Who are the 2024 presidential election candidates? Meet the Republicans and Democrats campaigning

Nearly five months ahead of the Iowa caucuses, 14 candidates have hit the campaign trail hoping to convince voters, and their respective parties, why they are the best option.

So far, just three Democrats have announced their campaign for the White House: incumbent President Joe Biden, self-help author Marianne Williamson and anti-vaccine advocate Robert F Kennedy Jr.

As of now, President Biden is assumed to be the Democrats’ choice for representing the party.

What’s more unclear is who will receive the GOP nomination as the pool of candidates grows.

Leading the GOP polls is ex-president Donald Trump who has continued to receive support from voters despite facing three criminal indictments this year.

Other Republican candidates include Florida governor Ron DeSantis, ex-vice president Mike Pence, ex-South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, ex-Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, South Carolina senator Tim Scott, ex-New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Miami mayor Francis Suarez, and ex-congressman Will Hurd.

Republicans who qualify will go head-to-head in the first RNC debate on 23 August.

Voices: Biden gets a report card amid ‘Bidenomics’ push

19:00 , Ariana Baio

“More than the war in Ukraine, more than MAGA Republicans, the House GOP’s probes into his son Hunter or Senate Minority Mitch McConnell, inflation has been Mr Biden’s most persistent obstacle to winning a second term in the White House.”

Eric Garcia writes:

Biden gets a report card amid ‘Bidenomics’ push

Nikki Haley signs pledge vowing to support RNC nominee

17:00 , Ariana Baio

Presidential candidate Nikki Haley has signed the Republican National Committee’s pledge promising to support the eventual nominee.

Ms Haley joins fellow candidates Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy in signing the pledge which is required in order to participate in the RNC’s debate.

Among new requirements the RNC enacted for candidates to join the debate, one of them is to vow to promise to support the eventual Republican nominee. The pledge also requires candidates to only participate in RNC-sanctioned debates.

The pledge, named the “Beat Biden pledge” asks candidates to: “affirm that if I do not win the 2024 Republican nomination for President of the United States, I will honor the will of the primary voters and support the 2024 Republican presidential nominee in order to save our country and beat Joe Biden,”

It adds: “I further pledge that I will not seek to run as an independent or write-in candidate nor will I seek or accept the nomination for president of any other party.”

Ms Haley signed her name but noticeably crossed out President Joe Biden’s name and wrote “President Harris” indicating she believes the race is really against Vice President Kamala Harris.

The first debate is set for 23 August.

Iowa State Fair kicks off

16:20 , Ariana Baio

The Iowa State Fair kicks off on Thursday, marking the first of major campaign events in the 2024 race for the White House.

Nearly every candidate is expected to attend the fair which has become a notorious spot for presidential candidates to schmooze with voters in the first-in-the-nation primary.

Tim Scott’s campaign is spending his campaign money at a 109% rate

14:00 , Ariana Baio

The 2024 GOP candidates are utilising all of their resources to try and beat former president Donald Trump, with Senator Tim Scott spending his money the quickest, according to Axios.

Data from the Federal Election Commission shows that Mr Scott is spending more money than he is raising it – though he has more than $21 million to spend.

Mike Pence releases ‘too honest’ merchandise mocking Trump indictment

12:00 , Ariana Baio

Ex-vice president and 2024 candidate Mike Pence has begun selling merchandise that says “Too honest” – something Donald Trump allegedly told Mr Pence after he refused to engage in a scheme to unlawfully decertify election results.

The federal indictment most recently unveiled against the former president claims that when he asked Mr Pence to participate in his alleged effort to overturn the 2020 election, Mr Pence refused citing it’s unlawfulness.

According to the indictment, Mr Trump called Mr Pence “too honest.”

Now, on Mr Pence’s campaign website, t-shirts and hats bearing the words “Too honest” can be bought.

However, Mr Trump disputed this, writing on Truth Social: “I never told a newly emboldened (not based on his 2% poll numbers!) Pence to put me above the Constitution or that Mike was ‘too honest.’ He’s delusional, and now he wants to show he’s a tough guy.”

Fox News execs pressed Trump on joining first GOP debate during dinner after latest indictment

10:00 , Ariana Baio

Former President Donald Trump reportedly had a private dinner with the top executives at Fox News, who tried to persuade him to participate in the first Republican primary debate this month – just hours after the former president faced his third indictment.

