2024 United States presidential election

For related elections, see 2024 United States elections.

2024 United States presidential election

November 5, 2024
538 members of the Electoral College 270 electoral votes needed to win
Opinion polls
Nominee Kamala Harris Donald Trump Party Democratic Republican Home state California Florida Running mate Tim Walz JD Vance
2024 electoral map, based on the results of the 2020 census
Incumbent President Joe Biden Democratic

The 2024 United States presidential election will be the 60th quadrennial presidential election, set to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Voters in each state and the District of Columbia will choose electors to the Electoral College, who will then elect a president and vice president for a term of four years.

The incumbent president, Joe Biden of the Democratic Party, initially ran for re-election and became the party's presumptive nominee, facing little opposition. However, Biden's performance in the presidential debate held in June 2024 intensified concerns about his age and health, and led to calls within his party for him to leave the race. Although he was initially adamant he would remain in the race, Biden withdrew on July 21 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the party's nominee on August 5. Harris selected Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, as her running mate.

Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, a member of the Republican Party, is running for re-election for a second, non-consecutive term, after losing to Biden in 2020. Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a former governor of South Carolina, had also received significant support during the Republican Party's primaries. Trump was nominated during the 2024 Republican National Convention along with his running mate, Ohio senator JD Vance. The Trump campaign has made many false and misleading statements, engaged in anti-immigrant fearmongering, and promoted conspiracy theories. Trump has continued to repeat his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, which prompted the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump's embrace of far-right extremism and increasingly violent, dehumanizing, and authoritarian rhetoric against his political opponents has been described by historians and scholars as populist, authoritarian, fascist, unlike anything a political candidate has ever said in U.S. history, and a continued breaking of political norms. The Republican Party has made efforts to disrupt the 2024 presidential election as part of a larger election denial movement among U.S. conservatives. In May 2024, Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, becoming the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. In 2023 and 2024, he was also found liable in civil proceedings for sexual abuse, defamation, and financial fraud. Trump remains under multiple indictments for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and role in the January 6 attack and his racketeering prosecution to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia. Trump survived an assassination attempt in July 2024 during a campaign rally; he was shot in the ear.

The presidential election will take place at the same time as elections for the U.S. Senate, House, state governorships, and state legislatures. Key swing states for the presidential election include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Leading campaign issues are abortion, immigration, climate change, democracy, the economy, education, foreign policy, healthcare, and LGBTQ rights. The winners are scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20, 2025, as the 47th president and 50th vice president of the United States.

Background

Joe Biden, the incumbent president, whose term ends on January 20, 2025

Procedure

Main article: United States presidential election § Procedure

Article Two of the United States Constitution states that for a person to serve as president, the individual must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, be at least 35 years old, and have been a United States resident for at least 14 years. The Twenty-second Amendment forbids any person from being elected president more than twice. Major party candidates seek the nomination through a series of primary elections that select the delegates who choose the candidate at the party's national convention. Each party's national convention chooses a vice presidential running mate to form that party's ticket. The nominee for president usually picks the running mate, who is then ratified by the delegates at the party's convention. If no candidate wins a majority of their party's delegates' votes, or (in this election) a party's presumptive nominee drops out of the race between the primaries and the convention, a brokered convention may be held: the delegates are then "released" and are free to switch their allegiance to a different candidate.

The general election in November is an indirect election, in which voters cast ballots for a slate of members of the Electoral College; these electors then directly elect the president and vice president.

Election offices are dealing with increased workloads and public scrutiny. Officials in many states have sought additional funding to hire more personnel, improve security, and extend training. Numerous election offices are dealing with an increase in retirements and are overwhelmed with public records requests, owing in part to the electoral mistrust planted by former President Trump's loss in the 2020 election.

Trump is the first president in American history to be impeached twice, and the first to run again after impeachment. Trump was first impeached by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in December 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress due to his attempts to coerce Ukraine to provide damaging information on Biden and misinformation regarding Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections by withholding military aid. Trump's second impeachment by the House occurred on January 13, 2021, for "incitement of insurrection" owing to his role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack. As Trump was acquitted by the Senate in both cases, Trump is not barred from seeking reelection to the presidency in 2024.

The Colorado Supreme Court, a state Circuit Court in Illinois, and the Secretary of State of Maine ruled that Trump is ineligible to hold office under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack, and as such, attempted to disqualify him from appearing on the ballot. These attempts were unsuccessful, as on March 4, 2024, the United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states cannot determine eligibility for a national election under Section 3.

Election interference

Main article: Election interference

Further information: Republican efforts to restrict voting following the 2020 presidential election, Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election, and January 6 United States Capitol attack

Donald Trump's false claims of interference

Further information: Election denial movement in the United States, Big lie § Donald Trump's lies of a stolen election, and Republican Party efforts to disrupt the 2024 United States presidential election

To sow election doubt, Trump escalated use of "rigged election" and "election interference" statements in advance of the 2024 election compared to the previous two elections. The statements have been described as part of a "heads I win; tails you cheated" rhetorical strategy.

Trump has made false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, and has continued denying the election results as of September 2024. Election security experts have warned that officials who deny the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, may attempt to impede the voting process, or refuse to certify the 2024 results. The New York Times has reported that "the Republican Party and its conservative allies are engaged in an unprecedented legal campaign targeting the American voting system", by restricting voting for partisan advantage ahead of Election Day and preparing to mount "legally dubious" challenges against the certification process if Trump loses. In the lead up to the 2024 election, the Republican Party has made false claims of massive "noncitizen voting" by immigrants, in an attempt to delegitimize the election in the event of a Trump defeat.

The claims have been made as part of larger Republican Party efforts to disrupt the 2024 United States presidential election and election denial movement. Trump has continued spreading his "Big Lie" of a stolen election and has predicted without evidence that the 2024 election would be rigged against him. Trump has falsely accused Biden of "weaponizing" the Justice Department to target him in relation to his criminal trials. Trump and several Republicans have stated they will not accept the results of the 2024 election if they believe they are "unfair."

Trump's previous comments suggesting he can "terminate" the Constitution to reverse his election loss, his claim that he would only be a dictator on "day one" of his presidency and not after, his promise to use the Justice Department to go after his political enemies, his plan to use the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy the military in Democratic cities and states, attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election, continued Republican efforts to restrict voting following the 2020 presidential election, Trump's baseless predictions of voter fraud in the 2024 election, and Trump's public embrace and celebration of the January 6 United States Capitol attack, have raised concerns over the state of democracy in America. Trump's political operation said that it plans to deploy more than 100,000 attorneys and volunteers to polling places across battleground states, with an "election integrity hotline" for poll watchers and voters to report alleged voting irregularities.

Interference by foreign nations

Main article: Foreign interference in the 2024 United States elections

Before the election, current and former U.S. officials stated that foreign interference in the 2024 election was likely. Three major factors cited were "America's deepening domestic political crises, the collapse of controversial attempts to control political speech on social media, and the rise of generative AI." China, Russia, and Iran have since all been identified as mounting influence operations and attempts to interfere with the 2024 election. US intelligence officials have described the efforts as part of broader efforts by authoritarian nations to use the internet to erode support for democracy.

China

Further information: Chinese interference in the 2024 United States elections

China has been identified as interfering with the 2024 election through propaganda and disinformation campaigns linked to its Spamouflage operation. US intelligence agencies described the effort as not targeting any particular candidate, but focusing on issues important to Beijing such as Taiwan, and "undermining confidence in elections, voting, and the U.S. in general." As early as April 1, 2024, The New York Times reported that the Chinese government had created fake pro-Trump accounts on social media "promoting conspiracy theories, stoking domestic divisions and attacking President Biden ahead of the election in November."

