Who is running for US president in 2024? Mike Pence to launch campaign

·4-min read
2024’s candidates include familiar faces and rising stars (Evening Standard)
2024’s candidates include familiar faces and rising stars (Evening Standard)

Former vice president Mike Pence is set to announce his bid for the White House’s top job, taking on his former running mate, Donald Trump.

He is expected to hold an event in Des Moines on June 7 and release a video message as part of the launch, having broken ranks with the former president after the Capitol riots in 2021.

Mr Pence is seeking the Republican nomination and is pitching himself as a social conservative who has pushed for restricted access to abortion and has opposed LGBTQ+ rights.

But he is not the only person to throw their name into the ring. Here are all the candidates who have put themselves forward so far.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden is seeking the Democrats’ nomination for the third time (PA Wire)
Joe Biden is seeking the Democrats’ nomination for the third time (PA Wire)

The incumbent is likely to secure the Democratic Party nomination to run for a second term. He announced his candidacy with the tweet: “Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours.

“That’s why I’m running for re-election as President of the United States. Join us. Let’s finish the job.”

Robert F Kennedy Jr

Robert F Kennedy Jr has extreme views on vaccination (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)
Robert F Kennedy Jr has extreme views on vaccination (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)

Also seeking the Democratic nomination is the nephew of John F Kennedy, an environmental lawyer who is often labelled an anti-vaccine activist.

Long before the Covid-19 pandemic, he was active in the movement, and public health professionals and members of his own family criticised his beliefs.

Marianne Williamson

Author Williamson has topped the US bestseller list on four occasions (Paul Sancya / AP)
Author Williamson has topped the US bestseller list on four occasions (Paul Sancya / AP)

Self-help author Marianne Williamson has also submitted a statement of candidature to the Federal Election Commission to stand for the Democratic Party.

As well as writing 14 bestselling books, she also founded Project Angel Food. This is a volunteer food delivery programme that supports housebound people with HIV/Aids and life-threatening illnesses, as well as the Peace Alliance, a nonprofit education and advocacy organisation.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is likely to be on trial soon (PA Archive)
Donald Trump is likely to be on trial soon (PA Archive)

The 2016 winner, Donald Trump, is looking to return to the White House amid various legal battles. However, donations soared to his campaign after he appeared in court to deny wrongdoing over the Stormy Daniels affair.

He said: “The decline of America is being forced upon us by Biden and the radical left… this is not a decline we must accept.”

Mike Pence

Former vice president Mike Pence wants the top job (Allison Joyce / AFP via Getty Images)
Former vice president Mike Pence wants the top job (Allison Joyce / AFP via Getty Images)

The former vice president has spent the past two-and-a-half years distancing himself from Donald Trump as he has laid the groundwork for the campaign.

He is a social conservative and has pushed for restricted access to abortion and has opposed LGBTQ+ rights.

Larry Elder

The radio host was a candidate for governor of California in 2021 and wants to stand for the Republican nomination.

He announced his intentions to run in April on his conservative-leaning show as “a moral, religious and a patriotic duty”.

Ron De Santis

Ron DeSantis launched his campaign for the Republican nomination with a Twitter video alongside Elon Musk.

Mr DeSantis has recently made headlines after clashing with Disney over its plans to build a new corporate campus in Orlando. He comes to the position as a hard-right campaigner with “anti woke” values and with a record of voting down LGBT, abortion, and gun control policies.

He has previously doubled down on his stance, saying the word ‘woke’ five times in 19 seconds in a previous address.

Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley is a former US ambassador to the UN (ES)
Nikki Haley is a former US ambassador to the UN (ES)

The Republican hopeful is a former US ambassador to the United Nations and was governor of South California from 2011 to 2017.

“I wear heels, but it’s not a fashion statement, it’s because if I see something wrong, I’m gonna kick ’em every single time,” she said in 2017.

Asa Hutchinson

One of the more experienced names in the Republican ranks, the 72-year-old is a former undersecretary of homeland security and administrator of drug enforcement.

He has been a long-time governor of Arkansas.

Vivek Ramaswamy

The writer and businessman, 37, has staunchly conservative views in line with the Republican Party but has not held political office before.

His books have attacked “woke” ideology in America. He has also attacked the notion of “victimhood as a pathway to success”.

Kanye West

Kanye West will once more stand to be president (AP)
Kanye West will once more stand to be president (AP)

The rapper is facing a backlash over his behaviour, has been dropped by his business partners after being accused of expressing antisemitic views, and riled the black community after endorsing fashion labelled “white lives matter”.

He has claimed a presidential run was a message from God and has previously said Mr Trump would be his running mate – although the pair now seem to be on less amicable terms. In the 2020 vote, West garnered 60,000 votes.

Afroman

Another musician, Afroman is best known in the UK for his 2000 hit Because I Got High and police recently raiding his house in the US.

Joseph Foreman, his real name, is focused on cutting inflation, the housing market, law enforcement corruption and legalising cannabis.

Not announced

The actor and former wrestler Dwayne Johnson has ruled himself out of the running despite rumours he might launch a campaign.