And just like that, four years have flown by. As President Joe Biden’s term comes to a close, the country braces for what is predicted to be one of the most competitive elections to date.
Kamala Harris (D)
Experienced is one word that can be used to describe Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, she comes from a diverse background. Her mother is Indian, and her father is Jamaican, making her the first female, African American, and South Asian vice president of the United States. After developing her interest in law, Harris enrolled at Howard University and later at the University of California College of Law. She was elected as the district attorney of San Francisco (2003-2007), Attorney General of California (2010-2014), and the Governor of California. Joe Biden announced Harris as his running mate in the 2020 Presidential election, and she was sworn in a few months later. President Biden withdrew from the 2024 race in late July, and the Democrats selected Harris as their new pick.
Donald Trump (R)
From a penthouse to the White House, former President Donald Trump served as the United States’ 45th President. Trump was born in Queens, New York, on June 14, 1946. His education began as he studied at the New York Military Academy and the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania. While still in college, he invested in Philadelphia real estate. His career as a businessman commenced when he acquired his father’s real estate company and renamed it the Trump Organization. During the 1980s, Trump cultivated a reputation as an exceptional real estate developer, debuting his infamous Trump Towers located in Manhattan, New York City. Trump became a successful real estate developer, building his billion-dollar empire brick by brick, eventually incorporating hotels, resorts, commercial buildings, and golf courses. It wasn’t until 2015 that Trump formally announced his running for the 2016 election, developing his world-renowned slogan, “Make America Great Again.” The 2016 ballot was highly competitive between Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton, but Trump ultimately led with more electoral votes and took the position as the 45th president of the United States. His term ended in 2020 as COVID-19 surfaced and encompassed the globe. Trump lost to Joe Biden in the 2020 election, but has since rebounded in his efforts to serve a second term as president. He is currently in the running for the 2024 presidential election, vying for the win against Kamala Harris.
J.D. Vance (R)
Donald Trump has selected J.D. Vance as his vice president-designate. Born on August 2, 1984, in Middletown, Ohio, he comes from humble beginnings. Born to a drug-addict mother, Vance’s childhood was marked by poverty and raised among disarray. Due to this, J.D. was raised by his fabled grandparents, “Mamaw” and “Papaw.” Despite his impoverished upbringing, Vance served in the United States Marines and later attended Yale Law School. He then wrote his best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which describes his turbulent experiences growing up. J.D. extended his experience in law school to become a politician and hold the position of Ohio’s senator since 2023. Undeterred by his adverse childhood, Vance thrived to become the United States vice presidential candidate of the 2024 election.
Tim Walz (D)
Tim Walz is entering the vice presidential stage in Harris’s place. He comes from a military-oriented family in Valentine, Nebraska. Walz’s father was a Korean War veteran who enlisted in the National Guard for 24 years. After graduating high school, he studied at Chardon State College and Minnesota State University. Walz taught social studies and coached football at Mankato West High School before his election into the US House of Representatives. In 2019, Walz became the Governor of Minnesota after representing them for twelve years. Amidst many others, Tim Walz emerges as an unexpected candidate for vice president.