Russia

Further information: Russian interference in the 2024 United States elections

According to disinformation experts and intelligence agencies, Russia spread disinformation ahead of the 2024 election to damage Biden and Democrats, boost candidates supporting isolationism, and undercut support for Ukraine aid and NATO. On September 4, 2024, the United States publicly accused Russia of interfering in the 2024 election and announced several steps to combat Russian influence including sanctions, indictments, and seizing of web domains used to spread propaganda and disinformation. American intelligence agencies have assessed that Russia prefers Trump to win the election, viewing him as more critical of U.S. support for Ukraine.

Iran

Further information: Iranian interference in the 2024 United States elections

Iran has been identified as interfering with the 2024 presidential election through front companies connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps through hacking attempts against the Trump, Biden, and Harris campaigns starting as early as May 2024. Iran has launched propaganda and disinformation campaigns through fake news websites and accounts on social media to tip the election against former president Trump, although it has also targeted both Biden and Harris. The New York Times stated the efforts were an attempt at "sowing internal discord and discrediting the democratic system in the United States more broadly in the eyes of the world."

Criminal trials and indictments against Donald Trump

Main article: Indictments against Donald Trump

Further information: Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (election obstruction case), Georgia election racketeering prosecution, Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (classified documents case), Prosecution of Donald Trump in New York, and Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump

Trump has been found liable in civil proceedings for both sexual abuse and defamation in 2023 and defamation in 2024, while also being criminally convicted of 34 felonies related to falsifying business records, expected to be an issue during the campaign. He has four criminal indictments totaling 91 felony counts and there are other lawsuits against Trump. On May 30, Trump was found guilty by a jury of all 34 felony counts in The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump over falsifying business records for hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, to ensure her silence about a sexual encounter between them, to influence the 2016 presidential election. This makes Trump the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime in American history. Trump and many Republicans have made numerous false and misleading statements regarding Trump's criminal trials, including false claims that they are "rigged" or "election interference" orchestrated by Biden and the Democratic Party, of which there is no evidence.

Classified intelligence material found inside Mar-a-Lago

Trump faces an additional 57 felony counts; four counts in a United States of America v. Donald J. Trump for his alleged role in attempting to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election and involvement in the January 6 United States Capitol attack; 10 counts in The State of Georgia v. Donald J. Trump, et al. for his alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 United States presidential election in Georgia; 40 counts in United States of America v. Donald J. Trump, Waltine Nauta, and Carlos De Oliveira relating to his hoarding of classified documents and alleged obstruction of efforts to retrieve them.

In addition to his indictments, on May 9, 2023, Trump was found liable by an anonymous jury for sexual abuse/rape in E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump and ordered to pay a total of $88.3 million combined for damages and defamation. In September 2023, Trump was found guilty of financial fraud and ordered to pay a $457 million judgement currently on appeal.

According to an April 2024 Reuters/Ipsos poll, the percentage of registered voters who found Trump's charges somewhat to very serious in the federal elections case was 74%, 72% in the Georgia case, 69% in the classified documents case, and 64% in the New York hush money case. Nearly a quarter of Republican voters said they would not vote for Trump if found guilty of a felony by a jury. Following his hush money conviction, 15% of likely Republican voters and 49% of independents stated they wanted Trump to drop out, and 54% of registered voters approved of the jury's decision. Polling also found 56% of Republicans who were unchanged by the verdict, and 35% of Republicans and 18% of independents who stated they were more likely to vote for Trump.

Trump has been noted for attempting to delay his trials until after the November election. If Trump wins the election in November, then on January 20, 2025, Trump could order a new attorney general to dismiss the federal charges he is facing, prevent the state charges from taking affect through a variety of methods, and issue a presidential self-pardon.

On July 1, 2024, the US Supreme Court delivered its 6–3 decision in Trump v. United States, along ideological lines, ruling that Trump had absolute immunity for acts he committed as president within his core constitutional purview, at least presumptive immunity for official acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility, and no immunity for unofficial acts. Thus, Trump's sentencing date for his convictions in New York was delayed from July to September 2024, and then to November 26, and the trial dates in Trump's other cases will likely be delayed as well, to review the applicability of the Supreme Court's decision.

Age and health concerns

Joe Biden

Main article: Age and health concerns about Joe Biden

Former president Trump and mass media raised concerns about President Biden's age, including his cognitive state, during and after the 2020 United States presidential election. These concerns increased after a poor performance by Biden during a debate against Trump in the 2024 presidential election, which led a number of commentators and some Democratic lawmakers to call for Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. He later withdrew his candidacy while stating that he would continue serving as president until the conclusion of his term.

According to a February 2024 poll, Biden's age and health were major or moderate concerns for 86% of voters generally, up from 76% earlier in 2020. According to another 2024 poll, most of those who voted for Biden in 2020 said they believed he was too old to be an effective president; The New York Times noted that these concerns "cut across generations, gender, race and education".

Donald Trump

Main article: Age and health concerns about Donald Trump

According to polling released in July and August, a majority of voters polled after the first debate think Trump is too old to serve a second term (51%, 57%, and 60%), with 80% unsure he would be able to finish out a second term. During and after Trump's presidency, comments on his age, weight, lifestyle and history of heart disease have raised questions about his physical health. In addition, numerous public figures, media sources, and mental health professionals have speculated that Trump may have some form of dementia, which runs in his family. Experts for the science publication STAT who analyzed changes in Trump's speeches between 2015 and 2024 noted shorter sentences, more tangents, more repetition and more confusion of words and phrases. The doctors suggested it could just be due to changes in mood or it could indicate the beginning of Alzheimer's. The sharp rise in all-or-nothing thinking is also linked to cognitive decline. The New York Times reported that Trump's 2024 speeches had grown "darker, harsher, longer, angrier, less focused, more profane and increasingly fixated on the past" and that experts considered this increase in tangential speech and behavioral disinhibition as a possible consequence of advancing age and cognitive decline. Trump has also been criticized for his lack of transparency around his medical records and health.

The New York Times and Los Angeles Times editorial boards also declared Trump unfit to lead, pointing to what former Trump officials "have described as his systematic dishonesty, corruption, cruelty and incompetence." Trump has also been criticized for his hiring decisions, and noted for his unusual criminal record.

Political violence and threats

Main article: Political violence in the 2024 United States presidential election

See also: Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign § Violent and dehumanizing statements

On July 14, Biden gave an address condemning political violence, including the attempted assassination of Trump, arguing for the need to "lower the temperature" in American politics.

Several scholars, lawmakers, intelligence agencies, and the members of the public have expressed concerns about political violence surrounding the 2024 election. The fears come amidst increasing threats and acts of physical violence targeting public officials and election workers at all levels of government. Trump has been identified as a key figure in increasing political violence in America both for and against him. Political violence is at its highest since the 1970s, and most recent violence has come from right-wing assailants. Trump has increasingly embraced far-right extremism, conspiracy theories such as Q-Anon, and far-right militia movements to a greater extent than any modern American president. Trump has espoused dehumanizing, combative, and violent rhetoric and promised retribution against his political enemies. Trump has played down but refused to rule out violence following the 2024 election, stating "it depends". Trump has suggested using the military against "the enemy from within" on Election Day that he described as "radical left lunatics", Democratic politicians, and those who oppose his candidacy.

Assassination attempts

Donald Trump standing alongside the fire department uniform of Corey Comperatore, who was fatally injured by a bullet during the attempted assassination of Trump.

On July 13, 2024, Trump survived an assassination attempt while addressing a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was shot and wounded on his right ear by Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who fired eight rounds with an AR-15–style rifle from the roof of a building located approximately 400 feet (120 meters) from the stage; the shots killed audience member Corey Comperatore and critically injured two other audience members. Seconds later, Crooks was shot and killed by the U.S. Secret Service's counter-sniper team. The motive and cause of the assassination attempt are still under investigation by authorities. On September 11, 2024, a bipartisan Senate report identified tech issues and other preventable mistakes by the Secret Service during the event.

