There were hopes and expectations both in the media and much of the global population that a change of president in 2020 would herald a new era of stability for the US.
After the divisive figure of Donald Trump had left the Whitehouse, what followed would surely be relatively predictable and uncontroversial, with smooth sailing out of the pandemic. That has not been the case.
Wherever we may point the blame, Joe Biden has presided over as turbulent a period as Donald Trump ever did, arguably moreso, with economic and geopolitical woes and controversies, as well as personal and political issues at home that have dogged his public image.
With the ‘anyone but Trump’ crowd perhaps understandably disillusioned by the last three years, the country’s pick for the next president in 2024 looks likely to be a result of lessons learned on both sides of the aisle, and will hopefully bring that much-needed stability at last. So who are the confirmed candidates from the two major parties? And what surprise candidates might pop up in the meantime?
Democratic candidates
Marianne Williamson
So far there is only one confirmed candidate in the running for the Democrats in the 2024 election battle, and that’s Marianne Williamson. Marianne was a 2020 presidential candidate, but ended her campaign and instead endorsed Bernie Sanders. A lecturer and author, Marianne also founded a meal delivery service for housebound AIDS patients in Los Angeles, and a nonprofit promoting peace. She has published 13 books including four New York Times number 1 bestsellers, and has appeared on TV with Oprah Winfrey and Bill Maher.
Potential Democratic candidates
Although they haven’t confirmed their candidacy, there has been media speculation about other potential candidates for 2024 including incumbent president Joe Biden, as well as Stacey Abrams, Hillary Clinton, Andrew Cuomo, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, Gretchen Whitmer, Bernie Sanders, Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama.
Republican candidates
Nikki Haley
Nikki’s parents are Sikh immigrants from Punjab, and she was the first generation of her family to be born in the US. She graduated in accounting, and worked as the chief financial officer for her family’s independent business which she helped to expand into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. She has also been president of the National Association of Women Business Owners and a United Nations Ambassador.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Vivek is a Harvard and Yale graduate and former president of a software company, as well as a former partner at a capital investment firm, and founder of a pharmaceutical company. He now chairs Strive Assessment Management which aims to advance the voices of everyday citizens in American boardrooms. A political commentator, he has been critical of woke and identity politics.
Corey Stapleton
Cory was enlisted in the Navy and graduated from nuclear power school, before graduating from the Naval Academy with a degree in engineering. He followed this with a master’s degree in political science, and then worked as a financial advisor as well as president of the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind Foundation. Not only has he risen through the ranks of Montana politics, but he also began making his own country music in 2022 and released two albums as Corey Stapleton & The Pretty Pirates.
Donald Trump
Finally, Donald Trump has announced his plans to return to the race, having served as the 45th president of the USA.
Potential Republican candidates
Still to announce any plans to run, but with some pundits expecting they may, are Greg Abbott, Liz Cheney, Ted Cruz, Ron DeSantis, Rand Paul, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Mitt Romney, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump, among others.