As a first-time candidate for elected office, Donald Trump faces a tricky problem when it comes to a routine part of the election: the voters’ guide biography.
Twenty states mail voter guides featuring candidate statements and other ballot information to registered voters, according to research from Ballotpedia, a website run by the nonpartisan Lucy Burns Institute.
Because he does not have the typical political experience that a candidate would mention in the campaign statement section, Trump chose to highlight some other parts of his life story in the Washington state voters’ guide:
• Writing The Art of the Deal and 14 other bestsellers
• Winning “a record number of votes” in the Republican primary
• Having “over 20 million followers” on social media
• Devoting “much of his time to media interviews” on law enforcement, immigration and jobs
• Serving as grand marshal of the 1996 New York City Veterans Day Parade
• Owning the Trump Tower and 18 “award-winning golf courses”
Read the full statement below:
Donald J. Trump
Elected Experience: None
Other Professional Experience: Donald J. Trump is the very definition of the American success story, continually setting the standards of excellence while expanding his interests in real estate, sports and entertainment. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance. An accomplished author, Mr. Trump has authored over 15 bestsellers, and his first book, “The Art of the Deal,” is considered a business classic and one of the most successful business books of all time.
Education: Wharton School of Finance
Community Service: Mr. Trump has long been a devoted supporter of veteran causes, raising millions of dollars for veterans.
Michael R. Pence
Elected Experience: Governor, State of Indiana, 2012-present; Member, United States House of Representatives, 2000-2012;
Other Professional Experience: Talk Show Host, Network Indiana, 1994-2000; Television Host, 1995-1999; President, Indiana Policy Review Foundation, 1991-1994; Attorney, Private Practice, 1986-1990; Admissions Counselor, Hanover College, 1981-1983
Education: Hanover College, Indiana University School of Law
Community Service: A strong supporter of the military, Pence has made a priority of reducing veteran unemployment and, while in Congress, he visited Hoosier soldiers in Iraq and/or Afghanistan every year since hostilities began.
Statement: Donald J. Trump is the very definition of the American success story, continually setting the standards of excellence while expanding his interests in real estate, sports and entertainment. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance. An accomplished author, Mr. Trump has authored over 15 bestsellers, and his first book, “The Art of the Deal,” is considered a business classic and one of the most successful business books of all time.
As the Republican Presidential nominee with a record number of votes in the primary season, Mr. Trump has over 20 million followers on social media, and devotes much of his time to media interviews in order to advocate for tougher law enforcement, stopping illegal immigration and bringing back jobs so we can Make America Great Again. He also believes strongly that we mustpromote a free market, rebuild our military, and maintain our country’s sacred obligation to take care of our veterans and their families.
Mr. Trump has long been a devoted supporter of veteran causes, raising millions of dollars for veterans. In 1996, Mr. Trump was honored in the Pentagon during a lunch with the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for working as Grand Marshal of the 1996 annual New York City Veterans Day Parade that drew 25,000 veterans marching in front of an audience of 1.4 million viewers, up from approximately 100 the year before.
In New York City, the Trump signature is synonymous with the most prestigious of addresses, among them the world-renowned Fifth Avenue skyscraper, Trump Tower and his ever-expanding collection of award-winning golf courses (18 thus far in the U.S. and worldwide.)
Mr. Trump is married to Melania Knauss, has five beautiful children including Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany and Barron, and eight grandchildren.
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