On September 15, 2024, Trump survived a separate assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The suspect did not fire his weapon, and no deaths or injuries were reported. The suspect, Ryan Routh, is in custody.

Election workers and ballot boxes

Since the 2020 election and continuing into the 2024 election, the election denial movement in the United States has prompted thousands of death threats directed at election workers, officials, and their families, with some receiving letters laced with fentanyl. As of March 2024, the Department of Justice's Election Threats Task Force had charged 20 people with threat-related crimes. In September 2024, suspicious packages were sent to state election officials in Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Wyoming. This resulted in evacuations in several states. The inclusion of white powder in most of the packages mirrored the 2001 anthrax attacks, but the substance in the Oklahoma delivery was identified as flour. Threats have led some election workers to resign and have affected recruitment of temporary poll workers. Efforts to protect election workers are diverse, including active shooter drills, provision of trauma kits and Narcan, and the use of bullet-proof vests, bullet-resistant glass, metal detectors, various kinds of barriers, armed guards, police snipers, drones, and security cameras. However, many boards of election lack the funds for such efforts.

In late October 2024 multiple fires were reported at ballot drop boxes in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. The fires caused damage to hundreds of ballots, causing election officials to identify and offer new ballots to those affected by the fires. Prior to the fires the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security had issued a bulletin raising concerns about "election-related grievances" could motivate domestic extremist activity and that ballot drop boxes could be seen as "attractive targets". In Phoenix, Arizona, a fire was started in a mail collection box, destroying some ballots and other mail. A suspect was arrested and claimed that the fire was unrelated to the election.

Electoral map

Effects of the 2020 census

Main article: 2020 United States redistricting cycle

This will be the first presidential election to occur after the reapportionment of votes in the United States Electoral College following the 2020 United States census. If the state results of 2020 were to stay the same in 2024, which has never occurred before, Democrats would have 303 electoral votes against the Republicans' 235, a slight change from Biden's 306 and Trump's 232, meaning Democrats lost a net 3 electoral votes to reapportionment. This apportionment will remain through the 2028 election. Reapportionment will be conducted again after the 2030 census.

Swing states

Further information: Red states and blue states

Most states are not competitive because demographics keep them solidly behind a party. Because of the nature of the Electoral College, this means a limited number of swing states—competitive states that "swing" between the parties—are vital to winning the presidency. These are the Rust Belt states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania; and the Sun Belt states of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina.

Due to gradual demographic shifts, some former swing states such as Iowa, Ohio, and Florida have shifted significantly towards the Republicans, while Colorado, New Mexico, and Virginia have moved towards the Democrats. Arizona and Georgia have shifted from the Republicans and have become swing states, with Democrats winning both states by less than 1 point in the 2020 presidential election. The Democratic electoral coalition, securing the "blue states" for Democratic presidential candidates, has had relatively high support among Black voters; voters who have graduated from college or who live in urban areas. White voters without college degrees have steadily increased their support for Republican candidates since the 1970s, while decreasing as a proportion of the electorate. The traditional Republican coalition in "red states" is composed mainly of rural White voters, evangelicals, the elderly, and non-college educated voters. Republicans had performed well with suburban, middle class voters since the 1950s, but this bloc has drifted away from them recently because of the rise of the Make America Great Again movement. The acceleration of this trend has been credited with tipping the 2020 presidential election in favor of Biden because the incumbent Trump underperformed in the suburbs for a Republican candidate.

Campaign issues

Campaign themes

See also: Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign § Platform, Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign § Platform, and 2024 United States elections § Issues

Harris campaign

Harris has framed her campaign as "a choice between freedom and chaos" and based it around the ideals of "freedom" and "the future". The Harris campaign has sought to highlight her experience as an attorney general and a prosecutor to "prosecute the case" against Trump by pointing out his 34 felony convictions and the impacts of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Harris is running as a moderate Democrat who has moved towards the center on several policy positions since her 2019 primary run, embracing many of Biden's domestic policy stances. Harris has focused her economic proposals on the cost of groceries, housing and healthcare. She has also focused on the middle class, and small businesses. Harris' campaign has been noted for having an optimistic and joyful tone.

Trump campaign

See also: Trumpism and Rhetoric of Donald Trump

A central campaign theme for Trump's second presidential bid is "retribution". Trump announced the theme during his March 2023 speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), stating "In 2016, I declared, 'I am your voice.' Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution. I am your retribution." Trump framed the 2024 election as "the final battle," and openly promised to leverage the power of the presidency for political reprisals, though he has also stated his retribution "will be success". Trump is heavily running on immigration as a central campaign focus. Trump's campaign has focused on dark and apocalyptic rhetoric about the state of the country and predicting doom if he does not win. The Associated Press states that "Trump's rallies take on the symbols, rhetoric and agenda of Christian nationalism." During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump has made numerous false and misleading statements. The large number of lies and false statements have been attributed to Trump's rhetorical style described as using the big lie and firehose of falsehood propaganda technique. Trump has also made many personal attacks against Harris, several of which are sexual in nature, viewed as racist and misogynistic, and considered a continued breaking of norms regarding political speech. Trump's harsher rhetoric against his political enemies has been described by historians, scholars, commentators and former generals as populist, authoritarian, fascist, and unlike anything a political candidate has ever said in American history. Harris characterized Trump as a fascist during a live television appearance on October 23, and Trump has called Harris a fascist during rallies throughout his 2024 campaign.

Abortion

Main article: Abortion in the United States

Abortion-rights protestors in Washington, D.C., on May 14, 2022, as part of the Bans Off Our Bodies protest following the leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.

Abortion access is a key topic during the campaign. This is the first presidential election to be held in the aftermath of the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, in which the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving abortion law entirely to the states, including bans on abortion. The three justices appointed by former president Trump—Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch—all voted to overturn the federal right to an abortion in Dobbs. By April 2023, most Republican-controlled states had passed near-total bans on abortion, rendering it largely illegal throughout much of the southern United States. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are 15 states that have de jure early-stage bans on abortion without exceptions for rape or incest.

Abortion will be on the ballot in up to ten states in 2024, including the swing states of Arizona and Nevada. Some pundits have argued abortion rights referenda could help Harris in November.

Trump speaking at the 2020 March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Democrats predominantly advocate for abortion access as a right, while Republicans generally favor significantly restricting the legality of abortion. Since becoming the presumptive nominee, Harris has indicated her support for passing legislation which would restore the federal abortion right protections previously guaranteed by Roe. She argued Trump would let his anti-abortion allies implement Project 2025 proposals to restrict abortion and contraception throughout the US.

Trump has claimed credit for overturning Roe, but criticized Republicans pushing for total abortion bans. Trump has said he will leave the issue of abortion for the states to decide, but would allow red states to monitor women's pregnancies and prosecute them if they have an abortion. In his home state of Florida, Trump announced he would vote No on Amendment 4, an abortion rights referendum, preserving the six-week ban. The announcement came one day after he initially criticized the six-week ban for being "too short" and said he would vote to lengthen it. Trump has repeated a false claim that Democrats support abortions after birth and "executing" babies.

Border security and immigration

Main articles: Mexico–United States border crisis and Border security in the United States

Further information: Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign § Immigration, and Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign § Immigration

Border security and immigration are among the top issues concerning potential voters in the election. Polling has shown that most Americans want to reduce immigration and that a substantial minority of white Republicans are concerned about white demographic decline. In 2023 and early 2024, a surge of migrants entering through the border with Mexico occurred. By June 2024, illegal crossings reached a three-year low following four consecutive monthly drops, which senior officials attributed to increased enforcement between the US and Mexico, the weather, and Biden's executive order increasing asylum restrictions.

Attorney General of California Kamala Harris at the border in 2011 to discuss strategies to combat transnational gang crime.

