jarv.is/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages.mdx

---
title: "Ranking 2020 Presidential Candidates's 404 Pages"
date: 2019-10-30 13:58:39-0400
description: "Each of the 2020 presidential candidates's 404 Not Found pages, ranked."
tags:
  - Politics
  - Campaign 2020
  - Rankings
  - Attempted Humor
image: "/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/obama-laughing.jpg"
---

<figure>
  <img
    src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/obama-laughing.jpg"
    width="865"
    height="460"
    alt="President Barack H. Obama, probably ranking 404 pages."
  />
  <figcaption>President Barack H. Obama, probably ranking 404 pages.</figcaption>
</figure>

Ever since [President Obama injected technology](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/11/built-to-win-deep-inside-obamas-campaign-tech/) into presidential politics in a historic way, one of the few bright spots of the incredibly long and exhausting race for me has been inspecting each candidate's campaign website. They end up revealing a great deal about how much each of them is willing to invest in the internet, and how young and innovative (and potentially funny) the staff members they attract are.

More recently, though, little-known hidden Easter eggs on ["404 Not Found"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_404) pages have become an outlet for the candidates' overworked web designers to let out some humor in a sea of otherwise serious policy pages. Below are the 404 pages on each of the current candidate's websites, along with my ranking of them — setting politics aside, for once.

## 1. Elizabeth Warren — [elizabethwarren.com](https://elizabethwarren.com/asdfasdf404)

I'm a _huge_ sucker for Kate McKinnon's spot-on impression of Warren on Saturday Night Live. And [unfortunately](https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1097116612279316480), seeing a campaign embrace SNL is like a breath of fresh air these days. [Watch all of the Kate McWarren videos so far here; you won't regret it.](https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/cast/kate-mckinnon-15056/impersonation/elizabeth-warren-287903)

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/warren.png"
  width="865"
  height="579"
  alt="Elizabeth Warren"
/>

## 2. Bernie Sanders — [berniesanders.com](https://berniesanders.com/asdfasdf404/)

Although the designer who selected this GIF likely had _thousands_ of choices when searching "[Bernie finger wagging GIF](https://www.google.com/search?q=Bernie+finger+wagging+GIF&tbm=isch&tbs=itp:animated)," the text beside it is well-written and funny — even though we both know putting a page at [berniesanders.com/zxcliaosid](https://berniesanders.com/zxcliaosid/) probably won't be a top priority of a President Sanders.

<video
  url={[
    { src: "/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/sanders.webm", type: "video/webm" },
    { src: "/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/sanders.mp4", type: "video/mp4" },
  ]}
  config={{
    file: {
      attributes: {
        autoPlay: true,
        loop: true,
        volume: 0,
        muted: true,
      },
    },
  }}
  controls={false}
/>

## 3. Joe Biden — [joebiden.com](https://joebiden.com/asdfasdf404)

Uncle Joe has a nice and simple 404 page. I like it, along with the Ray-Bans and his choice of vanilla ice cream.

<img src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/biden.png" width="865" height="539" alt="Joe Biden" />

## 4. Beto O'Rourke — [betoorourke.com](https://betoorourke.com/asdfasdf404)

A ballsy move, considering Beto's infamous [DUI arrest](https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2019/mar/14/club-growth/beto-orourke-arrested-dwi-flee-scene/) in the '90s — but still a clever ask for a donation and a great use of a GIF, even if it's left over from his Senate campaign.

<video
  url={[
    { src: "/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/orourke.webm", type: "video/webm" },
    { src: "/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/orourke.mp4", type: "video/mp4" },
  ]}
  config={{
    file: {
      attributes: {
        autoPlay: true,
        loop: true,
        volume: 0,
        muted: true,
      },
    },
  }}
  controls={false}
/>

## 5. Kamala Harris — [kamalaharris.org](https://kamalaharris.org/asdfasdf404)

Another clean and simple page with a top-notch GIF. It injected some emotion into visiting [kamalaharris.com/alskdjf](https://kamalaharris.com/alskdjf).

