As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, voters are keen to know who is running for president in 2024. The race is shaping up to be a consequential one, with major party nominees and independent candidates vying for the nation’s highest office. This election has attracted significant attention due to its potential impact on domestic and foreign policies.
The field of 2024 presidential candidates includes familiar faces and newcomers alike. From the major parties to independent contenders, a diverse array of individuals are seeking the presidency. This article aims to provide an overview of who’s running for president, including the presumptive nominees for the Republican and Democratic parties, as well as notable third-party and independent candidates. It will also offer insights into the key issues shaping the campaign landscape.
Major Party Nominees: Biden vs Trump
Democratic Nominee: Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris
- Age: 59
- Party: Democrat
- Current and former roles: vice president, former senator from California, former attorney general of California
- Announcement date: July 21, 2024
Bio: Harris is poised to move from second on the ticket to the top following Biden’s decision to drop out of the race and endorse her. The vice president said she would “earn and win” the nomination. With a long track record in public service, the 59-year-old carries name recognition and attention. However, as she has repeatedly struggled to define her role in the administration, many in the party still view her as a potential liability. Further weighing her down are low approval ratings that are only slightly higher than Biden’s. Despite this, she has managed to make a name for herself as the administration’s leading voice for abortion rights and women’s rights and has been visible on the campaign trail – especially in defense of Biden after his debate performance. Following Biden’s withdrawal and endorsement, many notable Democratic politicians and party leaders – including all 50 state chairs – endorsed her as well, and donations skyrocketed. There remains the possibility that she could face a challenger going into the Democratic National Convention in August. Still, Harris is also helped by the fact that being on the ticket already means that she will have access to the money raised by Biden’s reelection campaign.
Vice President Kamala Harris has secured the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential election, making history as the first woman, Black American, and Asian American to be nominated for national office by a major political party. Harris quickly gained support from prominent Democratic officials and party leaders, setting a new 24-hour record for presidential donations. Her campaign focuses on defending economic opportunity and abortion access, with Harris stating, “Our fight for the future is also a fight for freedoms”.
Republican Nominee: Donald Trump
Donald Trump
- Age: 78
- Party: Republican
- Current and former roles: Former president, real estate developer
- Announcement date: Nov. 15, 2022
Bio: Trump launched a third bid for the White House after losing to President Joe Biden in 2020. After winning all but one Republican presidential primary, Trump accepted the GOP nomination on July 18. Trump is also the subject of several federal and state investigations – including four indictments and one guilty verdict – but has derided the probes as “witch hunts” and pledged to continue his run. Trump still commands a significant and enthusiastic base of supporters. In July, he named Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate.
Donald Trump, the incumbent president of the United States, is the Republican nominee for the 2024 election. Trump’s campaign centers on his “America First” ethos, which is skeptical of international obligations that might encumber American sovereignty or cost the country money. He has pledged to repeal Biden’s efforts in the electric vehicle industry, which he sees as a threat to the auto industry and the U.S. economy.
Key Policy Differences
The 2024 presidential election features stark policy differences between Harris and Trump on various issues:
- Education: Harris supports universal pre-K and debt-free college, while Trump wants to “get rid” of the Education Department and let states handle education.
- China Policy: Harris backs the Biden administration’s restrictions on exporting advanced semiconductors to China, while Trump proposes hitting China with high tariffs.
- Ukraine Conflict: Harris supports the Biden administration’s efforts to arm Ukraine, whereas Trump claims he could stop the war within 24 hours if elected.
- Housing: Harris advocates for federal programs to expand access to affordable housing, while Trump’s campaign proposes encouraging construction on the “periphery of cities and suburban areas” .
- Taxes: Harris called for repealing the entire Trump tax cuts during her 2020 campaign, while Trump favors extending his tax cuts.
These policy differences highlight the contrasting visions the two candidates have for the future of the United States, setting the stage for a consequential election in 2024.
Notable Independent and Third-Party Candidates
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Age: 70
- Party: Independent
- Current and former roles: Author, environmental lawyer, anti-vaccine activist.