Harris has promised to fight for "strong border security" coupled with an earned pathway to citizenship. Harris has highlighted her work in combating transnational gangs, drug cartels, and human traffickers while attorney general. In 2023, as vice president, Harris announced pledges of US$950 million from private companies into Central American communities to address the causes of mass migration, such as poverty. Harris states she believes the immigration system is "broken" and needs to be fixed, and she says most Americans believe this. Harris also advocates for stricter asylum rules than president Biden. Harris supports increasing the number of Border Patrol agents and accuses Trump as being unserious on border security. While vice president, Harris supported a bipartisan bill which would have funded additional border agents and closed the border if too crowded, the bill was rejected by Trump. Trump called on House and Senate Republicans to kill the bill arguing it would hurt his and Republican's reelection campaigns and deny them the ability to run on immigration as a campaign issue. Harris has criticized Trump for his opposition to the bill on the campaign trail, and has promised to sign the bill into law as president.

Trump has pledged to finish the wall on the southern border if elected.

Trump has stated that if elected, he would increase deportations, send the U.S. military to the border, expand ICE detentions through workplace raids, deputize local law enforcement to handle border security, increase Customs and Border Patrol funding as well as finish building the wall on the southern border. Trump has said he will deport both legal and illegal immigrants. The New York Times reported that Trump is considering "an extreme expansion of his first-term crackdown on immigration," such as "preparing to round up undocumented people already in the United States on a vast scale and detain them in sprawling camps while they wait to be expelled." Trump has stated his intention to deport 11 million people through the construction of detention camps and using the military through the 18th century Alien Enemies Act. Trump has made false claims of a "migrant crime wave" that are not supported by data, and has provided no evidence to back up his claims.

Trump's racist, anti-immigrant nativist tone has grown harsher from his previous time as president, and has used fearmongering, racial stereotypes, and more dehumanizing rhetoric when referring to illegal immigrants. Trump has repeatedly called immigrants subhuman, stating they are "not human", "not people", and "animals" who will "rape, pillage, thieve, plunder and kill" American citizens, that they are "stone-cold killers", "monsters", "vile animals", "savages", and "predators" that will "walk into your kitchen, they'll cut your throat" and "grab young girls and slice them up right in front of their parents". Other rhetoric includes false statements that foreign leaders are deliberately emptying insane asylums to send "prisoners, murderers, drug dealers, mental patients, terrorists" across America's southern border as migrants, that they are "building an army" of "fighting age" men to attack Americans "from within" and are the "enemy from within" who are ruining the "fabric" of the country. Since fall 2023, Trump has claimed that immigrants are "poisoning the blood of our country," which has drawn comparisons to racial hygiene rhetoric used by white supremacists and Adolf Hitler. In the 20 rallies since Trump's debate with Harris, Politico found his rhetoric, especially around immigrants, getting darker, citing experts who found it strongly echoed authoritarian and Nazi ideology, including claims that immigrants are genetically predisposed to commit crimes and have "bad genes". Trump's comments come as part of violent, dehumanizing rhetoric Trump has increasingly utilized during his campaign.

Climate change

Main article: Climate change in the United States

Further information: Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign § Climate change and energy; and Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign § Energy, environment, and climate change

See also: Environmental policy of the Donald Trump administration, Climate change denial, and Inflation Reduction Act

Climate change is expected to be an issue in the 2024 presidential election. In 2023, the United States saw a record in crude oil production with over 13.2 million barrels of crude per day beating the 13 million barrels per day produced at the peak of Trump's presidency. America also dealt with supply shocks caused by the 2021–2024 global energy crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Harris is an advocate for environmental justice to address the impact of climate change on lower-income areas and people of color. Under Biden, she supported his climate legislation. Harris helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in addressing climate change and clean energy in US history putting the US on track to meet emissions reduction targets by 50–52% below 2005 levels by 2030. Harris's campaign has stated that she does not support a ban on fracking.

Trump has ridiculed the idea of man-made climate change and repeatedly referred to his energy policy under the mantra "drill, baby, drill." Trump says he will increase oil drilling on public lands and offer tax breaks to oil, gas, and coal producers. Trump has stated his goal for the U.S. to have the lowest cost of electricity and energy of any country in the world. Trump has promised to roll back electric vehicle initiatives, proposed once again leaving the Paris Climate Accords, and rescinding several environmental regulations. Trump has stated his intention to roll back parts of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

Democracy

Main articles: Democratic backsliding in the United States, Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election, and Election denial movement in the United States

See also: Project 2025, Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign § Authoritarian and antidemocratic statements, Indictments against Donald Trump, and Donald Trump and fascism

The election will come as the first presidential election following Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election and the January 6 United States Capitol attack. It also comes amidst Trump's federal indictment for attempting to overturn the 2020 election and involvement in the attack and racketeering charges for attempting to overturn Joe Biden's victory in the state of Georgia.

Polling before the election has indicated profound dissatisfaction with the state of American democracy. Liberals tend to believe that conservatives are threatening the country with Christian nationalist autocratic tendencies and their attempts to overturn the 2020 election. According to an October 25 ABC/Ipsos poll, half of Americans see Trump as a fascist, described as "a political extremist who seeks to act as a dictator, disregards individual rights and threatens or uses force against their opponents." Meanwhile, only 22% saw Harris as a fascist by this definition. Some Republicans are concerned that Trump's former impeachment and four criminal indictments are attempts to influence the election and keep him from office. However, there is no evidence that Trump's criminal trials are "election interference" orchestrated by Biden and the Democratic Party. Trump has repeated false claims that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen from him.

Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign has been criticized by legal experts, historians, and political scientists for making increasingly violent and authoritarian statements, which some believe the Trump campaign is intentionally leaning into. Trump's platform calls for the vast expansion of presidential powers and the executive branch over every part of the federal government. Trump has called for stripping employment protections for thousands of career civil service employees and replacing them with political loyalists if deemed an "obstacle to his agenda" within federal agencies, the United States Intelligence Community, State Department, and Department of Defense. Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to have the Justice Department investigate and arrest his domestic political rivals, judges, prosecutors, and witnesses involved in his criminal trials. A large number of scholars, historians, commentators, former Trump officials and generals have described Trump as a fascist. Trump has said his political opponents are a greater threat to the United States than countries such as Russia, China, and North Korea, and has urged deploying the military on American soil to fight "the enemy from within" which he describes as "radical left lunatics" and Democratic politicians such as Adam Schiff. Trump has repeatedly voiced support for outlawing political dissent and criticism he considers misleading or challenges his claims to power. Trump has previously tried to prosecute his political rivals and would have fewer checks on his power in a second term.

Project 2025 is a proposed plan by the Heritage Foundation to centralize power into the executive branch for conservative policies to be enacted without input from the judicial branch, legislative branch or local government. The plan received some support from the Republican Party. The document was written in part by former members of the Trump administration, such as Russell Vought and John McEntee, while Trump stated he is unfamiliar with parts of the plan.

Trump's campaign has been noted for using increasingly dehumanizing and violent rhetoric against his political enemies. Calling the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack a "day of love," Trump has promised to pardon those charged for their involvement and has called those charged "hostages" and "great, great patriots." Trump has played down but not ruled out violence after the 2024 election if he does not win, stating, "it depends." Harris was tasked by Biden with protecting democracy through voting rights legislation through her work on the For the People Act. Harris has supported efforts to defend election workers and counter Republican efforts to restrict voting following the 2020 presidential election. Harris has stated her support to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Rights Voting Rights Advancement Act if elected.

