Former US President Donald Trump of the Republican Party is eyeing a second shot at presidency and is facing a stiff challenge from Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party in the 2024 presidential elections
Harris, 60, is the nominee of the Democratic Party and Trump, 78, is the Republican nominee. Their party members and support bases are united with their respective parties, and independent votes might decide who would be the next occupant of the White House. Nearly 80 million Americans have already voted in the US elections by opting for the early ballot option.
The 2024 presidential campaign saw one of the most bitterly contested, polarised and fiercest electoral contests in recent US history, with both candidates now heading for a photo finish. Trump and Harris went all out to woo the roughly 240 million voters in America, particularly in the seven swing states which hold the key to the Oval Office. To win the US presidential election, a candidate needs to secure at least 270 electoral college votes out of a total 538.
Opinion polls show that the results of the 2024 US elections will be decided by the seven battleground states of Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia. Trump and Harris are locked in a tight contest in all these states, with most polls showing a narrow margin between the two.
Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris
A victory for either Trump or Harris will be a historic one in American elections. A Trump victory would make him the first incoming president to have been indicted and convicted of a felony, after his hush-money trial in New York. He will gain the power to end other federal investigations pending against him. Trump would also become the second president in history to win non-consecutive White House terms, after Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century.
Meanwhile, Harris could become the first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to become the president of America. Four years ago, in 2020, Harris made history by breaking the same barriers when she became the US Vice President. Harris became the Democratic nominee after Joe Biden exited the race after initially announcing that he will stand for a second term. Biden’s disastrous performance in the presidential debate and concerns over his old age prompted widespread criticism from all corners, forcing him to withdraw from the race.
Beyond federal offices, 13 gubernatorial elections will take place, and state legislatures will also hold elections across the country. Some states will also have referendums on key policy issues like abortion, healthcare, and voting rights, further adding to the importance of the 2024 election cycle.