Kelly Rissman reports:

Fox News execs pressed Trump to join first GOP debate after latest indictment

Marianne Williamson says ‘we need a mother’ in the White House

07:00 , Ariana Baio

Marianne Williamson, one of the three Democrats who have announced their bid for 2024 president, used her role as a parent to explain why she should be elected president.

Ms Williamson responded to a tweet that provided information about a recent lawsuit involving a meat business. The meat packaging business was ordered to pay a fine after a 17-year-old worker lost his hand in a meat grinder.

“TEENAGERS SHOULD NOT BE WORKING IN A MEAT PACKING PLANT,” Ms Williamson wrote on X.

“We need a mother in the White House and you can take that however you want.”

Vivek Ramaswamy responds to 9/11 backlash with long-winded X post

04:00 , Ariana Baio

Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy defended himself against criticism from politicians, including opponent Mike Pence, after he made ‘offensive’ comments questioning the government’s honesty about the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Mr Ramaswamy, 37, posted a long-winded message on X, formerly known as Twitter and a letter to the editor in The Wall Street Journal claiming, “The reason the people don’t trust the government is because the government doesn’t trust the people.”

When is the next US presidential election?

02:00 , Ariana Baio

Primary season for the candidates begins in late January, running through February until Super Tuesday on 5 March, after which the Republican National Convention will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

When is the next US presidential election?

Tim Scott says he will ‘crush’ Mexican drug cartels if elected

Wednesday 9 August 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio

Senator Tim Scott said if elected president in 2024, he will reduce the amount of fentanyl coming across the US’s southern border by ‘crushing’ cartels.

“With illegal border crossings surging, the fentanyl crisis is only getting worse. I will crush the cartels who bring these drugs over our border and into our homes,” Mr Scott wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Americans deserve safe streets, drug-free neighborhoods, & secure borders. When I’m president, they’ll get them.”

Mr Scott did not provide any further detail about the way he would implement this action.

Ohio special election results show how abortion rights appeal to voters

Wednesday 9 August 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio

Ohio voters resoundingly rejected a measure that would make it more difficult to amend the state’s constitution in an election on Tuesday night – a proposal that officials bluntly admitted was an effort to kneecap an upcoming ballot measure asking voters to enshrine a right to abortion care.

Though abortion itself wasn’t on the ballot in the special election, but the failure of the proposal indicates that voters are just as fired-up about protecting their right to healthcare as ever.

That proposal has failed at 57 per cent, against and 43 per cent in favor thanks to an extremely high voter turnout of roughly 700,000.

This means that a November referendum on abortion rights will need only 50 per cent of the vote to enshrine those protections into the state’s constitution, a major victory for abortion rights advocates and democratic campaigns.

Issue 1 campaign Protect Our Constitution was largely supported by GOP mega-donor and Illinois businessman Richard Uihlein.

A coalition of abortion rights, civil rights and democratic advocacy groups joined a No On Issue 1 campaign.

“Republicans’ deeply unpopular war on women’s rights will cost them district after district, and we will remind voters of their toxic anti-abortion agenda every day until November,” said Aidan Johnson, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told The Associated Press.

Presidential candidates appearing at the Iowa State Fair

Wednesday 9 August 2023 20:30 , Ariana Baio

The Iowa State Fair, largely considered one of the first major campaigning events for presidential candidates, is set to begin tomorrow and run through 20 August.

Nearly every candidate is expected to attend the fair to speak with voters in the first-in-nation primary state.

Many have signed up to speak with Governor Kim Reynolds at her ‘Fair-Side Chats” while others will be making a brief appearance at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox.

