Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Denver news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Des Moines news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Minneapolis-St. Paul news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Tampa Bay news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Charlotte news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Photo: Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
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