Economic issues

Main article: Economy of the United States

Further information: Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign § Economy, Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign § Economy and trade, and U.S. federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Post-covid inflation spike in the US, gray column denotes the COVID-19 recession in US

Voters consistently cited the economy as their top issue in the 2024 election. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, America went through a surge in inflation that raised prices on many goods, though the inflation rate had declined significantly during 2023 and 2024. The New York Times reported that both candidates "embraced a vision of a powerful federal government, using its muscle to intervene in markets in pursuit of a stronger and more prosperous economy." The Wall Street Journal reported that economists found Trump's proposed policies created a greater risk of stoking inflation and generating higher budget deficits, relative to the Harris plan. Twenty-three Nobel Prize-winning economists signed a letter characterizing the Harris economic plan as "vastly superior" to the Trump plan. Trump's designated government efficiency leader Elon Musk said in October that he expected Trump's plan would involve more than $2 trillion in federal spending cuts and would cause "some temporary hardship."

Harris is running on a pro-union platform. She has promoted the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, funding for small business, and previously supported an act as senator to provide a $6,000 tax credit for middle and low-income families. Harris has promised to address price gouging, bring down costs, ban hidden fees and late charges from financial institutions, limit "unfair" rent increases and cap prescription drug costs which she has said would "lower costs and save many middle-class families thousands of dollars a year".

The New York Times described Harris' economic policy as embracing "the idea that the federal government must act aggressively to foster competition and correct distortions in private markets." Harris has proposed raising taxes on corporations and high-earners to fund services for the lower and middle classes and reduce the deficit. Harris has stated she supports increasing the top tier capital gains tax rate to 28%, up from 20% and lower than Biden's proposed 39.6%. Harris has stated her support for a Billionaire Minimum Income Tax, increasing the tax on stock buybacks to 4%, and a ten-fold tax reduction for small business ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 in relief. Harris also supports efforts to create a tax on unrealized gains for those with more than a $100 million in net worth if they do not pay a minimum 25% tax rate on their income inclusive of unrealized gains so long as 80% of said wealth is in tradeable assets. The plan would impact a small percentage of America's wealthy, and Axios reported most tech founders and investors would be spared. Harris has also announced support for restoring the corporate tax rate to 28% among several other tax proposals to raise taxes and close loopholes for corporations and the wealthy that would bring in $5 trillion in additional revenue over 10 years. Harris has also proposed tax breaks to companies delivering economic benefit, such as manufacturing technologies to fight global warming and building affordable housing. Harris has proposed a ban on corporate price gouging to "help the food industry become more competitive." Harris has also expressed support for student debt relief, and Harris says she supports raising the minimum wage.

Harris says she will increase home construction to reduce housing costs, arguing that it negatively impacts the economy and hurts working-class families. Harris has proposed directing $40 billion to construction companies to build starter homes. Harris has promised to send $25,000 in down-payment assistance to every first time home buyer. Harris says she will urge Congress to enforce fair housing laws and pass a bill to bar property owners from using services that "coordinate" rents through the passage of the Preventing the Algorithmic Facilitation of Rental Housing Cartels Act, and also call on Congress to pass the Stop Predatory Investing Act by removing tax benefits to Wall Street firms that buy up large numbers of single-family homes.

Trump has proposed further individual and corporate tax cuts beyond his prior 2017 tax cuts. Trump has argued that keeping taxes low for the wealthy increases job creation, and that these policies coupled with a crackdown in illegal immigration and reduction in inflation will help the middle class. Trump says he will reduce regulation of business through the creation of an efficiency commission led by Elon Musk, along with reducing environmental regulation. By October 2024, Musk was Trump's second-largest individual campaign donor. Trump has said deporting millions of immigrants will bring housing prices down, though most economists argue it could raise prices by removing construction workers who use less real estate. Trump and Harris support not taxing tips for at least hopsitality and service workers.

Trump's stated trade policy involves the United States decoupling from the global economy and having the country become more self-contained and exerting its power through individual trade dealings. This would be attempted largely through a universal baseline tariff of 10% to 20% on all imports, with increased penalties if trade partners manipulate their currency or engage in unfair trade practices. Trump has called for 100% tariffs on cars made outside the U.S. and a minimum 60% tariff on Chinese goods. Trump stated his plans to urge Congress to pass a "Trump Reciprocal Trade Act" to bestow presidential authority to impose a reciprocal tariff on any country that imposed one on the United States. The Washington Post reported in January 2024 that Trump was preparing for a massive trade war. Trump's trade policies have been described as protectionist, neomercantilist or autarkist. Increasing inflation has become a more common critique of Trump's economic plans. In June 2024, 16 Nobel Prize in Economics laureates signed an open letter arguing that Trump's fiscal and trade policies coupled with efforts to limit the Federal Reserve's independence would reignite inflation in the United States. Moody's and most economists surveyed by the WSJ in July 2024 predict that inflation would be worse under Trump than Biden, a result due in part to tariffs, a crack down on illegal immigration, and larger deficits. Trump incorrectly insists foreign exporters pay tariffs imposed by the U.S. government; American importers pay tariffs on goods upon arrival at U.S. ports, meaning tariffs are taxes that raise prices for imported products Americans buy. One non-partisan analysis estimated the proposed tariffs would cost $1,700 per year for the average household. The China–United States trade war Trump initiated in 2018 by imposing tariffs on China was widely characterized as a failure for the United States by the end of Trump's presidency. The Committee for a Responsible Budget found that Trump's plans would grow that national debt at roughly twice the rate of Harris' plan, while the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found Trump's plan would only benefit the top 5% of earners.

Also, Trump has suggested that he will abolish the federal income tax and replace it with tariffs. In June 2024, Trump discussed the idea of eliminating the income tax in a private meeting with Republican politicians. In October 2024, Trump suggested that he would scrap the income tax if he wins 2024 United States presidential election, pointing out that tariffs were the main sources of revenue in the 19th century.

Education

Main article: Education in the United States

Further information: Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign § Education, 2020s controversies around critical race theory, and Parental rights movement

Trump has pledged to terminate the Department of Education, claiming it has been infiltrated by "radical zealots and Marxists." At the American Federation of Teachers national convention, Harris attacked recent efforts to ban books. She has also previously called for raising teacher's wages.

Foreign policy

Main article: Foreign policy of the United States

Further information: Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign § Foreign policy

Joe Biden signing Executive Order 14065 in February 2022 in response to Russia's imminent invasion of Ukraine. The United States has given billions worth of military aid to Ukraine following the Russian invasion of the country in 2022.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israel–Hamas war are expected issues in the election. Harris has signaled to generally follow Biden's foreign policy on NATO and Ukraine, supporting both in the aftermath of the Russian invasion. A supporter of the two-state solution, Harris is seen as more sympathetic to Palestinians than Biden, who has described himself as a Zionist and has a long history with Israeli leaders. Regarding the Israel–Hamas war, analysts expect Harris to continue Biden's approach. Following Hamas's attack on Israel in 2023, Harris strongly supported Israel's offensive, stating that "the threat Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated". However, she has since criticized Israel's approach and the Gaza humanitarian crisis. In March 2024, Harris opposed Israel's invasion of Rafah, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and stated that the situation in Gaza is a "humanitarian catastrophe". Harris has advocated for "de-risking" from Beijing, a policy that encourages reducing Western economic dependence on China. Harris is expected to continue deepening American alliances in Asia and the Pacific with the intention of curbing China's rising power both economically and militarily.

