Upcoming United States Presidential Election, 2024: The Rumored Candidates from Republican and Democratic

Tuesday, November 5, 2024, is the date of the 60th quadrennial presidential election for the United States. After the post-2020 census reapportionment, this will be the first presidential election in which electoral votes will be redistributed. 

Biden announced in January 2022 that he would run for a second term as president, backed by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Despite this, Biden has yet to commit to running for reelection in 2022. During a March 2022 interview, former president Donald Trump hinted that he might run for a second nonconsecutive term as president.

To determine the nominees for major parties, caucuses and primary elections are conducted in the United States. 

It is scheduled for January 20, 2025, to be the day of the inauguration of the winner of the 2024 presidential election.

According to Article Two, Section 1, a president must be at least 35 years old, a citizen of the United States, and a resident for about 14 years. More than two elections for president are prohibited by the Twenty-second Amendment. 

Current president Biden and former president Trump both have the option of seeking another term. The election of Donald Trump would mark the first time in the history of the nation that a president has won a second non-consecutive term since Grover Cleveland.

Despite remaining more than 2 years’ time, there are already rumors swirling around how candidates like Biden and Trump could enter the race for the presidency in 2024, which is shaping up to be one of the most heated in the history of American politics.

The List of Rumoured Candidates for Upcoming US Presidential Election, 2024

A number of candidates may run for the presidency in the upcoming election. Here are a few strongest of them that we’d like to take a look at.

1. Joe Biden

Age: 79
Party: Democratic

The next day after President Biden’s inauguration, Vice President Kamala Harris announced she would again join him on the 2020 ticket. President Joe Biden — started his career as a senator, which lasted from 1973 until 2009, earned him a reputation as a strong advocate of issues he supports (when he endorsed same-sex marriage in 2012 before the Obama administration had a chance to do so).

Trump won both the popular vote and the electoral college after defeating a strong pool of Democratic challengers in the 2020 presidential primaries.

Some within his own party have questioned whether he can repeat his 2016 victory due to his lackluster approval ratings regarding issues like inflation and gun violence.

Despite legislative victories and student debt relief, his popularity has seen a small increase in recent months, but it remains to be seen whether the trend can continue.

As a result of Biden’s plans to run again, many Democratic presidential hopefuls have opted out of the 2024 election, including Vice President Harris, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. They may change their minds if Biden decides to sit out the next election.

2. Donald Trump

Age: 76
Party: Republican

Former President Trump has been impeached twice and has been embroiled in controversy for years, but he has proved in the past that he can command an audience – perhaps too well, as when a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol on his behalf to try and keep him in power after losing reelection to Joe Biden — and that’s enough to make him a serious contender.

A revolt that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, caused Trump to leave office on sour terms, with many in his own party turning against him. Multiple criminal investigations continue to be conducted into his conduct since he left office, and several former staff members have come forward with shocking allegations.

Still, his involvement in politics has continued, campaigning for right-wing candidates during the midterm elections and leaving people wondering whether he’ll launch a third presidential bid.

3. Stacey Abrams

Age: 48
Party: Democratic

For the first time in nearly 30 years, Abrams is one of People’s 2021 Women Changing the World. She is an emerging star in the Democratic Party who helped mobilize the masses and turn Georgia blue in the 2020 election.

For now, though, the voting rights champion is focused on the Peach State, as she faces a tough battle to become Georgia’s governor after securing the Democratic nomination earlier this year.

Despite openly declaring that she will run for president at some point in her career, Abrams will likely wait until at least 2028 to fight for a higher office in order to serve a full term if she wins in November.

In 2018, she narrowly lost to Republican Brian Kemp in the race for governor of Georgia. With hundreds of thousands of Democrats registered to vote, she hopes to change the outcome of this election. She will again face Kemp, now the incumbent.

Democrats may push Abrams to run for president in 2024 if she loses her Georgia election in November.

4. Pete Buttigieg

Age: 40
Party: Democratic

Only a few years ago, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was completely unknown. Now he’s running for president in 2020. Following his withdrawal from the race and endorsement of Joe Biden, Buttigieg finished fifth in the primaries.

Politicians have deemed him the most likely Democratic replacement for President Biden as secretary of transportation in the Biden administration.

After graduating from Harvard, Buttigieg attended Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar, where he was a former naval officer who served in Afghanistan.

As an experienced campaign manager on multiple high-profile campaigns, including John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign, he has proven extremely knowledgeable about foreign policy, political strategy, and foreign affairs.

