REPUBLICAN PARTY

Donald Trump

Former US President Donald Trump, 77 years old, in office from 2017 - 2021, has won enough votes to become the official candidate of the Republican Party.

Mr. Trump is currently facing 88 charges in four criminal cases for attempting to overthrow the 2020 election, illegally retaining classified national security documents and falsifying business records. He has argued that the criminal charges are designed to prevent him from winning. His first criminal trial is scheduled to begin on April 15.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Joe Biden

When he announced his 2020 campaign, Biden emphasized his efforts to protect American freedoms and democracy. He has made the same commitment to his re-election this year.

The November election will be much more difficult for Mr Biden, with the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showing his approval rating at 39%, just 1% higher than Mr Trump.

Mr Biden, the oldest US president ever at 81, must convince voters that he is healthy enough to serve another four years.

The economy will be a key factor in Mr Biden’s re-election campaign. While the US has emerged from a recession and is growing faster than economists had predicted, inflation hit a 40-year high in 2022, weighing on voters for the cost of essentials.

Earlier in his term, Mr. Biden pushed for massive infrastructure spending and economic stimulus packages to boost U.S. industrial output. However, Mr. Biden’s handling of immigration policy has been criticized by Republicans and Democrats as the number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has reached record highs.

Marianne Williamson

Marianne Williamson, 71, is an activist and best-selling self-help author. Her 2024 run is her second on a platform of “justice and love.”

Ms. Williamson ran as a Democratic candidate in the 2020 presidential primary, but dropped out of that race after failing to gain much traction with voters.

Although Mr Biden has secured the number of delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination, Ms Williamson has not ended her campaign. In a statement in February, she said she was dropping out of the race but would return to run against Mr Trump.

INDEPENDENCE

Robert Francis Kennedy Jr.

Mr Kennedy, 70, an anti-vaccination activist and environmental advocate, is running as an independent after failing to win the Democratic nomination.

He is the son of US Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 while running for president.

Kennedy’s participation could detract from both Trump and Biden’s votes. According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll released on March 14, Kennedy has the support of 15% of voters.

Mr Kennedy expressed support for Israel, while questioning the need for the six-week ceasefire supported by Mr Biden.

He has vowed to repeal key elements of Mr Biden’s signature climate bill on tax cuts, which he said would help the oil industry. He has been criticized for years for making misleading claims about vaccines, but has said he will still allow Americans access to them.

Cornel West

Political activist, philosopher and academic Cornel West, 70, initially ran as a Green Party candidate, but last October he said people "wanted good policies rather than party politics" and announced he was running as an independent.

Before June, he announced the launch of a presidential run as an independent candidate to attract progressive, Democratic-leaning voters.

Jill Stein

Jill Stein, 73, is a physician, activist and politician who ran for the Green Party's presidential nomination in 2016. On November 9, she announced her re-election bid, accusing "Democrats of betraying their promises to workers, young people and the climate time and time again, while Republicans didn't even make those promises in the first place."

Ms Stein raised millions of dollars to recount votes after Mr Trump's surprise victory in 2016. However, her allegations only led to a recount in Wisconsin, which still showed Mr Trump won.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)