Who is running for president in 2024? A closer look at each candidate ahead of the election
The 2024 election cycle has kicked off. Though Election Day is over a year away, the race is well underway.
President Joe Biden announced he will seek another term, and with former President Donald Trump's hat also in the ring, a rematch of their 2020 race is a real possibility. Though the Democratic establishment is expected to fall firmly behind Biden, the Republican side is more of a toss-up.
Trump-endorsed candidates suffered in the midterm elections, and with his legal troubles mounting, the GOP may consider other options. Polls still show Trump with a strong lead however, and many of those trying to unseat him have floundered including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis who generated early buzz has suffered in the polls, struggling to translate popularity in Florida to popularity at the national level, and recently firing much of his campaign staff in a major shake-up.
Here are the latest developments on the path to the 2024 election:
When is the next Republican debate? GOP hopefuls will face off 4th time
An outside threat? Jill Stein launches 3rd party bid
'Drama and chaos follow him': Haley scoffs at Trump's lead in the polls
And here are the candidates who have announced their intention to run for president in the 2024 election:
Learn more about each candidate:
Joe Biden ∣ Dean Phillips ∣ Marianne Williamson ∣ Ryan Binkley ∣ Doug Burgum ∣ Chris Christie ∣ Ron DeSantis ∣ Larry Elder ∣ Nikki Haley ∣ Will Hurd ∣ Asa Hutchinson ∣ Perry Johnson ∣ Mike Pence ∣ Vivek Ramaswamy ∣ Tim Scott ∣ Francis Suarez ∣ Donald Trump ∣ Cornel West ∣ Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Democratic party candidates for 2024
Joe Biden
Political party: Democrat
Age: 80
Family: Biden has spoken candidly about grief throughout his political career. He lost his first wife Neilia Hunter and their one-year-old daughter Naomi in a 1972 car accident shortly after winning his first Senate race. His two young sons, Beau and Hunter, were injured in the crash but survived. In 2015, Biden lost Beau to brain cancer and has made it a major political goal to champion cancer research.
He remarried in 1977, tying the knot with now-First Lady Jill Biden. The two share a daughter, Ashley, and a large clan of grandchildren.
Biden's son Hunter has been the subject of scandal in recent years and has written about his struggles with drug addiction. The GOP-led House has seized on Hunter's business dealings, hosting hearings to investigate his finances and the potential influence he has on his father.
Previous political experience: Joe Biden is a veteran of the Senate. First elected in 1972, he served as a senator from Delaware for 36 years before being elected as vice president on the Obama ticket in 2008.
After serving two terms as vice president, Biden took a brief hiatus from government work before returning to run, and win, in 2020.
His views: Biden's campaign is focused on the "battle for the soul of America," doubling down on the central message of his campaign four years ago. He said the question facing the nation is "whether, in the years ahead, we have more freedom or less freedom, more rights or fewer."
More on Biden's 2024 presidential candidacy
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Dean Phillips
Political party: Democratic
Age: 54
Family: Phillips wed wife Annalise in 2019, and has two adult daughters from a previous marriage: Daniela and Pia.
Previous political experience: Phillips was first elected to Congress in 2018 and has served for three terms as a representative for Minnesota's 3rd district. Prior to politics, Phillips made his name as a businessman. In addition to taking over his family company, Phillips Distilling, he opened a coffee shop in the Twin Cities and served as chair of Talenti Gelato for four years.
His views: Phillips is a moderate with a reputation in Washington of reaching across the aisle. A member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, one of his major legislative accomplishments was the Paycheck Protection Program which he co-authored with Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy. Under the program, the government paid workers salaries and benefits to qualifying small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic for eight weeks or less.
More on Phillips 2024 presidential candidacy
Dean Phillips 2024: Democratic Rep. from Minnesota throws hat in the ring
Marianne Williamson
Political party: Democratic
Age: 70
Family: Williamson was married once in the late 1970s to a Houston businessman whom she has not named. She has one daughter, India Emmanuelle, whose father has not been publicly identified.