Trump's 2024 campaign has reiterated its isolationist "America First" foreign policy agenda, and has promised to "fundamentally reevaluate" NATO's purpose and mission, shifting the nation's defense burdens from Europe towards Asia. Trump has stated he would encourage Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" to countries that did not contribute enough to NATO. Trump has said he would cut off aid to Ukraine quickly if reelected. Trump previously stated he would potentially recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, and made suggestions that he could have prevented the war by ceding parts of eastern Ukraine to Russia. Trump has stated that even before he is inaugurated, he will negotiate an end to the Russo-Ukrainian War in a 24-hour time period, stop the "endless flow of American treasure to Ukraine", and ask Europeans to reimburse the U.S. the cost of rebuilding its stockpiles. Trump has voiced strong support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war, and has stated that they must "finish the problem". Trump has promised a tougher stance against China than Biden, but has also questioned whether America should defend Taiwan. Trump has suggested withdrawing troops from South Korea if it does not pay more to support U.S. troops there. Trump has previously promised he would bar Gaza residents from entering the United States through an extended travel ban. Trump has stated he would shut down pro-Palestinian protests, deport demonstrators, and "set the movement back 25 or 30 years". At times, however, he has also been critical of Israel's war in Gaza. In April 2024, Trump said Israel should "get it over with ... get back to peace and stop killing people." In July 2024, Trump said that Israel should end the war in Gaza as soon as possible.

Israel–Hamas war views

Further information: Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States and Israel–Hamas war protest vote movements

Polling has indicated that the majority of voters support a ceasefire and American mediation in the Israel-Hamas war. According to a YouGov poll in March 2024, 52% of Americans supported stopping weapons shipments to Israel, coming largely from Americans who voted for Biden in 2020 (62% support) and people who did not vote in 2020 (60%). Republicans opposed halting weapons shipments by 25 points. Republicans generally support arms to Israel, while Democrats are divided on the issue.

In the Democratic primaries, the Uncommitted National Movement led a protest campaign against Biden over the war, calling for a ceasefire and arms embargo on Israel. It received over 700,000 votes and 36 delegates. Harris has been seen as more sympathetic to Palestinians during the war, and her and her campaign have interacted with Arab-American and Uncommitted leaders on multiple occasions. However, Harris has refused to halt any weapons shipments to Israel or shift policy from Biden, saying Israel has a right to defend itself. By October, Uncommitted encouraged its members to vote for Harris.

Trump also supports Israel's campaign and has said it "has to have a victory", though has said it needs to "get it over with". Trump has taken a more hardline stance on pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses, pledging to deport non-citizen protestors and "set that movement back 25 or 30 years".

Healthcare issues

Further information: Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign § Healthcare, and Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign § Social services and healthcare

The issue of healthcare, drug policy, and the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to play a key role in the 2024 presidential election.

Harris has supported efforts to strengthen coverage under the Affordable Care Act, including setting caps on seniors' out-of-pocket prescription drug prices at $2,000 and limiting the cost of insulin for those on Medicare to $35 enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Harris has been a proponent of White House efforts to ban medical debt from credit reports. Harris has stated she no longer supports a single-payer healthcare system. Harris has supported the expanded child tax credit enacted in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that reduced child poverty by 20%. Harris has expressed support for making child care and elder care more affordable and enacting paid family leave. On August 16, 2024, Harris announced the proposal of a $6,000 child tax credit, expanding her populist economic agenda. Other policies including broadening a cap on prescription drug costs and permanently reinstating the expanded child tax credit.

Trump has continued to advocate repealing the Affordable Care Act during the 2024 election, as he did while in office. During an interview on March 11, 2024, Trump suggested he was open to cutting entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, which the Trump campaign later claimed was merely referring to "cutting waste" and that he would protect the programs. Trump previously suggested while president in 2020 that he would "at some point" look into cutting entitlement programs, and Trump's previous budget proposals have suggested some cuts to the programs. During the Republican primary, Trump attacked his opponents by suggesting they would cut entitlement benefits. On the issue of subsidized care, Harris has stated she will "maintain and grow" the Affordable Care Act.

Also, Trump has collaborated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on "Make America Healthy Again" agenda and appointed some Kennedy allies to his transition team. The Trump campaign has said that he will form a panel of experts who are not funded by Big Pharma and will charge them with looking into the causes of the upward trend in chronic disease patients. In October 2024, Trump said that he would let Kennedy "go wild" when it comes to policies on food, medicine, and health.

LGBT rights

Main articles: LGBT rights in the United States and Transgender rights in the United States

Further information: Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign § LGBT rights, Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign § LGBT rights and civil rights, and 2020s anti-LGBT movement in the United States

Students in Des Moines protesting an anti-transgender law signed by Republican Governor Kim Reynolds in 2022 and demonstrators in Eugene, Oregon protest a local Drag Queen Story Hour event.

In recent years, conservative politicians in state legislatures have introduced a growing number of bills that Democrats say restrict the rights of LGBT people, especially transgender people.

Harris is a strong supporter of LGBT people's rights. She has denounced legislative attacks on transgender rights in states across the country.

Trump has promised to roll back Democrat-supported policies regarding transgender individuals. Trump stated he will rescind Biden's Title IX protections "on day one" for transgender students using bathrooms, locker rooms, and pronouns that align with their gender identities. Trump has stated he would enact a federal law that would recognize only two genders and claimed that being transgender is a concept made up by "the radical left." Trump has pledged "severe consequences" for teachers who "suggest to a child that they could be trapped in the wrong body." Trump previously withdrew Title IX provisions that allowed transgender youth to have access to the bathrooms of their choice, and he attempted to roll-back several transgender-related policies in the Affordable Care Act. Trump has repeated a false claim that children undergo transgender surgery while at school, without parental knowledge or consent.

Democratic Party

Main articles: 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries and 2024 Democratic Party presidential candidates

On April 25, 2023, President Biden officially announced his bid for re-election, confirming that Vice President Harris would remain his running mate. Following this announcement, Republicans increased their focus on Harris, intensifying criticism against her. During late 2021, amid Biden's declining approval ratings, speculation arose regarding whether he would seek re-election. Public figures, including former Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Tim Ryan and Joe Cunningham, urged Biden not to run.

Concerns about Biden's age were prominent, given that he was the oldest person to assume the office at age 78, which would make him 82 at the end of his first term and 86 at the end of a potential second term. An April 2023 poll indicated that 70 percent of Americans, including 51 percent of Democrats, believed Biden should not seek a second term, with nearly half citing his age as the reason. Biden's approval rating stood at 41 percent, with 55 percent disapproving, according to the FiveThirtyEight national polling average. Speculation also arose that Biden might face a primary challenge from the Democratic Party's progressive faction. However, after Democrats outperformed expectations in the 2022 midterm elections, many believed Biden's chances of securing the party's nomination had increased.

Author Marianne Williamson was the first to challenge Biden by announcing her candidacy in February 2023. In April 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also entered the race but later shifted his campaign to an independent run on October 9, 2023. Representative Dean Phillips joined the race on October 26, 2023; he withdrew in March 2024 and endorsed Biden. Williamson initially withdrew from the race in February 2024 but later resumed her campaign, only to end it again on June 11, 2024.

Jason Palmer, who surprised many by winning the American Samoa caucuses, became the first candidate to win a contested primary against an incumbent president since Ted Kennedy in 1980. However, he suspended his campaign on May 15, 2024. On March 12, 2024, Biden secured a majority of delegates, becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Biden addressing the nation from the Oval Office on his decision to withdraw from the race, July 24, 2024

Despite securing the nomination, Biden faced significant opposition from "uncommitted" voters and the Uncommitted National Movement, who collectively garnered more votes than several major contenders in the 2020 Democratic primaries and won 36 delegates. Following a widely panned debate performance against Trump on June 27, 2024, Biden withdrew from the race on July 21, endorsing Harris as his successor. Harris quickly announced her campaign and secured enough delegate endorsements by July 22, becoming the presumptive nominee.

Biden's withdrawal made him the first eligible incumbent president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 not to seek re-election, and the first to withdraw after securing enough delegates to win the nomination. Harris is the first nominee who did not participate in the primaries since Vice President Hubert Humphrey, also in 1968.

Following Biden's withdrawal, Tim Walz, Josh Shapiro, Mark Kelly, and Andy Beshear emerged as lead candidates in the veepstakes. Shapiro received pushback from pro-Palestine activists for comments on college protesters and for claiming to volunteer for the IDF, while Kelly was criticized by labor groups.

