People.com Politics Who Will Run for President in 2024? Rumored Republican and Democratic Candidates With more than two years to go until the 2024 presidential election, reports are swirling about which public figures may throw their hats in the ring for what is already shaping up to be one of the most heated political races in American history By Kyler Alvord Kyler Alvord Twitter Kyler Alvord leads PEOPLE's digital politics coverage as a news editor for the brand. He joined the publication in 2021 as the associate crime editor. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 26, 2022 04:05 PM Share Tweet Pin Email 01 of 18 Joe Biden Joe Biden. Nathan Howard/Getty Age: 79 Party: Democratic Less than two months after his 2021 inauguration, President Biden announced his intention to run for reelection in 2024, with Vice President Kamala Harris joining him on the ticket once again. Biden — who served as a U.S. Senator from 1973 until his promotion to vice president in 2009 — is a career Democrat who's garnered a reputation for speaking his mind on issues he supports (in 2012, he made history for announcing his support of same-sex marriage before the Obama administration had a chance to sign off). After beating out a strong pool of Democratic candidates in the 2020 presidential primaries, he faced incumbent President Donald Trump, securing both the popular vote and electoral college. President Biden is an obvious frontrunner in the 2024 election, though his diminishing approval ratings over issues like inflation and gun violence — and his struggle to get a grip on the Democrat-controlled Congress — have left some members of his own party questioning whether he can pull off another win if things don't start turning around. Many Democratic hopefuls in recent presidential elections — such as Vice President Harris, Sec. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren — have used Biden's plans to run again as a reason for staying out of the 2024 election, creating leeway for them to change their mind if Biden decides to sit the next cycle out. 02 of 18 Donald Trump Donald Trump. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images Age: 76 Party: Republican Twice impeached and full of controversy, former President Trump is far from the ideal candidate to lead the Republican Party in 2024, but he's proven before that he can command an audience — perhaps too well, after a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on his behalf to try and keep him in power after losing reelection to Joe Biden — and that's enough to make him a serious contender. Trump left the White House on a sour note, with members of his own party turning on him for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Since leaving office, several former staffers have come forward with shocking allegations about his conduct, and he continues to be the subject of multiple criminal investigations. Still, he has stayed active in politics, campaigning for far-right candidates throughout the midterm election cycle and keeping people guessing as to whether he'll risk another loss by launching a third presidential campaign. As of July, a poll revealed that half of Republican voters want Trump to stay out of the 2024 race, a rough start for a candidate once viewed as the shoo-in Republican nominee. 03 of 18 Stacey Abrams Stacey Abrams in 2018. John Bazemore/AP/REX/Shutterstock Age: 48 Party: Democratic Abrams, one of PEOPLE's 2021 Women Changing the World, continues to be a rising star in the Democratic Party, credited with mobilizing the masses and helping turn Georgia blue in the 2020 election for the first time in nearly 30 years. That said, the Peach State remains her focus for now, as the voting rights champion recently secured the 2022 Democratic nomination for Georgia governor. Abrams has openly declared her intention to run for president at some point in her career, but if she wins the governorship this year, she's expected to wait until at least 2028 to seek a higher office so that she can carry out a full term. In 2018, the former Georgia representative narrowly lost her bid for governor to Republican Brian Kemp. This year, she will again face Kemp, now the incumbent, in hopes that the hundreds of thousands of Democrats she's helped register to vote since 2018 will change the outcome. If Abrams loses her Georgia bid in November, she could face pressure from Democrats to speed up her career timeline and funnel her energy into a 2024 presidential run. 04 of 18 Pete Buttigieg Pete Buttigieg. Susan Walsh/AP Photo Age: 40 Party: Democratic Unknown to the world only a few years ago, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, quickly entered the conversation when he announced plans to run for president in the 2020 election. Buttigieg placed fifth in the primaries after dropping out of the race and endorsing Joe Biden. He currently serves as the secretary of transportation for the Biden administration and has recently been deemed the most likely Democratic replacement for President Biden by political strategists. Buttigieg, a former naval officer who served in Afghanistan, graduated from Harvard before attending Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar. He has proven whip-smart when it comes to policy, political strategy and foreign affairs, aided by his knowledge of eight languages and experience on multiple high-profile political campaigns, including John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. If voted the United States' 47th leader, Buttigieg — a proud Christian — would become the youngest elected president sworn into office and the first openly gay president. 