THE CONARD COURANT
Est. 1957
Election Season
By: George Musto
First and foremost, as of writing this article, the 2024 election has not yet occurred, but it will likely happen before the release of the Courant. All of this is to say that I cannot predict who the next president will be, so you can use my ramblings to learn more about whoever the victor is, whoever the loser is, or just as a way to reflect on the whole process so you are ready for future elections, in which many of us students will be able to vote in for the first time! Now, to the election itself.
The 2024 election is currently 3 weeks out and the two candidates, the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, are polling nearly even. Most sources have the candidates either in a dead heat or with Harris nationally polling at about 2% up and with 6 states polling with one candidate only up 1% or less. It is usually those key states that really decide the election, because while some states generally vote for the same political party each election, about 13 states swing between the two, making them the true battlegrounds in the fight for the White House. Most candidates hope that their differences in policy will help sway these crucial voters. What are these policies though?
The Vice President takes the stances that are typically associated with the Democratic Party. She is pro-abortion rights for women; she plans on supporting and elevating the middle class economically through mortgage assistance for first-time home buyers and supports bans on price gouging, to name a few. Though her opinions used to be more lenient, the current border crisis has led to her increased support of border security. She has vowed to continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Harris is also adamant about increasing gun control to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people while reminding voters that both she and her vice presidential candidate Tim Walz are gun owners. Now, there are countless issues to know about that are crucial to the election, and when it comes time for you to vote, you should try to know your candidate's stance on as many of them as you can, but for now, I will move on to former President Trump’s stances on some of these same issues.
Former President Trump’s campaign has been very interesting for a number of reasons. For one, if elected he would become only the second president to lose a second term and then be re-elected four years later. Grover Cleveland served from 1885–89 and then again from 1893–97. Also, there have been two prominent attacks on the life of the former President: one during a rally on July 13th, and then again on September 15 while golfing in Florida. In terms of his views, Trump, as expected, does take the normal stances of a Republican. Trump wants to extend the cuts he enacted in 2017 which had big tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy. Trump has also vowed to increase American energy production. One of the largest issues for Trump is immigration. He plans on completing the border wall and also beginning mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Mr. Trump also plans on separating the US from global conflicts, vowing to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours.” While Trump’s appointees to the Supreme Court were very important to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Trump himself has taken a more moderate stance on the issue, promoting states’ rights to choose while also claiming he wouldn’t approve a national ban on abortion.
As with the Vice President, there is much more to know about President Trump’s campaign promises and his stances, and I recommend you seek out more information if you are on the fence or just want to know more. Information and knowledge are key during any election. Democracy demands that we, as voters, ensure that we are properly informed about both candidates before casting our ballot. Knowing more can make you a more confident, more involved member of our democracy. So, when the next election rolls around, do exactly as I have just done, dig into each campaign with an open mind, and you will be able to wear your sticker on election day with pride.
https://www.270towin.com/2024-presidential-election-polls/
https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_candidates_on_the_issues,_2024