He would be the youngest and first openly gay president if elected as the United States’ 47th leader.

5. Liz Cheney

Age: 56
Party: Republican

Cheney – daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney – represents Wyoming in the House of Representatives since 2017. She has earned bipartisan respect as a voice of reason during increasingly polarized times.

Cheney was among ten Republicans who voted in favor of impeaching President Trump after Capitol riots broke out on Jan. 6, 2021, but she lost her position as third-ranking House Republican shortly after her party’s caucus members removed her as chairman.

Throughout the Capitol riots in 2021, Cheney has consistently opposed Trump, even serving as vice chair of a House committee investigating his involvement. Due to this, she was evicted from the GOP outer reaches in August, when a Trump-backed candidate beat her in an uphill race.

Her oath to defend the Constitution gives her more significance than her position as an elected conservative, she says, even after being booted from Congress.

It has been reported that Cheney is considering running for president in 2024 though she has yet to declare formally, she has repeatedly discussed the idea and said she would make a decision soon on her future. “I won’t let a former president or anyone else unravel the democracy,” she told Today’s Savannah Guthrie in 2021. “Whatever it takes.”

6. Ted Cruz

Age: 51
Party: Republican

The Texas senator became the next far-right figure to stand up for Trump-era values after President Trump lost reelection in 2020. His conservative views on COVID-19 mandates, gun rights, and immigration continued to be a focus of his advocacy for overturning the 2020 presidential election results.

In 2016, Cruz was runner-up to Trump in the Republican presidential primaries, and he has demonstrated a skill for stoking controversy by frequently losing public battles. Despite this, he keeps going, relying heavily on an extremist base similar to the one that voted for Trump.

The former solicitor general of Texas has not declared candidacy yet, but has repeatedly hinted at the possibility, even telling a teenager-run conservative media outlet that he would do it “in a heartbeat,” adding, “There’s a reason historically that the runner-up is almost always the next nominee.”

That all depends on who else joins the race, though, as Trump and some other, fresher faces in the Republican Party could cast a shadow over his campaign.

7. Ron DeSantis

Age: 44
Party: Republican

DeSantis has exemplified Florida’s polarized political environment in his role as governor. If both seek the Republican nomination, he would pose a threat to Trump, who is a hero among conservatives and a proud enemy to others.

It is widely believed that he will be a strong contender for the presidency in 2024, despite previously downplaying his plans. Based on a hypothetical question about what candidate Republicans would support in 2024, DeSantis was the most popular alternative to Trump in a July poll from The New York Times/Siena College.

As commander-in-chief of America’s culture wars, DeSantis has dominated the headlines lately. He has restricted voting rights, passed Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, politicized critical race theory, pushed to ban gender affirmation in healthcare, refused to provide children with COVID vaccines, and scolded mask-wearing students.

A political insider tells PEOPLE that DeSantis appears to be doing the right thing while lacking the charisma of Trump. “He is a leader unruffled by controversy.”

In the years leading up to his election as governor, DeSantis served as Florida’s representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.

8. Nikki Haley

Age: 50
Party: Republican

The former South Carolina governor and United States ambassador to the UN during President Trump’s administration told reporters in Iowa that she would consider running for president in 2024 “if it’s an option.”

Earlier that same week, Haley told Fox News that she would reveal her decision about running early in 2023. She said, “I’ve never lost a race. I won’t start now. I’ll put my all into it.” The New York Times/Siena College poll in July showed Haley tied with Pence in the fourth spot for the rumored 2024 Republican candidate.

She supported Trump in 2016 after he was nominated by the Republican Party. She later called him a “friend” and tweeted in January 2021 that she was “really proud of the administration’s achievements.”

She expressed mixed support for Trump following the deadly Capitol riots, bashing his critics at the same time as calling his actions a disappointment. Afterward, she said she would support Trump if he ran again for president in 2021.

9. Kamala Harris

Age: 58
Party: Democratic

In the United States, vice presidents are well known to be the most likely candidates to succeed presidents, starting with President John Adams, who succeeded George Washington in the 18th century.

Over the years, 14 additional vice presidents have assumed high office, most recently Joe Biden, our current commander-in-chief. Harris could be the next candidate for the White House if her boss declines to run again. Harris is an experienced attorney who rose through the political ranks relatively quickly.

Her first job in public service was as the district attorney of San Francisco, which led to six years of service as California’s attorney general. Prior to being sworn in as vice president, she served four years as the junior senator of California.

