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A former vice president, two former governors, a sitting U.S. senator, a current mayor and a radio host recently joined a growing GOP list of 2024 presidential candidates, while an author and Kennedy’s family vie for the Democratic nomination.
They are all considered major underdogs against the three candidates making headlines, at least for now.
President Biden is expected to easily win the Democratic nomination, while former President Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are vying for the Republican nomination. Early polls show DeSantis trailing Trump, including in California, where the former president has a 44%-26% lead among the state’s likely primary voters.
Although California Governor Gavin Newsom has not announced a presidential bid for himself, he is simultaneously campaigning for Biden’s re-election. building his own base in red states.
Here are some of the official candidates:
Joe Biden, Democrat
Biden announced on April 25 that he will seek the presidency again, dispelling doubts about whether he will be fit to begin a second term when he is 82. It is still unclear who Biden will run against as the Republican primaries are still taking shape. Read more >>
Donald Trump, Republican
Trump announced his bid last November and is ahead of the GOP, despite being the first former president in history to face a criminal charge. Some believe the allegations will help his candidacy. Read more >>
Ron DeSantis, Republican
The Florida governor announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on May 24 in a glitch-filled Twitter appearance. Although he’s trailing in the polls, he’s still Trump’s biggest rival. Read more >>
Mike Pence, Republican
The former vice president launched his presidential campaign in June, challenging his former boss, Trump, for the Republican nomination. This matchup comes after their time in the White House ended with a riot at the US Capitol and Pence on the run for his life. Read more >>
Nikki Haley, Republican
The former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador became Trump’s first major challenger when she announced her candidacy in February. Read more >>
Chris Christie, Republican
The former New Jersey governor directly challenged Trump when he announced his campaign in June, labeling the former president as someone “who always finds someone else and something else to blame for whatever goes wrong.” Read more >>
Tim Scott, Republican
The South Carolina senator launched his campaign May 22 and said he hopes he can serve as a contrast to the political belligerence that has dominated the early GOP primary field. Read more >>
Francis Suarez, Republican
The mayor of Miami announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in June, just days after Trump appeared in court in his city on federal charges of withholding classified documents. Read more >>
Asa Hutchinson, Republican
During his April announcement, the former Arkansas governor positioned himself as an alternative to Trump and urged him to drop out of the race. Read more >>
Larry Elder, Republican
The conservative radio host, who was seeking to replace California’s governor in a failed 2021 recall, announced his candidacy in April. Read more >>
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Democrat
The cousin of President John F. Kennedy announced in April that he is challenging Biden for the Democratic nomination, comparing his campaign to the American Revolution. Read more >>
Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican
The wealthy biotech entrepreneur, investor and author of the book “Woke, Inc.” announced his bid for the GOP nomination in February. Read more >>
Marianne Williamson, Democrat
The self-help author whose campaign for the White House in 2020 with idiosyncratic calls for spiritual healing, launched a new challenge for Biden in March. Read more >>
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
