2024 Presidential Candidate Reviews

By Chip Genung ’25

Four years of this, four years of that. Back and forth, the parties take and lose power. With a Democratic incumbent in office, historically, this would be an easy win. However, without an official announcement, consistently low approval ratings, and contention within the party, a victory seems less likely than it would have been in past elections. Come election season, these factors will culminate in what is sure to be a fascinating race; jumping on this unique opportunity, five candidates have officially put their hats into the ring.

Here they are:

Former President Donald Trump (R)
            Former president Donald Trump has had many controversies recently. Though indicted, support for him has only grown stronger among his hardcore followers. All signs point to the Republican primary being Trump against everyone, and people have already started lining up to take his spot as the face of the party.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R)
            Former governor of Arkansas, Hutchinson announced on April 2nd that he would make a bid for the GOP nomination for president. In the weeks of his announcement, he made several trips to Iowa, a sure sign a candidate plans to run. In recent years Hutchinson has called out President Trump and aligned himself with other Republicans to support a GOP separate from Trump.

Vivek Ramaswamy (R)
            Mr. Ramaswamy is easily the most fascinating Republican candidate in this election. The youngest candidate, this finance and tech multimillionaire entrepreneur would be the youngest president if elected, 39 by inauguration day. Though known for his conservative beliefs, he has never held public office.

Marianne Williamson (D)
            Williamson is the only Democrat to announce official candidacy; interestingly, this is her second bid for the Presidency, having also run in 2020. She, like Ramaswamy, is also quite inexperienced. Officially she is a self-help author, and in 2020 called for a “federal Department of Peace.” She was also the spiritual advisor to Oprah Winfrey. 

​Nikki Haley (R)
            Former Governor of South Carolina and ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley is running on a platform of moderate conservatism. Though not the youngest candidate, she would be young compared to most current politicians, only 53 by inauguration day. Haley is pushing moderate conservatism, trying to distance herself from Trump in recent years. She resigned as UN Ambassador under Trump and has had a very contentious relationship with the former president since then.