05 of 18 Liz Cheney Liz Cheney. Win McNamee/Getty Age: 55 Party: Republican Representing Wyoming in the House of Representatives since 2017, Cheney — daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney — has earned bipartisan respect as a voice of reason during increasingly polarized times. Following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots, Cheney was one of 10 Republicans to vote in favor of impeaching President Trump, a move that would cost her the title of third-ranking House Republican after representatives voted to remove her as chairman of the party's House caucus. Since 2021, Cheney has repeatedly doubled down on her opposition of Trump, even vice chairing the House committee organized to investigate his role in the Capitol riots. As a result, she's been ostracized by the outer reaches of the Republican Party and faces an uphill battle to reelection in November. Still, she remains unfazed, saying her oath to defend the Constitution transcends her status as an elected conservative. While Cheney has not formally revealed plans to run for president in 2024, she has previously entertained the idea and could potentially pull undecided voters to the right if she was able to secure the Republican nomination. "I won't let a former president or anyone else unravel the democracy," she told Today's Savannah Guthrie in 2021. "Whatever it takes." 06 of 18 Ted Cruz Sen. Ted Cruz. Jonathan Newton-Pool/Getty Age: 51 Party: Republican After President Trump lost reelection in 2020, Texas Sen. Cruz began branding himself as the next far-right leader to stand up for Trump-era values. He became a vocal proponent of overturning 2020 presidential election results and backed baseless claims of voter fraud while continuing to preach his conservative views on COVID-19 mandates, gun rights and immigration. Cruz, who came in second to Trump in 2016's Republican presidential primaries, has — like Trump —proven an expert at sparking controversy, often losing his battles in the court of public opinion. But he carries on, clinging to the support of an extremist base overlapping with the one that helped send Trump to the White House. The former solicitor general of Texas has not declared candidacy yet, but has repeatedly hinted at the possibility, even telling a teenager-run conservative media outlet that he would do it "in a heartbeat," adding, "There's a reason historically that the runner-up is almost always the next nominee." That all depends on who else joins the race, though, as Trump and some other, fresher faces in the Republican Party could cast a shadow over his campaign. 07 of 18 Ron DeSantis Ron DeSantis. Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Age: 43 Party: Republican As Florida's governor, DeSantis has characterized the division that encapsulates the state's political makeup. A hero among right-wing conservatives and a proud enemy to others, he riles up a similar base as Trump, posing a threat to the former president if both were to seek the Republican nomination. Though he previously downplayed his intentions to run for president, he is widely considered a top contender in the 2024 race. In a July poll conducted by The New York Times/Siena College, DeSantis was the most popular alternative to Trump in a hypothetical question about which rumored candidate Republicans would support in 2024. DeSantis has dominated headlines recently as the commander in chief of America's culture wars, restricting voting rights, enacting Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, politicizing the concept of critical race theory, pushing to ban gender-affirming medical care, refusing to order COVID vaccines for young children, and scolding students wearing masks. Acknowledging that DeSantis lacks the charisma Trump has, a political insider tells PEOPLE, "He is shrewd and makes sure he looks like he is doing the right thing." His talent? "He is a leader unruffled by controversy." Prior to assuming the office of governor in 2019, DeSantis represented Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. 08 of 18 Nikki Haley Nikki Haley. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Bloomberg via Getty Age: 50 Party: Republican On June 30, the former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Trump told reporters in Iowa that she is open to running for president in 2024 "if there's a place for me." The Des Moines Register reported that Haley said, "I've never lost a race. I'm not going to start now. I'll put 1,000 percent in and I'll finish it." Days before those comments, she told Fox News that she will reveal her decision about running early in 2023. In a July poll conducted by The New York Times/Siena College, Haley was tied with Mike Pence for fourth place in a hypothetical question about which rumored candidate Republicans would support in 2024. Haley has been a supporter of Trump since he earned the Republican Party nomination in 2016, later calling him a "friend" and tweeting in January 2021 that she was "really proud of the successes of the Trump administration." Following the deadly Capitol riots, she delivered mixed messages on her support of Trump, at once bashing his critics and calling his actions a letdown. Later in 2021, she said that if Trump runs for president again, she will support him and not contest him. 09 of 18 Kamala Harris Vice President Kamala Harris. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Age: 57 Party: Democratic The United States' vice president to president pipeline is well-established, beginning with the nation's first veep, John Adams, who went on to succeed George Washington. Since then, we've seen 14 additional VPs ascend to the highest office, the most recent being our current commander in chief, Joe Biden. Harris, an experienced attorney who climbed the political ranks relatively quickly, could be the next to vie for the White House — if her boss doesn't run again. Harris first gained prominence in her home state of California as the district attorney of San Francisco, which ultimately earned her a six-year stint as the California attorney general. She served as the junior senator of California for only four years before being sworn in as vice president. If she were to run for the presidency in 2024, she would have a head start due to her familiarity with the role and obvious qualifications. But in order to find success, she'll need to win members of her party back who have equated her with Biden's ill-received performance. It will not be an easy task, but neither was becoming the nation's first female, first Black and first Asian vice president. 