What you need to know about the US presidential election?

2023-11-16 07:59:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

What you need to know about the US presidential election?

Illustrative photo

The 2024 US presidential election promises to be unlike any other in modern times.

Among the leading Republican presidential candidates is former President Donald Trump, who faces several federal and state charges related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Biden, the current president, is the candidate among the Democrats. He will be 81 when the election is held in November 2024, making him the oldest American to be elected president, should he win a second four-year term.

Who are the Republican candidates running for president?

Trump, 77, is dominating the Republican field. Other candidates have largely avoided criticizing Trump over his actions related to the 2020 election for fear of angering their constituents. Most of Trump's supporters believe his false claims that the victory was stolen from him.

His Republican rivals, such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, have argued that Trump's legal troubles will hinder him in the general election fight against Biden.

An exception has been made by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has condemned Trump's efforts to change the 2020 election outcome. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a candidate considered unlikely to win, has said that Trump is unfit for the office of president.

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, a young politician, is running as the successor to Trump's populist "America First" agenda, an agenda that is wary of a big federal government, corporate power and international alliances. DeSantis was once seen as the candidate most likely to beat Trump to secure the Republican nomination, but his campaign has faltered since launching in May, despite having plenty of potential. In the meantime, Haley has gained momentum after strong performances in the presidential debates.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is also running for the nomination, but has failed to garner much attention.

Polls suggest Trump is widely tied for a head-to-head showdown with Biden, as voters have expressed concerns with Biden's age and his handling of the economy despite job growth, infrastructure investment and inflation slowing after last year. reached a record figure.

Trump faces four cases in federal and state courts over his efforts to undermine the 2022 election, his mishandling of classified documents and his involvement in paying a porn star to remain silent. He has said that he is innocent and has argued that he is a victim of political persecution, a charge that the Biden administration denies. The dates set for these court cases pose an obstacle to Trump's ability to campaign.

Who are the Democrats running for president?

While voters may not be too enthusiastic, Democratic leaders and big donors are backing Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris.

Dean Phillips, a little-known US congressman from Minnesota, announced in October that he will challenge Biden because he does not believe the president can win another term. Author Marrianne Williamson is also running against Biden.

Biden's campaign for a second term relies on managing the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, and he has described the fight against Trump-aligned Republicans as a "battle for the soul of America."

Under the Biden administration, unemployment fell to record lows, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew faster than expected, and wages have risen. However, inflation rose last year, and while it has fallen in recent months, voters continue to be concerned about high prices for food, fuel, cars and housing.

If Trump wins the Republican nomination, Biden's campaign will likely focus on warning voters that Trump poses a mortal threat to American democracy.

Who else is in the running?

Anti-vaccination activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched an independent campaign to challenge Biden in the race to win the Democratic nomination. Kennedy has won some kind of favor with both Democrats and Republicans, who don't want a race between Biden and Trump.

Progressive activist Cornel West has also said he will run for president as an independent, while former presidential candidate Jill Stein has said she will seek the Green Party's presidential nomination. The challenge for these candidates is to gather the necessary votes to get their names on the ballot in all 50 states for next year's election.

When do the party races for the 2024 elections start?

Republicans will hold the first race for the presidential nomination in January in Iowa. New Hampshire will hold the intraparty race after Iowa, followed by Nevada, South Carolina and Michigan.

Democrats plan to hold the first domestic race in South Carolina in February. "Super Tuesday" - where dozens of states will vote for their delegates, including California and Texas - will be held on March 5.

Each party will nominate the candidates who win the most delegates at their nominating conventions in the summer of 2024. Republicans will hold conventions in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, while Democrats will hold conventions in Chicago.

The general elections will be held on November 5, 2024./REL