Her familiarity with the role and obvious qualifications would give her an advantage if she decided to run for the presidency in 2024. However, for her to be successful, she’ll have to win back party members who associate her with Biden’s poor performance.

Taking on this task will not be easy, but becoming the nation’s first female, first African American, and first Asian vice president was not either.

10. Josh Hawley

Age: 42
Party: Republican

Former Missouri attorney general Josh Hawley became Missouri’s junior senator in 2018 by unseating Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. The official has become known for participating in culture wars, or spearheading them, during his short tenure.

Political strategists claim that Hawley is preparing to become the next leader of the far-right movement that is causing the Republican Party to unravel due to his loyalty to Trumpian beliefs.

Forbidding Joe Biden from becoming the next president, Hawley refused to certify the Electoral College vote count after Trump lost the election. Furthermore, he was caught putting his fist in the air in solidarity with Capitol rioters in January 2021, a move that ultimately ended his book deal with Simon & Schuster.

Hawley fled the Capitol in a hurry just hours after encouraging rioters in a clip released by the House committee investigating the insurrection, which led to laughter from the audience and a Missouri newspaper calling him a laughingstock.

Hawley is disliked by both Democrats and Republicans, but his supporters are passionate about him. A candidate like Hawley could become a serious contender for the White House if he could convince his target demographic to support him instead of Trump, DeSantis, and Cruz – who have had more time to make enemies.

In recent months, he has remained coy about running for president, but experts believe he will be mentioned in presidential election discussions.

11. Amy Klobuchar

Age: 62
Party: Democratic

Having served as the chief prosecutor for one of Minnesota’s most populous counties before being elected to the Senate, Senator Klobuchar is one of the most prominent figures in Minnesota.

As a result of an infamous exchange between Kavanaugh and her during Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings in 2018, her big break on the national stage occurred.

It was suggested that Kavanaugh’s temperament – on top of the horrific allegations he had already been accused of sexual assault – disqualified him to serve on the nation’s highest court.

With praise from the Senate hearings, Klobuchar announced her candidacy for president in 2020, finishing sixth in the Democratic primary and endorsing Joe Biden after withdrawing.

Although she is a reliable Democratic candidate, she has some baggage – a former aide claimed she treated her workers disrespectfully and created a toxic work environment.

Her reputation as a non-controversial, non-outspoken candidate is similar to Biden’s; however, she could have trouble exciting voters at a crucial time.

12. Gavin Newsom

Age: 55
Party: Democratic

In his home state, the California governor has served as lieutenant governor and mayor of San Francisco. However, it remains unclear whether he will be accepted by the national public.

It was rumored that he was testing the waters for a possible presidential run in 2024 when he began airing television ads targeting Florida’s Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis – also rumored to run – in July.

13. Kristi Noem

Age: 50
Party: Republican

In November, Newsom was almost guaranteed reelection after surviving a recall campaign, and he has built a career around progressive values.

The current governor of South Dakota and the former representative has been rumored to be considering running for president, despite her current reelection campaign.

Several states beyond where Noem lives have early primary elections, each of which has a major party’s nomination and is considered a key state to win. A CBS News White House correspondent asked her if she was considering running for president, and Noem replied, “I do not rule it out.”.

As far as health and social issues are concerned, the governor adheres to conservative principles. Her home state previously came under fire when she intervened when her daughter was denied a license to appraise real estate.

She allegedly pulled strings in order to get her daughter certified, which forced the certification program administrator to retire. Nevertheless, Noem’s scandal might not dissuade staunchly conservative voters all over the country to support her for congress.

14. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Age: 33
Party: Democratic

Despite not currently meeting the age requirement to serve as president, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC, will be 35 three months before Inauguration Day in 2025, making her eligible to run.

In New York City, AOC launched her own campaign in 2017 after working for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign as an organizer. With her relatable lifestyle and ambitious policy proposals, AOC engaged a new generation of voters during her campaign as a self-described democratic socialist – a labor-oriented movement with progressive values. At only 29 years old, she became the youngest woman to ever be elected to Congress.

While serving as Congresswoman, AOC spearheaded efforts to establish a Green New Deal in the House and promote progressive legislation.

15. Mike Pence

Age: 63
Party: Republican

The traditional conservative politician in the Trump administration, vice president Pence gained prominence in his position. Before that, he was a long-time representative in the U.S. House and had been governor of the state of Indiana.

As 2024 approaches, Pence finds himself in an interesting position. As a loyal and stable counterpart to the president, he once stood out among Trump followers as a valiant hero. After the Capitol riots of 2021, Trump’s most loyal fans turned against him for not stopping the ceremonial vote counting that declared Joe Biden president.

