life for making a number of controversial statements which many have called racist, homophobic, Islamaphobic, and anti-Semitic.

Caitlyn Jenner - The former Olympian and trans woman Caitlyn Jenner has made LGBT inclusion and equality, as well as women's issues, the centerpiece of her campaign, citing concern that the GOP has alienated what she thinks could be a reliable Republican voting bloc. She's been the target of heavy criticism both among liberals and Christian conservatives.

Phil Robertson - The Duck Dynasty star is running on a platform of social conservatism. He strongly opposes abortion, calling it a "violation" of the Declaration of Independence. He's also been the subject of controversy for asserting that STDs are "the legacy of Nazis, Communists, beatniks, and hippies."

Tim Tebow - Like Robertson, the former Broncos Quarterback is running on a primarily social issues-based platform. He is pro-life and decried the "removal of God" from the public square, including courthouses and schools, and he is strong proponent of abstinence-only sex education. Though he opposed the 2015 Obergefell decision which legalized gay marriage nationwide, he has expressed little interest in overturning or reversing LGBT protections.

Jon Voight - The famed New York actor is running his campaign on a special focus toward foreign policy and national security. An outspoken supporter of Israel, Voight has criticized previous Democratic administrations for perceived willingness to sacrifice Israel's security to appease terrorists and rogue Middle Eastern nations.

Democrats

Oprah Winfrey - Having stayed mostly out of politics since her high-profile endorsement of Barack Obama in 2008 (a move which, according to spectators, enabled him to claim the Democratic nomination and win the White House), Oprah is running a campaign which largely mirrors the campaign she had endorsed, focused on "uniting all Americans," and uplifting the disenfranchised. She's an outspoken supporter of LGBT rights and opposed the 2003 Iraq War.

Kanye West - West, whose platform demonstrated to some observers an 'inept' understanding of public policy, is running primarily on his past accomplishments in the entertainment industry. While many have lambasted him as an egotist in the mold of Donald Trump, West insists that he would be the best president for the black community. He came under fire in 2005 for accusing then-President Bush, during a Hurricane Katrina relief event, for not "car[ing] about black people."

Bruce Springsteen - The acclaimed New Jersey rocker is running on a platform of improving the quality of life for working-class people and expanding protections for LGBT people. In 2016, he was one of many musicians who cancelled touring in North Carolina in protest of the controversial anti-transgender "bathroom bill."

Lena Dunham - The controversial Girls star announced her candidacy with the intention of bringing feminist and LGBT issues to the public spotlight. Her platform calls for stiffer penalties for convicted rapists and expanded protections for women. Observers have been largely pessimistic about her chances in winning the primary or general election, struggling to expand her support beyond upper-class liberals and city-dwellers.

George Clooney - Clooney, a leading Hollywood activist who's made humanitarian causes (particularly resolving the Darfur conflict and refugee crisis) the centerpiece of much of his work, has called for using the United States' global influence to bring about peace and stability throughout the world. He was a vocal opponent of President George W. Bush's foreign policy in the Middle East.

Ben Affleck - The Massachusetts actor has been a stalwart of the Democratic Party for all of his adult life. Ideologically, he describes himself as "moderately liberal," supporting unions, universal health care, and abortion rights, as well as protecting the Second Amendment. In 2008, Affleck criticized the "questionable and aggressive" use of the Patriot Act for "encroach[ing] on civil liberties." He is an admirer of the late left-wing historian, Howard Zinn.

Bill Maher - The star of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher has been described by some as a libertarian within the Democratic Party. An outspoken atheist, Maher has made separation of church and state a centerpiece of his campaign, as well as marijuana legalization and environmental protection. However, critics have cited his calling of Americans "stupid," as well as open disdain toward religious people and small-town Americans, as reasons for why his nomination would be potentially toxic for the Democratic Party nationally.

Libertarians

Mark Cuban - Dallas Mavericks owner and Shark Tank co-star Mark Cuban has called himself an admirer of philosopher Ayn Rand and stated that his political views lean toward libertarianism. However, he's frequently supported and contributed to Democrats in past elections, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Vince Vaughn - Actor Vince Vaughn is the preferred candidate of conservative Libertarians, having spoken at numerous Libertarian inaugurations; he supported Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul in both the 2008 and 2012 elections and his son, Rand Paul, in 2016.

Greens

Roseanne Barr - Actress and comedian Roseanne Barr is running for the Green Party nomination. She has been an outspoken supporter of Occupy Wall Street and stated that any "guilty" Wall Street bankers should be forced to give up any income over $100 million, be sent to re-education camps, or be executed by beheading if they resisted.

Killer Mike - Rapper Killer Mike, a former supporter and surrogate of Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign, is running for the Green Party nomination with a focus on subjects including social equality, police brutality, and systematic racism. He was also a supporter of Jill Stein in 2016.

This primary will run for five days.

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