Who's Who?

A year out from the 2024 presidential election, candidates are promoting their campaigns, debates are being held, and there are constant day-by-day updates following each of the 16 main candidates. With all of the noise, it can be difficult to stay informed. To better understand the candidates, here is a look at who they are:

The Issues

Now candidates are not candidates without policies. Below is a comprehensive list of the 2024 presidential candidates, organized by a handful of controversial issues. Red indicates opinions of the members of the Republican party, blue indicates those of the Democratic party, and purple indicates the Independent candidates.

Making Decisions

With all of this information in front of you, it still may be difficult to come to a decision about who you support. You may even be asking, “Why should I care?”, “Should I vote?”, “How do I approach misinformation?” Below, Mr. McParland, MRHS U.S. History and AP Government teacher, answers some of these pressing questions.

1. What is the best process to determine what candidate/party to support?

“...First evaluating your own values, beliefs, and priorities. Think about what issues are important to you and why they are important to you. The next step is to research your options, making sure to use multiple reputable sources from different perspectives. It is also okay to discuss your political views and concerns with others; but at the end of the day I would base your decisions on what aligns best with your core values.”

2. What are the most important things to look for in a candidate?

“...I would most recommend finding candidates whose values align with your own. However, it also may be wise to consider the candidates’ character and integrity…In addition, prior experience is not always critical, but it can help you assess whether they have the skills or knowledge necessary to perform the job effectively.:

3. What is the best way to get truthful and quality information in a world full of misinformation? 

“...Try to use only primary sources when possible, look to candidates' own words, speeches, or documents. Avoid getting information from social media. You also need to understand and be aware of bias. To start, check your own biases, and consider the potential biases of the sources you use. No source is entirely objective so get your information from a variety of different sources with different perspectives. When in doubt, there are also several fact checking websites that can help you” (e.g., politifact, factcheck.org, snopes.com).

4. Why should young people care about and vote in elections?

“...The lowest voter turnout rate in the United States by age is 18-24 year olds! Older generations may look at these numbers and think that the issues that concern young people are not important. By voting, young people can ensure their voice is being heard, and that the unique challenges they face are being addressed. The political decisions of today will also likely have a lasting impact on the future. If more young people get involved they would have considerable influence on the outcome of elections.”