<video
  url={[
    { src: "/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/harris.webm", type: "video/webm" },
    { src: "/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/harris.mp4", type: "video/mp4" },
  ]}
  config={{
    file: {
      attributes: {
        autoPlay: true,
        loop: true,
        volume: 0,
        muted: true,
      },
    },
  }}
  controls={false}
/>

## 6. Pete Buttigeg — [peteforamerica.com](https://peteforamerica.com/asdfasdf404/)

I love, love, _love_ Pete's design for his whole campaign, and his beautiful 404 page is no exception. In case you didn't know, Pete for America has an entire ["Design Toolkit"](https://design.peteforamerica.com/) publicly available for all to view and use, with really cool and in-depth explanations for all of their choices — even their [color palette](https://design.peteforamerica.com/colors). Very progressive indeed.

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/buttigeg.png"
  width="865"
  height="344"
  alt="Pete Buttigeg"
/>

## 7. Cory Booker — [corybooker.com](https://corybooker.com/asdfasdf404/)

Love the photo choice. But although pains me to go against my Senator from my home state, I still _cannot stand_ his choice of font. Oh well, I guess that's now a criterion for running for president in 2020.

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/booker.png"
  width="865"
  height="503"
  alt="Cory Booker"
/>

## 8. Andrew Yang — [yang2020.com](https://www.yang2020.com/asdfasdf404)

Not sure if donating to Yang 2020 will help put a page at [yang2020.com/alsdjfzoif](https://www.yang2020.com/alsdjfzoif) — the actual URL I visited to grab this screenshot — but the Bitmoji Andrew looks pretty chill.

<img src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/yang.png" width="865" height="470" alt="Andrew Yang" />

## 9. Amy Klobuchar — [amyklobuchar.com](https://amyklobuchar.com/asdfasdf404)

This is the 404 page of someone who won't forget the [Midwestern roots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uff_da) she comes from once she moves into the White House...or writes a memoir about her campaign from her Minnesota home.

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/klobuchar.png"
  width="865"
  height="456"
  alt="Amy Klobuchar"
/>

## 10. Steve Bullock — [stevebullock.com](https://stevebullock.com/asdfasdf404)

I'll never publicly say anything against a good Dad joke. This is no exception.

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/bullock.png"
  width="865"
  height="467"
  alt="Steve Bullock"
/>

## 11. Michael Bennet — [michaelbennet.com](https://michaelbennet.com/asdfasdf404)

Another quality Dad joke here.

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/bennet.png"
  width="865"
  height="543"
  alt="Michael Bennet"
/>

## 12. John Delaney — [johndelaney.com](https://www.johndelaney.com/asdfasdf404)

Yet another Dad joke? I honestly had the hardest time ranking these three.

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/delaney.png"
  width="865"
  height="405"
  alt="John Delaney"
/>

## 13. Marianne Williamson — [marianne2020.com](https://www.marianne2020.com/asdfasdf404)

A 404 page only a motivational author and speaker running for president could envision.

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/williamson.png"
  width="865"
  height="357"
  alt="Marianne Williamson"
/>

## 14. The Donald — [donaldjtrump.com](https://donaldjtrump.com/asdfasdf404)

I guess this would be slightly humorous...four years ago. Time to move on from your middle-school crush, Donny.

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/trump.png"
  width="865"
  height="524"
  alt="Trump/Pence"
/>

---

## Disqualified Candidates...

These candidates haven't configured a custom 404 page, settling for the default Drupal or WordPress text. Do they _really_ think they can run the free world with their websites in this shape? 🙄 _&lt;/s&gt;_

### 15. Julián Castro — [julianforthefuture.com](https://www.julianforthefuture.com/asdfasdf404)

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/castro.png"
  width="865"
  height="316"
  alt="Julián Castro"
/>

### 16. Wayne Messam — [wayneforusa.com](https://wayneforusa.com/asdfasdf404)

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/messam.png"
  width="865"
  height="529"
  alt="Wayne Messam"
/>

### 17. Tulsi Gabbard — [tulsi2020.com](https://www.tulsi2020.com/asdfasdf404)

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/gabbard.png"
  width="865"
  height="333"
  alt="Tulsi Gabbard"
/>

### 18. Joe Sestak — [joesestak.com](https://www.joesestak.com/asdfasdf404)

<img
  src="/static/images/notes/presidential-candidates-404-pages/sestak.png"
  width="865"
  height="366"
  alt="Joe Sestak"
/>