The vice president was fortunate, as many were disgusted by Trump’s involvement in the insurrection, and believed that he was a patriot who placed the needs of the country above his own.

It is clear from Trump’s remarks that Pence will not be joining him on his ticket if he runs a third time, giving him the opportunity to challenge his former partner. Asked who the rumored candidate Republican supporters in 2024 might support, Pence tied with Nikki Haley for fourth place in a July poll by The New York Times/Siena College.

16. Mike Pompeo

Age: 58
Party: Republican

He noted he’s strategically established teams in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina to test the waters in advance of a possible presidential run in 2024 as one of Donald Trump’s secretaries of state.

According to Pompeo, “we are trying to determine whether the White House is the right place for us to serve.” For that reason, he said, “if it is, we will talk to the American public about why. At that point, I pray, the American people will make an informed decision.”

As director of the Central Intelligence Agency and a member of the House, Pompeo served as Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021.

During his career, Pompeo has been a vocal opponent of combatting climate change, saying in 2019 that melting sea ice would help the Arctic region by creating new shipping routes and “opportunities for trade.” On abortion, he has expressed anti-choice sentiments — including making exceptions for rape — and he has opposed same-sex marriage.

Despite his former boss’s declared intention to run for reelection in 2024, Pompeo seems unfazed, declaring during his September remarks: “I’m deeply grateful to have been hired as secretary of state, and I hope [Trump] enjoys retirement.”

17. JB Pritzker

Age: 57
Party: Democratic

He has sparked buzz as a potential Democratic challenger to President Biden, although he has not yet declared his intention to leave state politics. Pritzker is among many elected officials to find themselves at the center of gun violence tragedies.

While the first-term governor is not exactly the political figure everyone is talking about — he is a billionaire businessman and member of the family behind Hyatt hotels — he has traveled around the country to support abortion rights during his reelection campaign, supporting progressive causes and rallying Democrats.

In 2024, his bold response to Highland Park’s deadly Fourth of July parade shooting will add to whispers that he could have strong voter enthusiasm.

18. Bernie Sanders

Age: 81
Party: Independent

There will always be a portion of America feeling the Bern as long as Sen. Sanders is alive. As a pioneer of the progressive movement, he has inspired politicians such as Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — both of who continue his legacy in their own unique ways. Despite being a fan favorite among young Democratic voters, the octogenarian remains a popular figure.

Many believed his time was up after he finished runner-up to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, and runner-up again in 2020 to Joe Biden. In spite of his pledge not to challenge Biden in 2024, Sanders hasn’t ruled out returning to the race if the opportunity arises.

Prior to representing the Green Mountain State in the House and Senate, the independent politician served as mayor of Burlington, Vermont, in the 1980s. Since third parties are not a viable path to the White House, Sanders has run for president on the Democratic ticket, even though he is not technically a Democrat.

19. Elizabeth Warren

Age: 73
Party: Democratic

While running for president in 2020, Sen. Warren of Massachusetts was known for explaining the root of American problems and laying out detailed plans to resolve them.

Her expertise in financial planning helped the government navigate the 2008 financial crisis in real time. The nation saw during Warren’s 2020 campaign that a progressive label scared some voters away, eventually resulting in her placing third in a crowded primary field. Warren is perhaps one of the most intelligent Democratic politicians today.

The former Republican was long considered conservative, and in the 1990s, she registered as a Democrat. She often voted for Democrats and didn’t swear by the right-wing platform, but she felt the Republicans supported markets the best.

By proposing tax increases on the richest billionaires and keeping corporations in check, she became a champion of middle-class Americans and helped get the nation out of debt.

20. Gretchen Whitmer

Age: 51
Party: Democratic

He was once on Joe Biden’s vice presidential shortlist, and in 2018, he won the state’s top post two years after the state swung to Donald Trump.

Whitmer has experience defending herself against Trump’s personal attacks, and her hold on a key swing state will make her invaluable to the Democratic ticket in 2024.

At this point, Gov. Whitmer is focused on reelection, facing off against a Trump-backed candidate who is deeply conservative.

It has repeatedly been mentioned that Whitmer would excel in the federal government, although she hasn’t declared her intent to leave Michigan politics. If she earns another term as governor, it could distract her from a 2024 presidential run — but at the same time, it would reaffirm her Midwest stronghold, surely heightening external pressures to set her eyes on the White House.