A stark divide
Party platforms diverge dramatically.
Climate change
Democrats describe climate change as a “real and urgent threat,” and they call for setting a price on greenhouse gas emissions. The platform calls for the country to generate half its electricity from clean sources in the next decade and for cleaner transportation fuels, more public transit and a tax code that creates incentives for renewable energy. The document also counters suggestions that protecting the environment would be bad for business.
Republicans say that “climate change is far from this nation’s most pressing national security issue,” as Democrats have labeled it. They oppose international accords like the agreement crafted in Paris last year that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to slow the climb in global temperatures. Environmental problems are best solved with “incentives for human ingenuity … not through topdown, command-and-control regulations,” the platform says.
Iran
Democrats support the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers, including the U.S., “if vigorously enforced and implemented.” They also say the country should “not hesitate to take military action if Iran violates the agreement.” The deal, struck last year, aims to curtail Iran’s nuclear capability in exchange for lifting debilitating economic sanctions.
Republicans have staunchly opposed the accord as dangerously enabling a longtime adversary; a GOP-led effort to block the deal in Congress failed. The platform rejects the Iran nuclear deal and states flatly, “A Republican president will not be bound by it.” The party vows to “retain all options” in dealing with Iran.
Islamic State
Democrats call for congressional authorization of military action “that does not involve large-scale combat deployment of American troops.” Their vice presidential candidate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, has been a leading proponent for new legislation to govern combat operations against Islamic State, also known as ISIS. The platform also rejects “Donald Trump’s vilification of Muslims,” saying it “feeds into ISIS’ nefarious narrative.” Among Trump’s most divisive proposals has been his call for a ban on Muslims trying to enter the U.S.
Republicans call Islamic State a form of “murderous fanaticism” and support continued partnership with Iraqis to eradicate the terrorist group from the region, where it holds significant territory in Iraq and Syria. In addition to “pushing back its fighters,” the GOP calls for aiding its victims. The platform supports creating a haven in northern Iraq to protect ethnic and religious minorities targeted by the group.
Minimum wage
Democrats want to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and index it with inflation. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Republicans say the minimum wage is “an issue that should be handled on the state and local level.”
Gay rights
Democrats “applaud” the Supreme Court decision last year allowing Americans to “marry the person they love.” They call for more steps to fight discrimination against LGBT people, including new federal laws. “LGBT kids continue to be bullied at school, restaurants can refuse to serve transgender people, and same-sex couples are at risk of being evicted from their homes,” the platform says. “That is unacceptable and must change.”
Republicans denounce the court’s marriage decision. Their platform supports so-called religious liberty laws that allow businesses the right to refuse services that violate their faith, such as baking a cake for a same-sex wedding. It also says efforts to allow transgender people to use bathrooms that conform with their gender identity, instead of biological sex, are “illegal, dangerous and [ignorant of] privacy issues.”
Healthcare
Democrats believe that “healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” and they support President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. They vow to “keep fighting” to ensure more states expand government coverage for low-income people. New steps are urged to reduce costs, and they want to make government-run insurance like Medicare available to more people.
Republicans vow to repeal the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare. Congressional Republicans have held dozens of unsuccessful votes to roll back the legislation. In its place, they want to “simplify the system” to increase healthcare options and reduce costs. The platform calls for allowing consumers to shop for insurance across state lines. It promotes modernizing Medicare and transforming Medicaid into block grants that give states flexibility in how the money is spent.
Abortion
Democrats want to protect access to “safe and legal abortion,” and their platform says that “every woman should have access to quality reproductive healthcare services.” For the first time, Democrats are including in their platform the controversial goal of overturning the Hyde Amendment, which since 1976 has banned the use of federal money for abortion. In addition, the document says that “we will continue to stand up to Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood health centers.”
Republicans crafted a platform that is unambiguously antiabortion regardless of circumstance. It seeks to stop the collection of fetal issue, which is used in medical research, and calls for eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood. The document also supports codifying the Hyde Amendment. The party’s rigid antiabortion stance departs from the views of the Republican nominee. Trump, who describes himself as antiabortion after previously supporting abortion rights, said he supports blocking access to the procedure except in cases of rape, incest or when a mother’s life is at risk.