As the 2024 presidential election draws near, candidates on both sides of the aisle are gearing up for what is sure to be a contentious and hard-fought race to the White House.
On the Republican side, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has emerged as an early frontrunner. DeSantis has built a national profile thanks to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida and his staunch conservative stances on issues like election integrity, immigration, and education.
“Gov. DeSantis is clearly positioning himself to be the apparent heir apparent to Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again movement,” said political analyst Susan Page. “His law-and-order approach and willingness to take on hot-button cultural issues have made him very popular with the GOP base.”
However, DeSantis will likely face stiff competition from other Republican hopefuls, including former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Tim Scott (R-SC).
On the Democratic side, both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been coy about their 2024 plans so far. Biden will be 81 years old on Election Day 2024, leading many to speculate that he may choose not to seek reelection.
If Biden bows out, Harris would likely become the presumptive Democratic nominee. However, her poor approval ratings and lack of a signature policy achievement have raised doubts about her viability.
Other potential Democratic candidates include Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“Democrats are longing for new, young leadership that can bring energy to the party after the expected end of the Biden era,” said Democratic strategist James Carville. “They’ll be looking for someone who can go toe-to-toe with a Republican like DeSantis.”
The biggest x-factor in 2024 will be Donald Trump. The former president has repeatedly teased the possibility of a comeback bid. Trump still holds tremendous sway with the GOP base and would likely clear the field if he entered the race.
“You cannot count Trump out,” said Republican pollster Frank Luntz. “His supporters are still fanatically devoted to him.”
With control of Congress also up for grabs in 2024, the stakes could not be higher. Issues like the economy, climate change, healthcare, and education are sure to be front and center. Whoever emerges victorious will face tremendous challenges right out of the gate. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride to November 2024.
2024 Watch: DeSantis tops Trump by double digits in second straight GOP presidential primary poll https://t.co/JTcwjqnKdg
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 14, 2022
