Which Democratic Presidential Candidate Has the Best Walk-Out Music?

The Democratic presidential candidates were all out in Iowa this weekend, trying to distinguish themselves among the insanely large group of people vying to take on Donald Trump in 2020. As we know because they just haven’t stopped coming out of the woodwork over the last year, there are a whopping 23 candidates, 19 of whom were jostling for attention in Iowa, whose state primary kicks off the election contest.

So what did this business-casual beauty pageant look like? Mayor Pete played the electric keys; Beto O’Rourke distributed free tacos; Bernie Sanders stayed on brand and marched with rallying McDonald’s workers to the DoubleTree hotel where the candidates were gathered for the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Celebration. Inside the ballroom, they only got five minutes each to make a presentation to voters, like a round of political speed dating.

For this reason the songs the candidates chose to play as they walked onstage became paramount. (At this moment I’m reminded of the fact that I once bought a Jorge Posada T-shirt at a Yankee game purely because he entered the stadium to Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina.”) How would Elizabeth Warren set herself up to talk about how she isn’t taking meetings with lobbyists? Or for Amy Klobuchar to try to deliver on her promise that she somehow will become the candidate of comedy?

With Dolly Parton and Dessa it seems. We finally have a list of the candidate walk-out music, and it runs the full gamut, from ironic Gen-Z yeehaw-agenda anthems (“Old Town Road”) to empowerment bangers (Lizzo’s “Good as Hell” and the O.G. “9 to 5”) to…OneRepublic. Two men picked the Clash—I guess because it checks the boomer box while remaining, you know, hip. And Mayor Pete picked a song I had to look up. Check out the full list below, along with some liner notes, including who had the best song choice. Hint: She’s a planner!

Cory Booker: “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers Sunny while remaining boring—pretty on the nose for Rosario Dawson’s boyfriend.

Bernie Sanders: “Power to the People” by John Lennon Since Cardi B hasn’t released a track called “Medicare for All” yet, this was appropriate.

Pete Buttigieg: “Never Giving Up” by Batchelor I thought this song was “High Hopes” by Panic! at the Disco when this one started, so that’s a little confusing.

Kamala Harris: “Work That” by Mary J. Blige Excellent, but you also really can’t pick a bad MJB song.

Jay Inslee: “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra One message for the climate candidate.

Kirsten Gillibrand: "Good As Hell" by Lizzo Gillibrand has been working her enraged-woman angle—at least it isn’t “Fight Song.”

Tim Ryan: “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X Ryan is clearly going for the Gen-Z contingent and the people who like songs about horses.

Andrew Yang: “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison Smooth and slick for the businessman and leader of the Yang Gang.

Elizabeth Warren: “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton The clear winner, with a perfectly on-brand song that isn’t cloying. From the woman who wants to cancel our student debt!

John Hickenlooper: “Good Life” by OneRepublic Very, very strange is my reaction to this one.

Amy Klobuchar: “The Bullpen” by Dessa Fun and spunky, which Klobuchar has been going for (remember the salad-comb incident?).

Bill de Blasio: “Rudy Can’t Fail” by the Clash Maybe Rudy can’t fail, but the New York City subway still can.

Michael Bennet: “The Rising” by Bruce Springsteen Someone had to pick Springsteen, so congrats, I guess.

Beto O’Rourke: “Clampdown” by the Clash A little disappointed this isn’t Nirvana, but at least it’s punk from the Fugazi candidate.