Previous political experience: Williamson is a self-help author and spiritual leader who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. Then she was largely drowned out by a crowded Democratic field, breaking through for a rare viral moment, but eventually written off as a non-traditional candidate whose views involved centering the "politics of love" and rejecting a “dark psychic force of collectivized hatred.”
Her views: Williamson supports abortion rights, a single-payer health care system and reparations for descendants of formerly enslaved Americans. She has suggested creating a U.S. Department of Children and Youth to increase child advocacy, and a U.S. Department of Peace.
More on Williamson's 2024 presidential candidacy
Latest Marianne Williamson news: Explore
Running to disrupt status quo: Williamson on student debt, reparations and the environment
A guide to Williamson's best-selling books: A message of love runs throughout
Republican party candidates for 2024
Ryan Binkley
Party: Republican
Age: 55
Family: Binkley met wife Ellie in college and the two share five children.
Previous political experience: Binkley is CEO, president, and co-founder of the mergers and acquisitions conglomerate Generational Equity Group. He is also a faith leader, having co-founded and serving as the pastor at Create Church in Richardson, Texas.
The 2024 run is Binkley's first foray into politics. He says he wants to stand out in a crowded field by prioritizing unity, and leaning on his faith and business experience.
His views: Binkley has said he hopes to prioritize balancing the budget, lowering health care costs, creating bipartisan immigration reform, and putting more community emphasis on education. Binkley is against abortion and advocates for American energy independence using an "all of the above" approach that encompasses both fossil fuels and new technologies.
More on Binkley's 2024 presidential candidacy:
Latest Ryan Binkley news: Explore
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Chris Christie
Party: Republican
Age: 60
Family: Christie met wife Mary Pat at the University of Delaware and the two wed in 1986. They share four children: Andrew, Sarah, Patrick and Bridget.
Previous political experience: Christie was appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey in 2002 and served for six years. He was elected governor of New Jersey in 2010 and occupied the office until 2018.
Christie is a prominent figure in the GOP. He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2016 and, despite prior criticism, ultimately endorsed Trump and later joined his campaign.
His views: Christie is anti-abortion, but does support some exceptions in the case of incest, rape, and danger to the mother. He is not for a federal ban, instead believing the issue should be left to the states. He has advocated for a more secure border to stem the flow of fentanyl into the country and is in support of U.S. aid for Ukraine.
More on Christie's 2024 presidential candidacy:
Latest Chris Christie news: Explore
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Ron DeSantis
Political party: Republican
Age: 45
Family: The governor wed former television host Casey DeSantis in 2009 and the couple share two daughters Madison and Mamie and one son Mason.
Previous political experience: DeSantis serves as the 46th governor of Florida. His national profile grew during the pandemic when he spoke out publicly against mask mandates and pushed to keep many Florida businesses and schools open. Since then, he has captured national attention with controversial legislative measures on education and immigration.
While in law school, DeSantis joined the U.S. Navy as a JAG officer, later deploying to Iraq for active duty. Prior to his run for governor, he served in the House of Representatives as a congressman for Florida's 6th district for three terms from 2013 to 2018.
He is widely viewed as Trump’s biggest threat in the Republican primary. Similar in politics but different in demeanor, DeSantis represents a younger, some say more predictable, alternative to the former president.
His views: DeSantis is campaigning on a hard-right agenda to make America look more like Florida. He is in favor of "defending parental rights and eliminating CRT," and is anti-abortion and pro-Second Amendment.
More on DeSantis' 2024 Presidential Candidacy
Latest Ron DeSantis news': Explore
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Nikki Haley
Political party: Republican
Age: 51
Family: Haley is one of four children born to Indian-American parents in Bamberg, South Carolina - a town she has described as divided by race.
She and her husband of 26 years, Michael, live still in South Carolina where they are raising two children Rena and Nalin.
Previous political experience: Haley started her political career in the South Carolina state legislature where she served for 6 years before mounting a successful campaign for the governor's office in 2010. She won reelection in 2014 and has bragged that she has "never lost a race."
In 2016, former President Trump nominated Haley to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, a position she held for a year before unexpectedly stepping down in 2018. Haley has played up her role as a female candidate in what is expected to be a largely male primary field. "May the best woman win,” she quipped in an interview with Fox News.
