In this week’s column, we play the game of “which Democrat is joining the long list of hopefuls to snag the nomination for the 2020 presidential election?”

Okay, that’s a long title; I’ll work on that. But in the meantime, I am asking myself, of this list of contenders, who truly has the best intentions for the nation’s farmers and ranchers?

In a previous column, I covered a few of the politicians vying for the ballot spot, including Beto O’Rourke, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, and Elizabeth Warren. A common theme among them all is a collective outcry against “Big Ag” and monopolies, as well as a major focus on farmers and climate change. This next set of candidates is no different.

Take Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who recently released a proposal on climate change with a goal of net-zero emissions no later than 2050. Is somebody taking a page out of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s handbook?

Bennet recently told reporters he would design a plan that wouldn’t allow future Republicans to overturn his actions. He said, “You cannot put in a set of policies for two years and have them ripped out for another two years. The most important thing we have to do is build a broad constituency to take on climate change.”

His plan, he said, is to incentivize agriculture with financing for innovative projects designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, Bennet is a strong advocate for water access rights for hemp growers and to legalize hemp as a commodity crop.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has also announced he will contend for the Democratic spot for the presidency. Biden’s policies may feel quite familiar to producers, who still remember what the agricultural climate looked like under the Obama-Biden administration.

As a refresher, in 2007 Biden told farmers in Iowa, “We must have a smart and tough trade policy that levels the playing field for farmers in the global economy. That means we have to fight for fair agreements, to keep markets open – and review and enforce the trade agreements we have. In my administration, trade officials will ensure enforcement is a priority.”

This firm stance on trade may be appealing to many crop producers who are struggling with the implications of Trump’s ongoing trade war with China.

Then there’s Minnesota Sen. and Democratic presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar, who recently released her plans to help the American farmer. As reported by The Associated Press, she wants to raise the debt limit on farm bankruptcies and increase access to government loan programs.

According to the AP, “for bankruptcy filings, Klobuchar wants to raise the liability cap from $4.2 million to $10 million, allowing more farmers to seek relief. She’d also increase the USDA’s direct operating loan limit from $400,000 to $600,000 and the farm ownership loan limit from $600,000 to $650,000.”

To wrap up this week’s list of candidates is Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who is making climate change the cornerstone of his entire campaign.

"Look, there's a lot of candidates who have a to-do list on their refrigerator door, and somewhere on that to-do list they've written climate change,” he told ABC News. “But it can't just be a to-do list. It's something that you wake up every single morning of your presidency committed to, and I'm the only candidate, frankly who has demonstrated that commitment in this race."

According to ABC, “if elected, Inslee's proposal begins on day one of his administration. Then, spanning over 10 years, it aims by 2030 to reach 100 percent zero emissions from new vehicles; zero carbon pollution from all new commercial and residential buildings; and would require 100 percent carbon-neutral power across the country.

“By 2035, it proposes completely clean, renewable and zero-emission energy nationwide.”

Based on the Democratic party’s failure to appeal to rural America in the 2016 election, we can expect more attention to be paid to the nation’s blue-collar workers – like the farmers, ranchers, coal miners, et cetera.

I’m wary of promises that seem too good to be true, and I look forward to upcoming debates where we can better examine these candidates and their potential impact on those of us in the flyover states.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Amanda Radke may write to her in care of this publication.