The year 2024 has brought many ups and downs in the political world but nothing has brought more attention than the ongoing 2024 presidential election. From potential criminal trials to impeachments, global political conflicts, and more. There is much to cover from the candidates from both parties, their platforms, and what problems citizens find most important for them now and moving forward. Here is what you need to know.
Perhaps one of the most talked about parts of the election is the candidates. Most notably the primary candidates of the Republican and Democrat parties. On the Republican side, there is Donald Trump, one of if not the most controversial political figures in the media. On the other side of the political spectrum is Joe Biden, the current president of the United States who is running for reelection. Each candidate has extensive platforms regarding important aspects of the country such as the economy, immigration, and global affairs.
Starting with the economy, each political party has a vastly different position on how to solve the economic issues that have been causing many hardships for families all over the country. According to the BBC, “The economic policy of President Biden has its name – Bidenomics…That means investing in infrastructure and manufacturing, clean energy, and expanding job opportunities.” This differs from Trump, who plans “a return to an agenda of lower taxes and less regulations.” Both candidates show the initiative to address the economic crisis. However, according to Pew Research “Large shares of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (84 percent) and Democrats and Democratic leaners (63 percent) view strengthening the nation’s economy as a top priority this year.” Both candidate’s platforms according to the statistics and their statements. Biden’s platform on the expansion of job opportunities seems to cater more to what the general population wants.
Another important issue concerning many Americans is the topic of reproductive rights. Regarding each candidate’s stance, BBC states, “[Biden] is promising to restore the rights afforded by Roe as the law of the land if Democrats win back Congress,” while Trump “declined to show support for a national law or how many weeks in his view should be the limit.” However, Mr. Trump publicly stated how he supports states’ rights to determine their laws. This is a controversial stance as since the overturning of Roe v. Wade there have been many outcries for reproductive rights especially spanning across Gen Z and if there is one generation that is determined to make a change it is them.
The problem that many agree on with the 2024 election is how despite each candidate’s promises to enact change there is also a bigger conversation about age and likability in running for an elected position such as the President of the United States. Sophomore Tasha Gilmour says, “In my personal opinion one of them is not a good person and is being put on trial, and the other one is old and I do think old age should be a factor in your ability to be the President so I do not like either candidate that much.” This is one concern that students have expressed not just at IHS but young adults across social media who believe that people who are over the life expectancy age should not be in such an important position. According to Statista, “Incumbent candidates generally receive their party’s presidential nomination with very few competitors in the Democratic primary elections and thus far Joe Biden is no exception. However, according to an end-of-year survey, a significant share of Democrats in the United States reported that they would like to see alternative candidates running for president in 2024.”
A trend that has been apparent in the elections for quite some time is the polarization of political parties. Junior Amogh Desai says, “I think it is a shame how you have to pick one side you ever can not be in the middle and neither side can cooperate and everything has to be so polar, and if you stand for one thing you stand for everything that group stands for.” While polarization is a complex topic it is connected to independent candidates and how despite being potentially well-qualified candidates they never make it past a certain point in the elections. Desai adds, “In general I think it is a good thing to be an option but without the backing, it does not have any impact.” Notable independent candidates for the 2024 election include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of former president Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. According to PBS,
RFK Jr. has been receiving about 19 percent of voter support in the polls so far. And he’s pulling in those polls from both President Biden and former President Donald Trump.” Another notable independent candidate is Dr. Cornel West who has made a platform focusing on the conflict in Gaza and supporting Palestine.
Like any other election, the media has played a huge role in pushing for candidates. Freshman Maris Menenberg says, “I think the media portrays it as one of the most important elections yet I think that they have done that for nearly every election, and like any election, the media has been exaggerating the situation.” This can often be helpful and harmful in terms of information in an important event such as the election because as said by the Bipartisan Policy Center, “When it comes to sources of information, Americans most often learn about elections from television and social media. A plurality (43 percent) of adults look to national television, followed by social media (36 percent) and local or regional television (34 percent).” The media has also played a big role in reporting on former President Trump’s ongoing trial on accusations of fraud charges. Senior Logan Warren talks about how he believes the media has impacted the view on the election and candidates. He says, “I would say large media corporations have a very big impact on their viewer base and the opinions of other candidates. If we are also including social media I would say social media often highlights the extremes of a candidate so the pros and cons of each person while not giving exactly the full picture so I think that can also be very polarizing.” Arguably the most headlined news of the year so far is the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Palestine. President Biden’s stance on the issue has been clear as the U.S. government has been funding and supporting Israel. Biden himself has condemned the demonstrations and protests happening across the U.S. in support of Palestine. Trump’s stance has been a little less clear especially according to a Guardian article that covered Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania where he criticized how Biden handled the conflict and described himself as the “best friend that Israel has ever had” However there has been no word on his part about any policies or thoughts about how he would have handled the situation differently.
Now more than ever, voting is an essential tool to uplift citizens’ wants and needs. A survey by Statista reports, “More than three times as many Americans over the age of 65 were paying a lot of attention to the 2024 presidential election than those between the ages of 18 and 29.” This can be seen as concerning for many candidates where a vote can make or break an election. Desai says, “I think it is important for people to vote because it is the only power we have in deciding or partaking in government aside from running for office.” It is important to acknowledge that for a few years, young people have felt less inclined to vote. Menanberg says, “I think that now students like myself are kind of detached from the election.” A lot of this disconnection can come from the fact that younger people may feel as though they are not being represented by people of the right age and ideals and who have their best interests in mind which is being reflected across polls and voting statistics.
Overall, the 2024 election so far has brought ups and downs not just for the candidates involved but for voters and people alike. Whether or not the public will see a hopeful outcome is unclear. According to ABC, “[The polls] show incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump essentially tied in national polls and Trump with a tenuous lead in key swing states. Only time will tell who will come out of the 2024 election as the President.