Her views: Haley is anti-abortion and pro-Israel. She supports cracking down on illegal immigration and "getting tough" on China and Russia. She has supported Trump in the past but also criticized him after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
More on Haley's 2024 presidential candidacy
Latest Nikki Haley news: Explore
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Asa Hutchinson
Political party: Republican
Age: 72
Family: Hutchinson has been married to wife Susan since 1973. The two share four children and seven grandchildren.
Previous political experience: Hutchinson has had a long career in Republican politics. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to serve Arkansas' 3rd district in 1997; he served until 2001 when he was appointed DEA administrator and later undersecretary for the Department of Homeland Security for the George W. Bush administration.
While in the House, Hutchinson served as impeachment manager in the trial of former president (and fellow Arkansas native) Bill Clinton. After leaving Washington he was elected 46th Governor of Arkansas. He served for two terms, from 2015 to 2023.
His views: He supports lower taxes, a strong national defense, and opposes abortion. He has said the Biden administration "stood on the sidelines" in the face of crime and “turned its back on the American worker."
More on Hutchinson's 2024 presidential candidacy
Latest Asa Hutchinson news: Explore
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Vivek Ramaswamy
Political party: Republican
Age: 37
Family: Ramaswamy married Apoorva Tewari, a throat surgeon and assistant professor at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, in 2015. The pair have two sons together.
Previous political experience: Ramaswamy is framing himself as an outsider, an entrepreneur-turned-political-hopeful who will give the establishment a run for its money.
He is a former biotech investor who founded pharmaceutical research company Roivant Sciences in 2014. Ramaswamy stepped down as CEO in 2021 and now heads up Strive Asset Management.
He is the author of three books, including "Woke Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam," which explores how American politics and capitalism have become increasingly intertwined.
His views: He has peddled ideas such as ending affirmative action and eliminating the Department of Education. His elevator pitch: He'll go farther than Trump ever did or could today.
More on Ramaswamy's 2024 presidential candidacy
More Vivek Ramaswamy news: Explore
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Donald Trump
Political party: Republican
Age: 76
Family: Trump is the son of real estate magnate Fred Trump. Born and bred in New York, he first made his name developing skyscrapers and casinos.
Trump first married in 1977, wedding Czech-born model Ivana. The two were married for 13 years and share three children: Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Eric. In 1993 Trump married actress and model Marla Maples. The two had one daughter: Tiffany. Following his divorce from Maples, Trump tied the knot for a final time with model Melania, who is mother to his youngest child, Barron.
Trump's family was uncharacteristically involved in his presidency. Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner played prominent roles in the administration, and both Don Jr. and Eric were often cited as close advisors.
Previous political experience: When Trump entered the race in 2016, he branded himself as a political outsider, a businessman separate from the establishment, ready to "drain the swamp."
Prior to 2016, he dabbled in politics, often sounding off on controversial issues like the birther movement meant to cast doubt on Barack Obama's citizenship and the guiltiness of the now-exonerated Central Park Five. However, he was still primarily known for real estate and his forays into reality television, famously starring in "The Apprentice."
In 2016, Trump shocked pollsters by securing victory over Hillary Clinton in the presidential race. He served a full four-year term and was defeated by Biden in his reelection bid.
His views: The former president has centered much of his campaign on his purported “political persecution” by Democrats. He supports securing America’s borders, “reclaiming free speech,” and “dismantling the Deep State,” according to his campaign website. He has said he would consider pardoning participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, which was inspired by his false claims of election fraud.
More on Trump's 2024 presidential candidacy
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Third-party 2024 presidential candidates
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Party: Democratic
Age: 69
Family: Kennedy bears a powerful last name in Democratic politics. He is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, the former attorney general who was assassinated during a 1968 presidential run, and the nephew of former president John F. Kennedy. Though he originally launched his campaign as a Democrat, Kennedy is now running on an Independent ticket.
Kennedy has been married three times and has six children. He wed current wife Cheryl Hines in 2014. Hines is a television star best known for her role on "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Previous political experience: Kennedy is an environmental lawyer known for trumpeting a debunked theory that vaccines can be linked to autism.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy opposed vaccine mandates, calling them an infringement on individual liberty and at times used the Holocaust as a historical comparison. In 2017, former President Trump invited Kennedy to head up a presidential commission on vaccine safety.