- Announcement date: filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission on April 5, 2023
Bio: Kennedy – the son of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated during his 1968 primary campaign, and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy – is an author and a trial lawyer who specialized in environmental law early in his career. He has emerged over the last decade and a half as a leading voice of the anti-vaccine movement, work which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Kennedy released a book titled “The Real Anthony Fauci,” which disparaged the leading public health official in the country at the time and promoted misinformation about the coronavirus, vaccines, and treatments. Though he enjoys the name recognition inherent in the Kennedy lineage, his anti-vaccine activism has been widely criticized, including by members of his own family, and puts him on the fringes of the Democratic Party. Kennedy, who began his White House bid as a Democrat, decided in October to run as an independent.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer and member of the Kennedy family, announced his presidential campaign on April 19, 2023. Initially running for the Democratic Party nomination, he switched to an independent candidacy on October 9, 2023. Kennedy has gained support from various sources, including independents, youth, and tech industry executives. His campaign has also received backing from Republican donors and Trump allies.
Kennedy’s campaign has faced controversy due to his advocacy of anti-vaccine misinformation and public health conspiracy theories. He has been accused of making antisemitic and racist remarks, which he has denied. Kennedy’s campaign has also been accused of trying to serve as a spoiler candidate to help former President Donald Trump win the 2024 election.
In some national presidential surveys, Kennedy has polled as high as 16%. While not enough to win the presidency, this level of support could potentially impact the outcome of the election, particularly in battleground states.
Cornel West
- Age: 71
- Party: Independent
- Current and former roles: Activist, philosopher, intellectual, author
- Announcement date: June 5, 2023
Bio: A longtime activist whose work centers on race and class, West entered the presidential race under the banner of the People’s Party, a third-party, leftist group but is now running as an independent. West is a public intellectual and socialist who has been active in Democratic politics for decades and backed Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Democratic presidential primary runs in 2016 and 2020.
“I enter in the quest for truth, I enter in the quest for justice, and the presidency is just one vehicle to pursue that truth and justice – something I’ve been trying to do all my life,” West said in an announcement video on June 5.
Cornel West, a philosopher, academic, and political activist, announced his presidential campaign on June 5, 2023, initially as a People’s Party candidate. After briefly seeking the Green Party’s nomination, West announced on October 5 that he would run an independent campaign. On January 31, he created and ran with the “Justice for All Party” .
West’s campaign centers on socialist positions, including support for Medicare for All, public housing, action on climate change, and drastically cutting the US military budget. He has averaged in the mid-single digits in most general election polls and is widely considered to be a long-shot candidate.
Jill Stein
- Age: 74
- Party: Green
- Current and former roles: Physician, environmental activist
- Announcement date: Nov. 9, 2023
Bio: Running on a self-described “pro-worker, anti-war, climate action agenda,” Stein is making her third bid for the White House. A Harvard-educated physician from Massachusetts, she ran as the Green Party candidate in 2012 and 2016. She also ran for governor of Massachusetts in 2002 and 2010 but has never been elected to office. Stein drew just 1% of the popular vote in 2016, yet some Democrats insist that her presence in the race drew support from Hillary Clinton in states that the Democratic nominee lost by razor-thin margins to Republican Donald Trump.
Jill Stein, a physician from Massachusetts and the Green Party’s presidential nominee in 2012 and 2016, announced her entry into the 2024 United States presidential election on November 9, 2023. In the 2016 election, she received 1,457,216 votes (1.07% of the popular vote).
Stein’s campaign priorities include taking an anti-war stance, promoting a Green New Deal, universal healthcare, and addressing the situation in Gaza. Her campaign has secured ballot access in the swing state of Arizona. In January 2024, a Quinnipiac University poll showed Stein polling at 4% in Pennsylvania.
Conclusion
The 2024 U.S. presidential election is shaping up to be a landmark event, with major party nominees Kamala Harris and Donald Trump at the forefront. Their contrasting visions for America’s future have a significant impact on key issues like education, foreign policy, and the economy. What’s more, the presence of independent candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Jill Stein adds a new layer to the political landscape, potentially swaying the outcome in battleground states.
As voters gear up to make their choice, the diverse field of candidates offers a range of perspectives and policy proposals to consider. This election not only determines the next occupant of the White House but also has the potential to shape the direction of the country for years to come. In the end, the American people will have the final say in deciding who will lead the nation through the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Discussion about this post