Deval Patrick on the issues, in under 500 words

Editor's Note: Patrick dropped out of the race on February 12th, 2020. Below is our original article on his candidacy.

Democrat Deval Patrick is a businessman and was the first black governor of Massachusetts. He has close personal ties to former President Obama and some of his closest advisers.

Key facts

• Current position: n/a
• Age: 63
• Born: Chicago, Ill.
• Education: Harvard University (BA, JD)
• Date candidacy announced: Nov. 14, 2019
• Previous roles: Managing director at Bain Capital (2015-2019); Governor of Massachusetts (2007-2015), board of directors of ACC Capital Holdings (2004-2006), executive vice president at Coca-Cola (2001-2004), general counsel at Texaco (1999-2001), U.S. Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division (1994-1997)

Stance on key issues

• Medicare for All: Called it a "terrific idea" last year, but only "alongside various of the private options that are available" under the Affordable Care Act.
• Signed legislation in Massachusetts linking cost increases in health care to the rate of growth of the state’s economy.
• Climate change: Has offered a proposal that aims at "a 100% carbon neutral-economy no later than 2040" by establishing a standard for clean energy and construction.
• Immigration: As governor, allowed undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts to qualify for in-state tuition.
• Proposed housing hundreds of undocumented immigrants at an in-state facility in response to an influx of migrants entering the U.S. in 2014.
• Has said he wants to overhaul U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but does not want to eliminate the agency.
• Gun control: Said after the Newtown shooting that he supports a renewal of the national ban on assault weapons.
• Education: Proposed doubling the number of charter schools in Massachusetts and imposing universal pre-K.
• Proposed making community college free in the state.
• Abortion: Signed a law allowing police to order anti-abortion protesters to be removed from entrances to clinics if they were blocking access to the building.
• Opioid crisis: Signed into law a requirement for insurers to provide up to 14 days of inpatient care for people with addictions.
• Taxes: Supports raising corporate tax rate to 25%.
• Reparations: Supports a plan for government-provided reparations to living descendants of slaves and supports a House bill calling for a commission to study the issue.

Key criticisms

• He entered the Democratic presidential field less than three months from the Iowa caucuses, missing the filing deadlines in Alabama and Arkansas.
• He has ties large corporations throughout his legal and business careers, which more progressive Democratic candidates have criticized during this election cycle.

1 fun thing

• A portion of a street in Patrick's Chicago hometown was renamed for him in 2013.

Go deeper: Everything you need to know about the other 2020 candidates