Though the 2022 midterm elections were just last month, talks of the 2024 presidential election have begun. On Nov. 15, former President Donald Trump announced his intent to run in the upcoming election.
“In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States,” Trump said in his announcement. This was greeted with cheers and applause from those gathered in the room (including advisers and conservative influencers) at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida estate.
The announcement of Trump’s candidacy came not long after he filed with the Federal Election Commission. Trump’s website has also been updated with a page for his 2024 campaign, but users must enter an email to view the page.
While Trump is the first Republican to announce his candidacy, former Vice President Mike Pence is expected to announce his candidacy as well.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis may also make a run for the 2024 Republican primary. However, given the current “resign-to-run” law in Florida, DeSantis would have to resign from his position as Florida governor if he runs for federal office. However, there is talk in Florida’s state legislature to review its “resign-to-run” law.
While President Joe Biden has not announced his candidacy for the 2024 Democrat presidential nomination, he has voiced his intent to run. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a close ally of President Biden, indicated that he expects a candidacy announcement in 2023.
There will also be some differences in the 2024 Democratic Party’s primary elections. Since 1972, Iowa has been the first state to vote on presidential candidates. However, Democratic National Committee (DNC) leaders voted this past week to make South Carolina instead have the first primary election for Democrats in 2024. Three days later, Georgia and Michigan will hold their primaries. In his letter to DNC leaders, President Biden wrote that states that hold the first presidential primaries need to reflect the “overall diversity of our party and our nation — economically, geographically, demographically.”
This may be a reflection of President Biden’s primary results as well. In 2020, Biden finished fourth in Iowa, fifth in New Hampshire, second in Nevada, but first in South Carolina. In 2020, those were the first four states to hold primaries, in that order.
This decision isn’t complete yet. The proposal needs approval from a full DNC meeting, which will take place in early 2023. States will then have to schedule their primaries on the agreed-upon date or their results may be discarded. President Biden suggested that this ordering would only apply to 2024 and the order should be revisited each presidential election cycle.
If Biden’s recommendation passes, it will break with the Republican primary calendar. The Republican National Committee voted this year to have its usual lineup of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina as its first caucuses and primaries.