The 2024 presidential candidates: What to know
The incoming 2024 presidential candidates have recently become more clear; as of now, we know as of right now, there are 15 candidates total, with nine Republicans (Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott, Ryan Binkley, Doug Burgum, and Asa Hutchinson), four Democrats (Joe Biden, Marianne Williamson, Cenk Uygur, and Dean Phillips), and lastly, two Independents (Robert F. Kennedy Jr, and Cornel West). Yet, even though there are 13 other candidates, the main focus is on the battle between two, Biden and Trump, as they seem to be significant faces of their parties and have a tight hold on them.
Current President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in the 2020 election, resulting in Biden's victory and current presidency. Even so, Trump did not take the loss easily, leading to the dangerous mob of Trump supporters storming the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. Knowing their opinions on certain aspects that will shape our society can be a factor in deciding who to vote for.
If Biden wins this election, he will be the oldest president in history, as he will be 82 on Inauguration Day. There are speculations that many citizens are troubled about this because of the way the age of an individual can have an impact on the functioning of their brain. Despite concerns, Biden's supporters are still vying for his win in 2024. The positive reaction from his supporters might have resulted from his stance on specific societal matters and his openness to diversity. It is anticipated that Biden will campaign on his bipartisan accomplishments and show his endorsement for Democratic priorities like abortion rights for women, which not all but most Republicans and their candidates are known for opposing.
Biden has also advocated for action on healthcare. One important thing to note, however, is that it is still being determined how he will advance healthcare despite advocacy. As for other issues like climate change, Biden has been endorsing climate change for the past 30 years when he introduced the Senate's first climate change bill in 1986. This may explain why numerous democratic citizens support Biden due to their belief in climate change. The outlook of a presidential candidate towards social and national issues is a crucial factor in their election.
Former President Donald Trump has garnered quite a lot of controversy throughout his career, particularly following the Jan. 6 mob and recent fraud investigations. Despite facing challenges, Trump remains a prominent figure in the Republican party and currently leads ahead of the other Republican candidates. This could be attributed to his Republican-like stance on specific issues like climate change, abortion, and healthcare. During his presidency, Trump appointed cabinet members who, like him, denied the existence of climate change. It is yet to be determined if Trump will change his stance on climate change as he seeks a second term in 2024.
As for healthcare, Trump admits that he would not make any cuts to healthcare or medicare programs; yet, to fund these programs, he would want to raise taxes, which could be controversial. It seems that one of the most contentious topics among not only the political parties but American citizens at large is abortion; this topic is heavily contested and significantly influences voter decisions. While president, Trump appointed three of the six Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court ruling that protects a woman's right to access abortion. Although, it appears that Trump has changed his views, and the lead in the Republican party could be due to his opposition to the federal abortion ban, as many Republicans, as well as Democrats, support the right to an abortion. This change could allow Trump to win the 2024 election, yet consistency is a prominent factor and should be persisted throughout the entire presidential race.
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/politics/presidential-candidates-2024.html