Here is the schedule as of now (subject to change)

Thursday, 10 August

11.30am ET – Larry Elder at the “Fair-side Chat” with Gov Kim Reynolds

2.30pm ET – Doug Burgum at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

5.30pm ET– Mike Pence at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

Friday, 11 August

9.30am ET– Doug Burgum at the “Fair-side Chat” with Gov Kim Reynolds

10.30am ET– Mike Pence at the “Fair-side Chat” with Gov Kim Reynolds

11.30am ET– Francis Suarez at the “Fair-side Chat” with Gov Kim Reynolds

12.15pm ET– Francis Suarez at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

12pm ET– Perry Johnson at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

2.30pm ET–Larry Elder at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

Saturday, 12 August

9.30am ET– Vivek Ramawamy at the “Fair-side Chat” with Gov Kim Reynolds

10.30am ET– Nikki Haley at the“Fair-side Chat” with Gov Kim Reynolds

11.30am ET– Ron DeSantis at the“Fair-side Chat” with Gov Kim Reynolds

12.15am ET– Ryan Binkley at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

1pm ET– Vivek Ramaswamy at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

1.30pm ET– Marianne Williamson at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

2pm ET– Donald Trump speaking

2.30pm ET– Marianne Williamson at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

3.15pm ET– Robert F Kennedy Jr at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

4pm ET– Nikki Haley  at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox

RFK Jr focuses on border crisis while campaigning

Wednesday 9 August 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

Robert F Kennedy Jr is appealing to potential voters by harping on the crisis at the southern border – and claiming he can fix it.

The 2024 candidate posted a long-winded Substack post saying as president he would “seal the border to illegal immigration” while expanding lawful pathways into the United States.

Mr Kennedy said he would “tighten border security” by installing cameras, lights, motion detectors coupled with physical barriers.

He made a point to say there was “no need” for a wall to be built along the border.

“We have to fully fund courts, services, and border agencies to allow lawful immigration in accordance with U.S. law and deny non-compliant access, and appoint more judges to handle asylum cases,” Mr Kennedy said.

Mr Kennedy is seeking the Democratic National Committee nomination in the race for the White House.

Chris Christie responds to Trump’s ‘fat pig’ attack: ‘Say it to my face’

Wednesday 9 August 2023 18:04 , Ariana Baio

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has fired back at former President Donald Trump after he emphasised comments referring to Mr Christie as a “fat pig”.

“If you had the guts you would show up to the debate and say it to my face,” Mr Christie tweeted on Tuesday night.

Fox Business to host second GOP debate

Wednesday 9 August 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio

The second Republican 2024 presidential debate will be aired on Fox Business on 27 September, a news release from the Republican National Committee says.

The debate, which will be hosted at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library will also be partnered with Univision and Rumble.

The first debate, which is set for 23 August will air on Fox News.

Voices: Are abortions about to be even harder to get?

Wednesday 9 August 2023 16:00 , Ariana Baio

“Democrats hope that voter outrage about abortion remains a potent tool, even in Republican Ohio. The GOP, however, hopes tonight’s referendum will prevent the state from enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution”

Eric Garcia writes:

Are abortions about to be even harder to get?

The presidential candidates who have so far met criteria to join first RNC debate

Wednesday 9 August 2023 13:00 , Ariana Baio

Eight Republican presidential candidates have met the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) new criteria to participate in the first GOP debate on 23 August.

Former president Donald Trump, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina senator Tim Scott and North Dakota governor Doug Burgum and former vice president Mike Pence have all qualified.

Ariana Baio reports:

The presidential candidates who have so far met criteria to join first RNC debate

DeSantis won’t rule out national abortion ban

Wednesday 9 August 2023 12:00 , Ariana Baio

Ron DeSantis has not ruled out enacting a national abortion “ban” if elected president, after the Florida governor implemented state restrictions on abortion access at 15 weeks and six weeks of pregnancy within the last two years.

But he suggested that there is no “consensus” in the US for members of Congress to implement a national ban, as abortion restrictions and the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade remain overwhelmingly unpopular.

Asked by NBC’s Dasha Burns whether he would “veto any sort of federal bill” that would institute a nationwide ban, Mr DeSantis replied: “We will be a pro-life president and we will support pro-life policies.”

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to revoke a constitutional right to abortion care last year, Republican officials have repeatedly stated that the ruling merely left it up to individual states to decide. But anti-abortion lawmakers at the state level and in Congress continue to push for national restrictions that would also strike down state laws that protect and expand abortion access.

Mike Pence qualifies for RNC debate

Wednesday 9 August 2023 04:00 , Ariana Baio

Ex-vice president Mike Pence is the eight 2024 GOP candidate to qualify for the RNC debate set to take place on 23 August.

Mr Pence, who has been polling in national and local polls finally met the 40,000 donor minimum requirement to take part in the debate.