10 of 18 Josh Hawley Sen. Josh Hawley. Greg Nash/The Hill/Bloomberg via Getty Age: 42 Party: Republican Formerly the attorney general of Missouri, Hawley unseated Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in 2018 to become the Show-Me State's junior senator. In his short tenure, he has become a routinely headline-making official, often for participating in — or spearheading — culture wars. Equated by many to Sen. Ted Cruz for his loyalty to Trumpian beliefs, political strategists have posited that Hawley has been gearing up to become the next leader of far-right movement that has landed the Republican Party in turmoil. After Trump lost the 2020 election, Hawley announced that he would refuse to certify the Electoral College vote count in an effort to keep Joe Biden out of the White House. In addition to spreading election fraud lies, he was seen putting a fist in the air in solidarity with the Capitol rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, a move that ultimately cost him his book deal with Simon & Schuster. In July 2022, the House committee investigating the insurrection released a clip of Hawley fleeing the Capitol in a hurry just hours after encouraging rioters, eliciting laughter from the audience and leading to a Missouri newspaper calling him a "laughingstock." But while many Democrats and Republicans agree on their disdain for Hawley, the voters that do support him are very passionate. If Hawley was able to convince his target demographic to side with him over similar politicians like Trump, DeSantis and Cruz — who have had more time in office to make enemies — he could become a serious contender for the White House. He has so far played coy on running for president, but experts feel confident his name will arise in talks for the next election. 11 of 18 Amy Klobuchar Amy Klobuchar. Age: 62 Party: Democratic Sen. Klobuchar has been a notable figure in Minnesota for several years, serving as the chief prosecutor for the state's most populous county before becoming the first woman elected to represent Minnesota in U.S. Senate. But her grand entry to the national stage was in 2018, during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, when an infamous exchange between the two about Kavanaugh's drinking habits led many to question whether his temperament — on top of horrific sexual assault allegations already made against him — disqualified him to serve on the country's highest court. Klobuchar ran with the praise she earned for her precise questioning in the hearings and declared candidacy for president in the 2020 election, ultimately placing sixth in the Democratic primary and endorsing Joe Biden after dropping out of the race. The senior Minnesota senator has some baggage — in 2019, a former aide accused her of treating her staff disrespectfully and creating a toxic work environment — she is a relatively safe candidate for the Democratic Party. Like Biden, she's not too controversial and not too outspoken; also like Biden, though, she may struggle to excite voters at a time when enthusiasm is desperately needed. 12 of 18 Gavin Newsom Gavin Newsom. Rich Pedroncelli/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Age: 54 Party: Democratic The California governor has a wealth of experience in his home state, formerly serving as lieutenant governor and San Francisco mayor, though it remains unclear how he would be received on the national level. In July, he began airing a television ad in Florida markets targeting their Republican governor, Ron DeSantis — another rumored presidential candidate — leading some to wonder if he was testing the waters for a 2024 run. Newsom, the onetime husband of conservative TV personality Kimberly Guilfoyle, has built a career around progressive values, allowing him to survive a recall campaign in 2021 and earning him an almost-guaranteed reelection as California's leader in November. 13 of 18 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Alex Wong/Getty Age: 32 Party: Democratic While Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC, does not currently meet the age requirement to serve as president of the United States, the internet savvy politician will turn 35 three months before Inauguration Day in 2025, deeming her eligible to run in the next election. After working for Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign as an organizer, AOC launched her own campaign in New York City to unseat a 10-term House Democrat. Running as a self-described democratic socialist — a labor-oriented movement with progressive values — and waiting tables during her campaign to make ends meet, AOC engaged a new generation of voters with her relatable lifestyle and ambitious policy proposals. In the Nov. 2018 election, she defied the odds and became the youngest female ever elected to U.S. Congress at just 29 years old. Since assuming the office in 2019, AOC has been one of the most recognizable names in Congress, pushing for progressive legislation and famously spearheading the House campaign to establish a Green New Deal during her first year. AOC's strength lies in her ability to excite young voters about the legislative process, inform the general public about complex governmental issues and fearlessly take on veteran colleagues. But her alignment with democratic socialism is not well-received by many, making her enemy No.1 for Republicans and a threat to moderate Democrats. If she were to announce candidacy for president, she would face an uphill battle toward gaining a majority of her party's support. 14 of 18 Mike Pence Mike Pence. Age: 63 Party: Republican As vice president under Donald Trump, Pence gained prominence as the more traditionally conservative politician in the administration. Before that, he'd made a name for himself in his home state of Indiana as governor and, prior, a longtime representative in the U.S. House. Pence sits in an interesting position as 2024 approaches. He once was considered a valiant hero by Trump followers, who viewed him as the loyal and stable counterpart to the president, but after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots, Trump's most loyal fans turned on him for not halting the ceremonial vote count that declared Joe Biden president. Fortunately for Pence, many who were disgusted by Trump's involvement in the insurrection sided with the vice president, believing him to be a true patriot who put the health of the nation over his demanding boss. Trump has made it clear that Pence will not join him on the ticket again if he runs a third time, making room for Pence to challenge his former partner in a primary. In a July poll conducted by The New York Times/Siena College, Pence was tied with Nikki Haley for fourth place in a hypothetical question about which rumored candidate Republicans would support in 2024. 