This election year has seen a lot of unprecedented events and changes and is slowly solidifying its place in the history books as it continues to develop. If you’re anything like me, you probably like to keep up with politics and current events but might have no clue where to even begin with the sheer amount of information there is to take in. So, for those who have trouble understanding or simply want to see a more straightforward look at this year’s political drama, here’s a timeline of events that I think are most notable in the lead-up to this election.
Nov. 15, 2022 – Donald Trump declares his candidacy
Ever since former President Donald Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was falsified, he has expressed an apparent disdain for the Biden administration. However, after numerous lawsuits with both civil and criminal charges against him, it was unclear whether he would still run; although he has stated it as his intention since President Joe Biden was inaugurated, it was up in the air if these charges against him would tank his campaign. On Nov. 15, 2022, only a week after the 2022 midterm elections, Trump officially announced his campaign for the presidency, making him the first major candidate to declare his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election (CNN).
May 15 – Mike Pence refuses to endorse Trump’s campaign
In an interview on Fox News Channel back in May, former Vice President Mike Pence stated that he couldn’t in “good conscience” back Trump’s campaign in the 2024 election. This came as no surprise after Pence’s memoir, So Help Me God, released Nov. 15, 2022, in which he outwardly slandered Trump, detailing events around the Jan. 6 storming of the capitol (AP News).
June 28-July 21 – Drama over public figures encouraging Biden to drop from the presidential race
On June 28, Trump and Biden had the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season, and Biden quickly received much backlash for running for a second term after stating during his first term that he planned to step down after completing it (CNN). For the next month, there were constant statements in the press, both public and private, from numerous advisors and Democratic governors, as well as members of Congress across the country urging him to step down. In the first debate, Biden made many errors in names and words and seemed to be somewhat unaware of what he was talking about, and after many doubts about his mental acuity during his first term, these slip-ups only worsened his image. House of Representatives member Hillary Scholten received much criticism and retaliation from allies of Biden after she publicly called for him to step aside and drop out of the race due to his age, with people calling for her to be removed from her position (Politico).
July 13 – Assassination attempt on Trump
Possibly one of the most cataclysmic events of this election year and something to surely go down in the history books was the assassination attempt on Trump on July 13. At a Trump Rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a shooter on the rooftop of a nearby building, now identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, attempted to shoot Trump and ended up grazing his ear and critically injuring two and killing one in the crowd (Fox News). Trump, with blood splattered across his face and surrounded by the Secret Service, stood up and raised his fist, captured in a picture that is sure to appear in history textbooks fifty years from now. Although the assassination attempt was a life-threatening event, it majorly raised Trump’s ratings in the polls and gathered much more support for his campaign (CNN).
July 15 – Trump announces JD Vance as his running mate
On July 15, on the platform Truth Social, Trump announced the much-anticipated news of who he would select as his running mate in his campaign: Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance (The Washington Post). While this news was received well by many of Trump’s supporters, others were confused with the choice given how harshly Vance criticized Trump in the 2016 election, with Vance even recently admitting he once didn’t believe Trump to be a fit candidate for president at all. In recent years, however, Vance has begun to align himself with Trump much more, leading to their joint campaign (The Guardian). In the past months, Vance has received a staggering amount of criticism at rallies and speeches, with many Trump supporters at rallies holding signs telling Trump to pick a new running mate. However, although this seems negative for Trump, I believe that this is a plan to draw in anti-Trump voters in the past elections by showcasing how Vance, who once made a large part of his platform dislike Trump, changed his mind and saw a better side of him.
July 21 – Biden stepping out of the presidential race
After the debate only a month prior, it became clear to many that, due to his age, Biden lacked much of the mental acuity and awareness necessary to be president. So, in a letter posted on X (formerly Twitter) on July 21, Biden officially withdrew from the race, stating, “…I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” (The New York Times). Although the decision was ultimately Biden’s choice, it seems that he couldn’t quell the growing sentiment from the rest of his party that he wasn’t fit for the job and didn’t have enough support to beat Trump in the election.
July 21 – Biden endorsing Kamala Harris
After announcing his withdrawal, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, stating that he supports her taking his place. This was met with some initial apprehension as Harris’ short-lived campaign in 2020 didn’t go well, with her lacking both support and a central belief for her campaign. Although her 2020 campaign failed, this year’s is looking much more successful as she gained more than $100 million in pledges and donations from democrats supporting her campaign in the following weeks after Biden stepped down. These donations and widespread support ensured her nomination at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) held from Aug. 19-22.
Aug. 6 – Kamala announces Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate
Following her endorsement from Biden, there was much speculation about who Harris would select as her running mate. Many names were suggested, like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, but Whitmer removed herself from the shortlist as she wants to finish her gubernatorial term and likely run herself in the next election. Alas, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was announced as her chosen VP on Aug. 6, 2024, at a rally in Philadelphia. Walz was met with support as a warm, midwestern personality and also an Army National Guard veteran providing a wide range of appeal to voters; however, he has faced criticism from many Republicans about the Minnesota laws he has passed for LGBTQ+ kids and gender-neutral bathrooms in schools (CNN).
What’s next?
After all of the events in just the past few months, the next few leading up to the election promise more drama and controversy to come. As Trump continues to move back the date he and Harris debate and Vance faces increasing criticism from his own party, it seems that the fate of the election is up in the air. The next few months of politics may change the trajectory of future elections and the state of our country forever as the race continues.
