Written By: Delaney Cordes, Staff Writer
POLITICS: 2024 marks another presidential election for the U.S. but also includes races for local and House seats for states all across the nation.
As the current president, Joe Biden’s first term is coming to a close, it is, yet again, time to re-elect a president for the next four years. Besides a new president, the seats for local and House representatives are also available for the American people to vote on.
The 2024 presidential election holds a lot of importance for the U.S. and the future direction of this country. Former President, Donald Trump, is running for the second time in a row since his presidency in 2016 to 2020 after losing to President Biden and his Vice President, Kamala Harris. As the Republican Party candidate, his whole goal when in this position once more is to “Make America Great Again” and return to the time when wealthy white men had control over the nation (pre-1940). When turning to the Democratic candidate, current Vice President Kamala Harris is here for the people. Her campaign strategy is to “listen to [them], even if [they] don’t vote for [her].” Harris is working towards moving America in a forward direction with new hopes and possibilities for all, not just a few. But, what makes this election so important, is the fact that it is the determining factor of what direction our country may move during the next four years.
The Republican and Democratic candidates aren’t the only ones that the people are electing and choosing who they want for this next term. The Third Parties are also able to place their candidate on the ballot. The other candidates up for the seat of U.S. President are Robert F. Kennedy Jr. representing the American Independent Party; Chase Oliver for the Libertarians; Jill Stein as nominee for the Green party; and then Claudia De La Cruz as the Peace and Freedom Party’s candidate.
Besides placing a vote for the 47th U.S. President, American voters can mark who they want for the positions of U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, State Senator, and Member of the State Assembly. Congressional elections take place every two years, and it just so happens that these elections align with the presidential one for this year.
For the November 5th ballot, there are more than just party-affiliated candidates, there are also options for different nonpartisan office positions. There are three categories for this section of the ballot: Judicial, School, and County. For Judicial, the spot currently being voted on is the Judge of the Superior Court, Riverside Unified School District’s new Governing Board Member, and then Riverside County Supervisor.
With more than just the president on the ballot, it is going to be interesting to see who ends up in each position and how their political affiliation could potentially affect the direction of future decisions for this country. So, it is very important to note that this election is going to be a close race. So, go cast your votes for who you want to be the next leaders of America – that is if you are 18 and can actually vote!