The 2024 presidential election may be the most critical in our lifetimes—two candidates with very different visions for the future of the United States. From tensions growing in the Middle East to dire gun violence at home, Americans have a lot on their minds this year. On one side, Vice President Kamala Harris is relatively new on the national stage after receiving the Democratic nomination in late July when President Joe Biden announced he would not continue to run against Donald Trump in the 2024 election. On the other hand, we have Republican former President Trump, whose presidency we experienced for four years, after which he was voted out of office.

Get to know the Presidential Nominees 

Two candidates. Two Americas. 

Harris started a campaign less than six months ago, while Trump has still not conceded the 2020 election to President Biden. The latest polls show a dead tie between both candidates. 

Harris, born in Oakland, California, attended Howard University and the University of California’s Hastings School of Law. She worked as a district attorney in Alameda County before being recruited to the San Francisco Attorney's Office. Harris won election to the U.S. Senate in 2016, becoming only the second Black woman and first South Asian Senator. 

Next, we have the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, who was born in New York in 1946. Trump began his interest in politics and the presidency in the late 1980s. Since then, Trump has maintained his interest in politics even if he wasn’t considered a serious and legitimate candidate. In a shocking upset, Trump became the Republican nominee for president in 2016 after beating sixteen other candidates. 

Coming into election day, we have a completely deadlocked race with a divided nation for either Harris or Trump. Regardless of who wins, the country will be angry with the other half. In the campaign's final days, Harris has been trying to distance herself from President Biden, while Trump supporters seem to be wary of the former president's off-script rallies. That being said, both candidates are unsure of the outcome. We may not even know our next president on election night. At this point, we will just have to wait and see how things play out this election day.

Where Both Candidates Stand on Critical Issues Facing Americans

The Lakeside Leo Insight Chart, above, shows the key issues that candidates have been campaigning on for months now. Regardless of who wins this November, there will be significant changes surrounding these issues. 

          America will be watching to see who will control the White House, and with such high stakes, the winner of this election will ultimately try to guide the United States out of the current global and foreign tensions it faces today. Even though it may seem scary with the challenges our country faces, this next generation will ultimately have the power to guide the United States into its next significant chapter.