The Democratic Party conducted a virtual roll call vote on August 2, where Harris secured the majority of delegate votes and became the official nominee on August 5. She selected Walz as her running mate the following day. If successful, Harris would make history as the first female and first Asian American president of the United States. Walz would be the first vice president to have served in the war on terror.

Democratic nominees

Main article: Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign

Democratic Party (United States) 2024 Democratic Party ticket
Kamala Harris	Tim Walz
for President	for Vice President
49th Vice President of the United States (2021–present)	41st Governor of Minnesota (2019–present)
Campaign

Republican Party

Main articles: 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries and 2024 Republican Party presidential candidates

Results of the 2024 Republican presidential primaries

  Nikki Haley

  Donald Trump

Trump, the then-incumbent president, was defeated by Biden in the 2020 election and is not term-limited to run again in 2024, making him the fifth ex-president to seek a second non-consecutive term. If he wins, Trump would be the second president to win a non-consecutive term, after Grover Cleveland in 1892. Trump filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on November 15, 2022, and announced his candidacy in a speech at Mar-a-Lago the same day. Trump was considered an early frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump had announced in March 2022 that his former vice president Mike Pence would not be his running mate. In civil proceedings, Trump has been found liable for sexual abuse and defamation in 2023, defamation in 2024, and financial fraud in 2024, becoming the first former president to be convicted of a crime.

In March 2023, Trump was indicted over his hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump was again indicted in June over his handling of classified documents that contained materials sensitive to national security. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all the charges related to these indictments.

Trump faced opposition in the primaries, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis seen as the main challenger to Trump for the Republican nomination; he had raised more campaign funds in the first half of 2022 and had more favorable polling numbers than Trump by the end of 2022. On May 24, 2023, DeSantis announced his candidacy on Twitter in an online conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk. "American decline is not inevitable—it is a choice...I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback," DeSantis said. His campaign stated to have raised $1 million in the first hour following the announcement of his candidacy. Speaking on Fox & Friends, he stated that he would "destroy leftism" in the United States. At the end of July 2023, FiveThirtyEight's national polling average of the Republican primaries had Trump at 52 percent, and DeSantis at 15.

Following the Iowa caucuses, in which Trump posted a landslide victory, DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump, leaving the former president and Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who served in Trump's cabinet, as the only remaining major candidates. Trump continued to win all four early voting contests while Haley's campaign struggled to gain momentum. On March 6, 2024, the day after winning only one primary out of fifteen on Super Tuesday, Haley suspended her campaign.

On March 12, 2024, Trump officially became the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

Trump was injured in an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, when a bullet grazed his ear. This was the first time a president or major party presidential candidate was injured in an assassination attempt since Ronald Reagan in 1981. Trump faced another assassination attempt on September 15, 2024, though he was not injured.

On July 15, 2024, the first day of the Republican National Convention, Trump officially announced that Senator JD Vance of Ohio would be his running mate. If elected, he would be the first marine and first Iraq War veteran to serve as vice president.

On July 18, 2024, Trump accepted the nomination from the Republican National Convention to become the Republican presidential nominee. This was the third consecutive election in which he was the Republican nominee.

Republican nominees

Main article: Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign

Republican Party (United States) 2024 Republican Party ticket
Donald Trump	JD Vance
for President	for Vice President
45th President of the United States (2017–2021)	U.S. Senator from Ohio (2023–present)
Campaign

Third-party and independent candidates

Main article: Third-party and independent candidates for the 2024 United States presidential election

A number of independent candidates have announced presidential runs, most notably Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West.

Several third parties, including the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the Constitution Party, and the American Solidarity Party have also announced presidential nominees.

Kennedy dropped out of the race in August 2024, though he remains on the ballot in many states. The No Labels organization abandoned its efforts to run a centrist candidate in April 2024.

With majority ballot access

Libertarian Party

Main articles: 2024 Libertarian Party presidential primaries and Chase Oliver 2024 presidential campaign

Chase Oliver was chosen by the Libertarian Party as its presidential nominee on May 26, 2024, at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention. Oliver was the party's candidate in the 2022 United States Senate election in Georgia. Oliver achieved ballot access in 47 states, and will be eligible to receive write-in votes in the District of Columbia, Illinois, New York, and Tennessee.

2024 Libertarian Party ticket
Chase Oliver	Mike ter Maat
for President	for Vice President
Sales account executive from Georgia	Economist from Virginia

Green Party

Main articles: 2024 Green Party presidential primaries and Jill Stein 2024 presidential campaign

Stein was also the party's candidate in 2012 and 2016. Stein is a physician and a former member of the Lexington Town Meeting. On August 16, Stein selected academic Butch Ware as her running mate. Stein achieved ballot access in 38 states, and will be eligible to receive write-in votes in seven states. She will not be eligible to receive write-in votes in the remaining states or the District of Columbia.

2024 Green Party ticket
Jill Stein	Butch Ware
for President	for Vice President
Physician from Massachusetts	Academic from California

With partial ballot access

These third-party candidates have ballot access in some states, but not enough to get 270 votes needed to win the presidency, without running a write-in campaign.

• American Solidarity Party: Peter Sonski, Connecticut school board member
• Approval Voting Party: Blake Huber, activist and nominee for president in 2020
• Constitution Party: Randall Terry, anti-abortion activist and perennial candidate
• Independent American Party: Joel Skousen, survivalist and consultant
• Prohibition Party: Michael Wood, businessman
• Party for Socialism and Liberation: Claudia De la Cruz, political activist
• Socialist Equality Party: Joseph Kishore, writer and SEP nominee in 2020
• Socialist Workers Party: Rachele Fruit, hotel worker and trade unionist
• Socialist Party USA: Bill Stodden, nonprofit executive

Independent candidates

The following notable individuals are running independently for president.

• Cornel West, academic, anti-war activist and public intellectual, previously both People's Party and Green Party primaries candidate, launched an independent campaign

Withdrawn candidates

The following notable individual(s) announced and then suspended their campaigns before the election:

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmental lawyer, anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist, 2024 Democratic presidential candidate and 2024 independent presidential candidate (endorsed Trump)

Timeline

Main article: Timeline of the 2024 United States presidential election

Opinion polling and forecasts

Opinion polling aggregation

Main article: Nationwide opinion polling for the 2024 United States presidential election

See also: Statewide opinion polling for the 2024 United States presidential election

Harris and Trump

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Kamala Harris Democratic	Donald Trump Republican	Others/ Undecided	Margin
Cook Political Report	through October 29, 2024	October 30, 2024	48.7%	47.5%	3.8%	Harris +1.2%
Decision Desk HQ/The Hill	through October 30, 2024	October 30, 2024	48.6%	47.9%	3.5%	Harris +0.7%
270toWin	through October 29, 2024	October 30, 2024	48.2%	47.2%	4.6%	Harris +1.0%
538	through October 29, 2024	October 30, 2024	48.1%	46.7%	5.2%	Harris +1.4%
Silver Bulletin	through October 29, 2024	October 30, 2024	48.5%	47.6%	3.9%	Harris +0.9%
Average			48.4%	47.4%	4.2%	Harris +1.0%

Harris vs. Trump vs. Kennedy Jr. vs. Oliver vs. Stein vs. West

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Kamala Harris Democratic	Donald Trump Republican	Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Independent	Chase Oliver Libertarian	Jill Stein Green	Cornel West Independent	Others/ Undecided	Margin
Race to the WH	through October 27, 2024	October 29, 2024	47.4%	46.6%	2.8%	0.9%	1.0%	0.8%	0.5%	Harris +0.8%
270toWin	through October 27, 2024	October 29, 2024	47.1%	46.1%	1.0%	1.0%	1.1%	0.3%	3.4%	Harris +1.0%
Average			47.3%	46.4%	1.9%	1.0%	1.1%	0.6%	1.7%	Harris +0.9%

Electoral College forecasts

Elections analysts and political pundits issue probabilistic forecasts of the composition of the Electoral College. These forecasts use a variety of factors to estimate the likelihood of each candidate winning the Electoral College electors for that state. Most election predictors use the following ratings:

• "tossup": no advantage
• "tilt" (used by some predictors): advantage that is not quite as strong as "lean"
• "lean" or "leans": slight advantage
• "likely": significant, but surmountable, advantage
• "very likely" (used by some predictors): massive advantage that is stronger than “likely”
• "safe" or "solid": near-certain chance of victory

Below is a list of states considered by one or more forecast to be competitive; states that are deemed to be "safe" or "solid" by forecasters The Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, Inside Elections, CNalysis, Decision Desk HQ, and YouGov are omitted for brevity.

