Nasma Ibrahim, Staff Writer
President Joe Biden speaking at Bowie State University on the Democratic National Committee Maryland Election Eve Rally in November of 2022. Photo//Flickr, Elvert Barnes
We are just months away from the 2024 Presidential Election, now in the midst of a primary season.
On January 15, in the Iowa caucuses, Former President Donald Trump secured a victory, winning 51% of the vote - the largest greatest margin of victory in Iowa’s republican caucus history. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis initially claimed second place with 21%, but subsequently dropped out of the presidential race. Despite past personal feuds, DeSantis has come out and endorsed Trump. Meanwhile, biotech entrepreneur and political novice, Vivek Ramaswamy, finished fourth in Iowa with only 8% of the GOP caucus vote. Ramaswamy has since dropped out and rallied for Trump in New Hampshire.
Former South Carolina Governor and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, the sole high-profile candidate remaining, placed third in the Iowa caucuses. Pledging to be “even stronger in New Hampshire,” Haley increased her vote share from just 19.1% in Iowa to 43.2% in New Hampshire, just 11 points behind Trump. Haley’s strategy for upcoming primaries including one in her home state of South Carolina is not necessarily to win, but to lose by a smaller margin to Trump and eventually overtake him around Super Tuesday.
Republicans fear that Haley’s commitment to staying in the race is comparable to the extended battle between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in 2016 which caused divisions in the Democratic party. Haley’s campaign is gaining momentum and attracting more donors. Haley has also captured the attention of Democrats and left-leaning independents who see her as a potential force against the country’s bitter partisanship. While Trump continues fundraising, his legal troubles consume a significant portion of that money.
Current President Joe Biden, despite low poll numbers and concerns about his age, is expected to run for re-election in 2024. Democratic officials are united against Biden, and they believe that it is too late for another Democratic candidate to mount a successful campaign and raise enough money for the upcoming primaries.
As the 2024 election unfolds, it appears to be shaping up as a rematch between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Polls show that registered voters are divided, with 47% supporting Trump, 43% backing Biden, and 10% still undecided. If the election were held now, polls indicate Trump would win.
However, neither candidate has officially secured their party’s nomination. Uncertainty looms over Trump’s candidacy as he faces 91 felony charges across four criminal cases related to allegations of mishandling classified material, hush-money payments to an adult film star, and cases related to the 2020 election. The Colorado Supreme Court and Maine Democratic Secretary of State have ruled against Trump’s candidacy in their states, however, these decisions are pending further legal proceedings.