Mr Pence’s campaign told Fox News they have 200 or more donors in 40 states.

This past year, the RNC added a list of criteria that candidates must meet to qualify for the first debate, as the pool of GOP hopefuls grows larger each passing month.

In addition to the 40,000 unique donors and one per cent polling, candidates also must commit to supporting the RNC’s eventual nominee and not participate in any non-RNC sanctioned debates for the remainder of the election cycle.

Trump teases appearing at RNC debate by polling supporters

Wednesday 9 August 2023 02:30 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump has made it clear showing up for the first Republican National Committee debate is not high on his to-do list.

The ex-president has maintained that he’s unsure if he will attend the debate set for 23 August.

But Mr Trump is seemingly teasing the idea of going by polling supporters.

Mr Trump’s campaign sent out an email this past weekend asking people to weigh-in on whether he should attend the debate. Then at a rally on Tuesday, he asked a crowd of potential voters if he should go.

Vivek Ramaswamy misses event due to private plan issue

Wednesday 9 August 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio

GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy missed an in-person campaign event on Monday due to a malfunction with his private plane, according to NBC News.

Mr Ramaswamy, 37, was meant to attend a town hall in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan but had to switch to a virtual appearance.

This is the third time he’s missing an event in one month, according to the report.

“It was a little bit scary for a hot second there,” Mr Ramaswamy said of the incident.

According to his campaign, the plane had to make an emergency landing due to a “cabin depressurization issue.”

Mr Ramaswamy is the youngest person running for president so far. He has campaigned heavily on cultural issues like “wokeness”.

Ron DeSantis replaces campaign manager

Tuesday 8 August 2023 22:10 , Ariana Baio

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has replaced his campaign manager as he struggles to gain traction in his attempt to take down former President Donald Trump in the fight for the Republican presidential nomination.

Campaign manager Generra Peck will now instead move to the role of chief strategist with James Uthmeier taking the top post, according to The Messenger.

Mr Uthmeier previously held the position of chief of staff in the governor’s office. The shakeup comes not long after the campaign said that Ms Peck’s position was secure.

Gustaf Kilander reports:

Ron DeSantis replaces campaign manager as 2024 bid falters

Haley criticizes Tommy Tuberville’s military promotions hold

Tuesday 8 August 2023 21:46 , Ariana Baio

Nikki Haley said while she agrees with Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) position on military promotions, she thinks he is going about his response the wrong way.

“I appreciate what Tuberville’s trying to do. I do,” Ms Haley told Hugh Hewitt. “Like it’s totally wrong that the Department of Defense is doing this. But have we gotten so low that this is how we have to go about stopping it?”

Ms Haley, whose husband is deployed with the South Carolina Army National Guard, was highly critical of the military’s recent nominations.

“You’re dealing with a Department of Defense that’s not focused on making sure that our military has the equipment, ammunition up to date that they need. Instead, they want them taking gender pronoun classes,” Ms Haley said. “We’ve got a serious problem when you’ve got China threatening us, Russia threatening us, Iran threatening us, and we’re going to sit there and play games like this?”

Trump gives speech in New Hampshire mocking Chris Christie

Tuesday 8 August 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio

In Windham, New Hampshire, former president and 2024 candidate Donald Trump gave a speech to potential voters in which he insulted his political rival Chris Christie.

“Christie, he’s eating right now,” Mr Trump said to the crowd. “He can’t be bothered.”

Mr Trump has often used Mr Christie’s weight as a way to mock the ex-New Jersey governor.

After an audience member shouted something at Mr Trump, the ex-president said: “Sir, please do not call him a fat pig. I’m trying to be nice. Don’t call him a fat pig.”

Who is running for president in 2024?

Tuesday 8 August 2023 21:22 , Ariana Baio

With less than two years remaining until US voters will decide who will serve as president of the United States from January 2025 to January 2029, former Republican government officials are starting to jockey for position in the coming fight for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, while at least two Democrats challenging President Joe Biden in a Democratic primary.

Andrew Feinberg and Ariana Baio report:

Who is running for president in 2024?

2024 presidential candidates hit the road

Tuesday 8 August 2023 21:17 , Ariana Baio

Follow this blog live for continuous coverage as 2024 presidential candidates hit the road