State	EVs	PVI	2020 result	2020 margin	IE Aug 29	Cook Aug 27	CNalysis Oct 16	Sabato Sept 25	CNN Oct 8	DDHQ Oct 29	538 Oct 25	Economist Oct 29	YouGov Oct 16
Alaska	3	R+8	52.8% R	10.06%	Solid R	Solid R	Very Likely R	Safe R	Solid R	Solid R	Likely R	Safe R	Likely R
Arizona	11	R+2	49.4% D	0.31%	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Lean R (flip)	Lean R (flip)	Tossup
Colorado	10	D+4	55.4% D	13.50%	Solid D	Solid D	Solid D	Solid D	Lean D	Safe D	Likely D	Safe D	Solid D
Florida	30	R+3	51.2% R	3.36%	Lean R	Likely R	Likely R	Likely R	Lean R	Likely R	Likely R	Likely R	Lean R
Georgia	16	R+3	49.5% D	0.24%	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Lean R (flip)	Tossup	Tossup
Iowa	6	R+6	53.1% R	8.20%	Likely R	Solid R	Very Likely R	Safe R	Solid R	Safe R	Likely R	Likely R	Solid R
Maine	2	D+2	53.1% D	9.07%	Likely D	Likely D	Very Likely D	Likely D	Solid D	Likely D	Likely D	Likely D	Solid D
ME–02	1	R+6	52.3% R	7.44%	Lean R	Likely R	Very Likely R	Likely R	Lean R	Likely R	Likely R	Likely R	Lean R
Michigan	15	R+1	50.6% D	2.78%	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Lean D
Minnesota	10	D+1	52.4% D	7.11%	Lean D	Likely D	Solid D	Likely D	Lean D	Lean D	Likely D	Likely D	Likely D
NE–02	1	EVEN	52.0% D	6.50%	Lean D	Lean D	Likely D	Likely D	Lean D	Likely D	Likely D	Likely D	Tossup
Nevada	6	R+1	50.1% D	2.39%	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup
New Hampshire	4	D+1	52.7% D	7.35%	Lean D	Likely D	Very Likely D	Likely D	Lean D	Lean D	Likely D	Likely D	Likely D
New Mexico	5	D+3	54.3% D	10.79%	Solid D	Likely D	Solid D	Likely D	Lean D	Likely D	Likely D	Likely D	Solid D
North Carolina	16	R+3	49.9% R	1.35%	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Lean R	Lean R	Tossup
Ohio	17	R+6	53.3% R	8.03%	Likely R	Solid R	Solid R	Safe R	Solid R	Likely R	Likely R	Safe R	Likely R
Oregon	8	D+6	56.4% D	16.08%	Solid D	Solid D	Solid D	Solid D	Lean D	Solid D	Solid D	Likely D	Solid D
Pennsylvania	19	R+2	50.0% D	1.16%	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup
Texas	40	R+5	52.1% R	5.58%	Likely R	Likely R	Likely R	Likely R	Solid R	Likely R	Likely R	Likely R	Lean R
Virginia	13	D+3	54.1% D	10.11%	Likely D	Likely D	Solid D	Likely D	Lean D	Likely D	Likely D	Likely D	Solid D
Wisconsin	10	R+2	49.5% D	0.63%	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Lean D
Overall					D – 226 R – 219 93 tossups	D – 226 R – 219 93 tossups	D – 226 R – 219 93 tossups	D – 226 R – 219 93 tossups	D – 226 R – 219 93 tossups	D – 226 R – 219 93 tossups	D – 226 R – 262 50 tossups	D – 226 R – 246 66 tossups	D – 250 R – 219 69 tossups

Debates

Main article: 2024 United States presidential debates

In April 2022, the Republican National Committee voted unanimously to withdraw from the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). In May 2024, the Biden campaign proposed hosting two debates outside of the CPD timetable and refusing to participate in CPD-hosted debates. Biden and Trump agreed to debates on CNN on June 27 and ABC News on September 10. The Harris camp suggested that another debate could be held in October after the September 10 debate with Trump. On September 12, Trump announced that there would be no third presidential debate.

June 27 presidential debate: Biden vs. Trump

Main article: Joe Biden–Donald Trump 2024 presidential debate

CNN hosted the first major debate of the election on June 27 in Atlanta, with 51 million viewers watching. Media outlets characterized Biden's debate performance as a "disaster". Some pundits noted that he frequently lost his train of thought and gave meandering, confused answers.

G. Elliott Morris and Kaleigh Rogers of ABC News' 538 argued that Biden had failed to reassure voters that he was capable of serving as president for another four years. After the debate, elected officials, party strategists, and fundraisers conversed about replacing Biden as the party's candidate, including whether prominent Democrats should make a public statement asking him to step aside. In response, Biden initially stated that he would not be dropping out, and prominent Democratic politicians, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, reiterated their support for Biden following the debate. The debate performance led to Biden ultimately withdrawing his bid for re-election on July 21.

September 10 presidential debate: Harris vs. Trump

Further information: 2024 United States presidential debates § September 10: Second presidential debate (ABC, Philadelphia)

The second presidential debate was held on Tuesday, September 10 by ABC News with 67.1 million viewers watching. Trump had proposed a debate on Fox News instead of the ABC debate, but later accepted the debate on ABC. The debate was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and lasted for about 100 minutes. ABC's debate topics included abortion, the economy, foreign policy, and immigration. Most news organizations declared Harris the winner of the debate, and polling showed voters thought Harris won the debate by what The Washington Post described as a "historically large" margin. During the debate, Trump made numerous false assertions and extreme statements, including false claims about immigrants eating pets and Democrats supporting infanticide. CNN found that Trump made over 30 false claims during the debate, but Harris only made one. Republicans attributed Trump's low debate performance to their perception of biased debate moderation by ABC News, because the moderators fact-checked him more than four times but did not fact-check Harris.

October 1 vice presidential debate: Vance vs. Walz

Further information: 2024 United States presidential debates § October 1: Vice presidential debate (CBS, New York City)

Vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz participated in a debate hosted by CBS News on October 1 at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City. Topics discussed during the debate included immigration, abortion, and the economy. Fact checking was primarily done online only, with Vance making more false and misleading claims than Walz.

Forty-three million viewers watched the debate. Many debate watchers viewed the debate as "positive" and "civil". According to polling, both candidates polled about even among viewers who were asked who won the debate, while Vance was considered the winner by a majority of columnists.

Minor debates and forums

Main article: Third-party and independent candidates for the 2024 United States presidential election § Debates and forums

Various debates and forums have been held, sponsored by the Free & Equal Elections Foundation.

See also

• 2024 United States elections
  • 2024 United States gubernatorial elections
  • 2024 United States House of Representatives elections
  • 2024 United States Senate elections
• Timeline of the 2024 United States presidential election
• Republican Party efforts to disrupt the 2024 United States presidential election

External links

• "Misinformation Dashboard: Election 2024. A tool tracking the topics and tactics of 2024 election misinformation". News Literacy Project. 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.