Unless you live under a rock, you’re probably aware that there has been a great deal of chatter surrounding the 2020 presidential primaries as of late. The election may still be hundreds of days away, but the primary process is well underway — and it’s dominating the news cycle.

Making sense of the primaries can be challenging, especially if your foray into the world of politics is just beginning. It’s important to think critically about what you’re looking for in a potential president before you vote. One thing that may help you orient yourself in terms of choosing a candidate to support is to simply think of a handful of political issues that you consider to be the most important, and go from there.

For example, my ideal political candidate has strong, progressive stances on reproductive rights, climate change, healthcare, and the elimination of voter suppression nationwide. These are the things that are important to me. Now, I can work backward from here by researching the 2020 presidential candidates, and find a candidate (or two, or three! It’s the primaries!) who aligns with me on those issues.

It’s worth taking the time to pinpoint the key issues that matter to you and to do the research on the (admittedly excessive amount of) candidates who are in the running. You may not find your ideal candidate among the presidential hopefuls, but you may be able to find someone close enough. Zeroing in on the things that are important to you can help you cut through the noise and avoid being swayed by partisan media outlets.

Your ideal political candidate may not look like mine, but it’s important for all of us to identify some fundamental stances that can help guide us as we navigate this hectic election season.

Edited by Jackson Woods, Jessica Galvin, Brianna Smith