His views: He is campaigning on a platform of fighting for the "liberties guaranteed by the Constitution," according to his campaign website.
More on Kennedy's 2024 presidential candidacy
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Cornel West
Political Party: Green Party
Though West originally announced his candidacy under the People's Party, he later officially filed as a Green Party candidate.
Age: 70
Family: West has been married five times and has two children. He wed current wife Annahita Mahdavi in 2021.
Previous political experience: Dr. Cornel West is an American academic and philosopher known for his progressive ideals. He has taught at a number of Ivy League institutions and works now as a professor of philosophy at Union Theological Seminary.
In a video uploaded to Twitter, West announced his 2024 candidacy saying, "I enter in the quest for truth, I enter in the quest for justice." As a third-party candidate, West alleged "neither political party wants to tell the truth" on various issues. His bid with the People's Party represents the first independent ticket to enter the race thus far.
His views: West is a proponent of Medicare for All, and removing oil and gas subsidies as well as drilling on public lands. Long a vocal opponent of militarism, West's campaign website lists "end the wars" as a key priority which would include disbanding NATO and banning nuclear weapons across the globe.
More on West's 2024 presidential candidacy
Latest Cornel West news: Explore
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Jill Stein
Political Party: Green Party
Age: 73
Family: Stein is married to fellow doctor Richard Rohrer, and the couple share two adult sons.
Previous political experience: Stein has run for president twice before, launching bids in both 2012 and 2016. Stein is a doctor and organizer who has championed causes like campaign finance reform and environmental protection.
Her views: Stein paints herself as an outsider, coming in to disrupt a political system ruled by money and special interests. In her campaign launch video, posted to X, she called for an economic bill of rights including "the right to a job, to health care, to housing, to food, education and more.
More on Stein's 2024 presidential candidacy
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Doug Burgum
Political party: Republican
Age: 66
His views: Burgum has emphasized economic issues, rather than hot-button cultural issues that have been a focal point for some other GOP candidates. He is a vocal supporter of the oil industry, and the U.S. role in exporting it to other nations, and has said he favors smaller government and lower taxes.
Larry Elder
Political party: Republican
Age: 70
His views: Elder backs school choice, including vouchers and charter schools. His platform also includes a vow to be tough on crime, to secure the border, and to "contain China" by asserting military dominance in the South China Sea and minimizing reliance on the country's manufacturing.
Will Hurd
Political party: Republican
Age: 45
His views: Hurd stands out from an increasingly crowded GOP field as a rare vocal critic of Trump. He joins the likes of Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson in publicly disavowing the former president and in his campaign launch video listed illegal immigration, inflation, crime, and homelessness as legislative priorities.
Perry Johnson
Party: Republican
Age: 75
His views: Johnson told a group of Iowa voters in July that he was "pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, anti-woke and anti-China," ? and "if you don't like it, well, tough." His campaign's signature "2 cents" proposes cutting 2 cents off every dollar of federal discretionary spending.
Mike Pence
Party: Republican
Age: 63
His views: Pence is a vocal opponent of abortion, and of what he sees as the nation's long-term debt problem. He favors cuts in government spending and lower taxes, and while he often touts his time as vice president and speaks well of the policies that came out of the Trump White House, he has begun to distance himself from his former running mate. He has also criticized Trump's actions during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Tim Scott
Political party: Republican
Age: 57
His views: Scott joined the Senate in 2013. He’s anti-abortion and pro-Second Amendment. He says on his website that his “signature legislation,” Opportunity Zones, put $75 billion into “distressed communities” across the country.
Francis Suarez
Political party: Republican
Age: 45
Views: Suarez has said he did not support Trump in either 2016 or 2020, instead using his ballot to write in the names of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Former Vice President Mike Pence respectively. As mayor, Suarez has championed growing Miami's tech economy, and he has also backed low taxes and increased police spending.
This story will be updated as additional candidates officially enter the race.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 presidential candidates: A comprehensive list of everyone running
