Febuary 2024

2024 Campaign Trail Kicks Off

photo courtesy of GLAAD

By Jullian Cauntay

The United States is now months away from the consequential 2024 Presidential Election, where a rematch between incumbent President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Former President Donald Trump, is likely to happen.

Trump, the Republican frontrunner, currently faces a mountain of court cases possibly preventing him from seeking the office before Americans head to the polls in November.

Furthermore, Mr. Trump has been disqualified by the Colorado Supreme Court on the basis of the 14th Amendment’s Insurrection clause. The Colorado Court argues that the former president engaged in insurrection during the January 6, 2021 Capitol Riots.

Additionally, Trump was barred from the primary ballot by the Maine secretary of state for his involvement in J6.

Trump also previously faced a crowded Republican Primary with names such as Florida Governor Ron Desantis, Former Ambassador to United Nations Nikki Haley, Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott also vying for the party’s nomination.

Some candidates like Hutchinson and Christie openly criticized Trump and presented themselves as the Anti-Trump candidate. Candidates like Haley and Desantis often gave lukewarm remarks regarding the president, saying that he was “the right president for the right time” but presenting themselves as better alternatives for the problems that the country currently faces.

On the other hand, Vivek Ramaswamy, a relative unknown, rose to prominence for his open praise of Donald Trump, whom he ultimately endorsed after Ramaswamy’s poor showing at the Iowa Caucuses. Trump ultimately won a majority of votes in Iowa, with Desantis coming in a far second and Haley at a close third.

Former candidates like Ramaswamy, Burgum, and Scott consolidated their efforts and endorsed Trump, with Desantis following suit and dropping out in the week leading up to the New Hampshire Primary, leaving Haley as the last major challenger to Trump.

Haley, The Former Ambassador and South Carolina Governor, attracts a great number of Independent and moderate Democratic voters disappointed with President Biden’s performance.

Polls show that a potential matchup between Haley and Biden would result in a landslide win for the Republicans. Despite this, her chances of clinching the nomination are slim and Trump’s path is all but secured if she fails to gain momentum come the South Carolina primary.

On the Democratic Side, President Biden is a likely shoo-in for his party’s nomination despite early challenges from Environmental Lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (who has since decided to run as an Independent), Author Marianne Williamson, and Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips.

The president also faces mounting criticism for issues such as his age, rising inflation, and the border crisis. The more progressive base of the Democratic Party has also found dissatisfaction in his position on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite this, the President won an impressive write-in campaign in the Maine Democratic Primary.

As a Biden-Trump rematch is all but guaranteed, both camps switch to general election mode. Whoever wins this year’s election greatly affects the way domestic, foreign, and environmental policy moves forward for the foreseeable future.

A Trump win has Ukrainian President Zelensky openly concerned about the US’ support for the war, as factions of the GOP vow to cut aid to Ukraine. A second Trump presidency could also potentially see a weaker NATO and weaker ties with the European Union.

Ultimately, this year’s election is a referendum on President Biden’s first four years in the job, and at this point in the race it is still anyone’s game.

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