In 2024, the 60th presidential election in American history will take place as the Democrats and Republicans will face off as the nation's two dominant political parties. President Joe Biden was elected to office in 2020 after defeating incumbent Donald Trump to become the 46th President of the United States, winning back the White House for the Democrats. There was a sense of optimism among many Americans that the Biden Presidency would bring a return to normalcy after four years under one of the most controversial presidents in American history.
This optimism has faded, as the Biden presidency has been defined by high inflation, surging violent crime, and a border crisis. With President Biden being so unpopular, many Democrats have stated that they would prefer a different nominee to represent their party in 2024, which presents many opportunities for several candidates. Although President Biden has repeatedly stated his intentions to run for reelection, anything can happen over the next year given his age and unpopularity.
If Biden's approval ratings continue to hover in the low 40s or even fall below that, several Democrats may plan on running against him to hold the White House. While several high-profile candidates have stated that they will not run due to their ties with the president, if Biden opts out of reelection, that is another story. Biden turned out a record number of voters in 2020 by performing well in the rustbelt and made gains in red states like Georgia, but if many Democrats feel he is not the best choice, who is?
10. Mitch Landrieu
Mitch Landrieu is the current senior advisor of infrastructure coordination to President Biden. Before serving in the Biden Administration, Landrieu was the mayor of New Orleans from 2010-2018, making him a qualified leader in infrastructure and running an American city.
Landrieu is a capable leader, but chances are slim that he would ever challenge Biden in a primary race. Even if Landrieu challenged Biden for the nomination, he is nowhere near as well-known as other potential candidates.
9. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the current representative of New York's 14th congressional district and has gained national popularity with many young people in the US since being elected to congress in 2018. Ocasio-Cortez has become controversial for her more liberal stances on the economy and environment along the way, but her unapologetic attitude has earned her plenty of attention.
While Ocasio-Cortez has plenty of star power and her views would mobilize the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, it is unlikely her stances would appeal to independents and moderates. Ocasio-Cortez would win liberal strongholds like California and New York, but her antagonism towards capitalism would not bode well in the sunbelt and likely the rustbelt.
8. Roy Cooper
Roy Cooper currently serves as the governor of the right-leaning swing state of North Carolina, where he has been able to work with a Republican legislature to get things done in the state. Cooper’s more moderate stances and ability to work across party lines would draw many independent voters to his side, which would be crucial in North Carolina if he was the nominee.
Unfortunately for Cooper, his moderate views may not mobilize the more liberal wing of his party, and he does not enjoy the national popularity that other Democrats do. Cooper could win North Carolina and Georgia if he were the nominee, but he may not perform well in the rust belt.
7. Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar serves as a senator of Minnesota, where she has been rather popular. If Klobuchar were the nominee, she would be to build on the rustbelt and suburban appeal that helped Biden win the presidential race in 2020.
However, Klobuchar, like Cooper, is not nationally prolific, and her popularity would not likely translate well in other parts of the country. Klobuchar is much more liberal on economic and social issues, which would hurt her in the sunbelt.
6. Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom is the governor of California, where he has become popular with many in California and has built a solid national profile too. Although Newsom has stated that he will not run in 2024, there is still a possibility that he changes his mind as Biden is unpopular with many Democrats or if the president decides not to seek reelection.
Although Newsom won reelection handily, his success in dark blue California would not translate well in the east. Millions of Americans have fled the west coast to swing states like North Carolina because of the far-left politics Newsom supports, and it is unlikely they would vote for Newsom’s style of leadership on a national scale.
5. Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders is an independent senator from Vermont who caucuses with the Democrats and has become popular nationwide over the past several years. Sanders has previously run for the Democratic nomination in 2016 and 2020, where he gained traction with many young and liberal-minded Americans and may have been unfairly snubbed of the nomination in 2016.
While Sanders is a popular candidate, his views on the economy and the environment could be considered extreme by many. Sanders’ age will also not do him any favors, as he is older than President Biden.
4. Pete Buttigieg
Pete Buttigieg formerly served as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, before running for the presidency in 2020 and made waves with people, so much so that Biden named him the Secretary of Transportation. Buttigieg previously served in the US Military, and he would likely be able to connect with military families and soldiers on some level.
Although Buttigieg could be an intriguing candidate, his loyalties to President Biden would not compel him to run against him. Even if Biden did not seek reelection and if Buttigieg were the nominee, many swing voters may not like his loyalties to the Biden Administration.
3. Gretchen Whitmer
Gretchen Whitmer serves as the governor of Michigan and recently won reelection by double digits. If Whitmer were the nominee, she would have an advantage in the left-leaning swing state of Michigan and would be appealing to many rustbelt voters.
However, Whitmer has stated that she would not run for the presidency, but if Biden decides not to seek reelection, there could be a path to the nomination for her. Whitmer is experienced and can defeat Trump-endorsed candidates, but a presidential bid may not be in the cards for her yet.
2. Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris currently serves as the vice president of the United States. Harris likely would not run for office, but if Biden decides not to, she could appeal to voters who wish to keep a level of continuity in the Democratic Party.
Although Harris is experienced in politics at the federal level, she is unpopular with most Americans. Harris has a lower national approval rating than Biden, and if she were the nominee, the Democrats’ progress in former Republican strongholds like Georgia would reverse, and the rustbelt’s shift to the right would advance.
1. Joe Biden
Joe Biden is the President of the United States but has not had the best run so far, as his term has been defined by high inflation, surging violent crime, and a border crisis. It is unlikely that Biden would be reelected based on the current state of the nation, but with the right messaging, hope is not lost for hopes of reelection.
No one is both experienced as Biden and can appeal to voters in swing states on a large scale which was crucial to narrow rust belt victories in 2020. If Biden and the Democrats can paint their Republican challenger as election deniers and threats to civil liberties like they did in the 2022 midterms, they could win reelection.