15 of 18 JB Pritzker JB Pritzker. Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Age: 57 Party: Democratic The latest elected official to find themself at the center of a gun violence tragedy, Illinois Gov. Pritzker has sparked buzz as a possible Democratic challenger to President Biden, though he has not presently declared an intention to leave state politics. The first-term governor, a billionaire businessman and member of the wealthy family behind Hyatt hotels, is not exactly the political figure on everyone's lips — but throughout his reelection campaign he has traveled around the nation in support of abortion rights, helping other elected officials rally Democrats in support of progressive causes. His bold response to Highland Park's deadly Fourth of July parade shooting only amplified whispers that his energy could translate to strong voter enthusiasm come 2024. 16 of 18 Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders. Rich Pedroncelli/AP/Shutterstock Age: 80 Party: Independent As long as Sen. Sanders is still kicking, a portion of America will continue feeling the Bern. Widely considered a forefather of the modern progressive movement — making room for politicians like Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to continue his legacy with their own unique spins — the octogenarian is, perhaps surprisingly, a fan favorite among young Democratic voters. After placing second to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, and second again to Joe Biden in 2020, many believed his time was up. But while he's promised not to challenge Biden if he seeks another term, Sanders hasn't ruled out running again in 2024 if the field opens up. The independent lawmaker served as mayor of Burlington, Vermont, in the '80s before representing the Green Mountain State first in the House, then in the Senate. Though he is not technically a Democrat, Sanders' runs for president have been on the Democratic ticket, as third parties are not currently a viable path to the White House. Sanders, like other self-described "democratic socialists," is a divisive figure among Democratic voters and the nation at large, with many viewing his affiliation as too extreme to lead the U.S. Boiled down his views are ambitious, but ultimately centered on supporting the working-class — something that a majority of Americans would benefit from. His biggest hurdle if he were to run, though, may not actually be his political stances but his age. He has proven that he can rally voters, but a year older than President Biden, he's not the young blood that many in the Democratic Party are hoping for in 2024, and each election that goes by without securing the party's nomination escalates concerns of his ability to carry out the duties of president for a full four to eight years. 17 of 18 Elizabeth Warren Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Drew Angerer/Getty Age: 73 Party: Democratic Sen. Warren of Massachusetts has become a leading political voice on economic and human rights issues, known during her 2020 presidential campaign as the candidate who could explain the root of America's problems and had detailed plans to fix them. The former Harvard law professor predicted the financial crash of 2008, and played a role in helping the government navigate it in live time. Perhaps one of the most intelligent Democratic politicians today, Warren seems apt for the role of party leader — but as the nation saw during her 2020 campaign, being labeled as a progressive scared some voters away, ultimately placing her third in the crowded primary pack. Interestingly, Warren was long viewed as conservative and was registered as a Republican in the '90s before switching her party affiliation to Democratic. Though she says she didn't swear by the right-wing platform and often voted for Democrats as well, she believed Republicans best supported the markets. She later adjusted that belief and found that she could champion the cause of supporting middle-class Americans and getting the nation out of debt by proposing tax increases on the wealthiest billionaires and keeping corporations in check. Warren has said that if Biden runs, she will support him for president, adding that she is focused on her Senate reelection and not thinking about the presidency right now. Some speculate that if Biden were to withdraw from the race, though, she may reconsider — and she certainly could build a strong campaign. 18 of 18 Gretchen Whitmer Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. AP/Shutterstock Age: 50 Party: Democratic Once on Joe Biden's shortlist for vice president, the Democratic governor of Michigan is a proven powerhouse who managed to clinch the state's top position in 2018, just two years after it swung red in favor of Donald Trump. With her hold on a key swing state, Whitmer could prove invaluable on the Democratic ticket in 2024, particularly since she has experience holding her own against personal attacks by Trump. Gov. Whitmer's current focus is on reelection as she will face one of five ultra-conservative candidates vying for the Michigan Republican Party's nomination. Though Whitmer has not declared an intent to leave Michigan politics, she has repeatedly been identified as someone who could excel in federal government. If she earns another term as governor, it could distract her from a 2024 presidential run — but at the same time, it would reaffirm her Midwest stronghold, surely heightening external pressures to set her eyes on the White House.