A presidential race is a battle between people who want to become the next president of the United States. Candidates from the two main political parties the Democrats and the Republicans campaign around the country trying to win the support of voters in order to be elected. They do this through a series of events called primaries and caucuses. They also participate in televised debates where they have to answer tough questions and defend their policies against their opponents.
The electoral college decides who becomes president. Each state has a certain number of electors which is based on its congressional delegation. Currently a candidate needs 270 electoral votes to become president. The election process is complex and confusing. It involves numerous elections at the local level state and national. It also includes a series of events called primaries and presidential caucuses where party members decide who should be their nominee for president. Finally there are a number of events called national conventions where delegates from each state choose their president.
In 2024 Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump accumulated enough delegates to secure their parties’ nominations for president. Despite polling showing him in the lead in the general election, Trump’s poor performance in a televised debate with Harris saw him rapidly lose ground. He ended up withdrawing from the race and endorsed Harris.
In a crowded Democratic field, Harris is fighting for every vote she can get. She is aiming to appeal to working class voters who she believes are being left behind by a booming economy. She is competing with a former vice president who has strong appeal among white voters and a Libertarian challenger who is hoping to draw votes from Trump supporters.
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