Who Is Running for President in 2024? Confirmed and Rumored Republican and Democratic Candidates

As the 2024 presidential election rapidly approaches, campaigns are well underway for what is already shaping up to be one of the most heated political races in American history

Joe Biden

Age: 80

Party: Democratic

Candidacy: Confirmed

Less than two months after his 2021 inauguration, President Joe Biden announced his intention to run for reelection in 2024, with Vice President Kamala Harris joining him on the ticket once again. He followed through on that intention in April 2023, formally launching his reelection campaign.

"The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom; more rights or fewer. I know what I want the answer to be and I think you do too," Biden said in a three-minute announcement video that showed images of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots and abortion rights protests. "This is not a time to be complacent. That's why I'm running for reelection — because I know America. I know we're good and decent people. I know we're still a country that believes in honesty, respect, and treating each other with dignity. We're a nation where we give hate no safe harbor. We believe that everyone is equal, that everyone should be given a fair shot to succeed in this country."

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 who can tout his early legislative hot streak as commander-in-chief, though his lackluster approval ratings over issues surrounding the economy — and his age — have left some members of his own party questioning whether he can pull off another win. After the 2022 midterms, in which Democratic candidates massively over-performed, retained control of the Senate and picked up new governor seats, Biden got a bit more credit for his party leadership — but another term in the White House is far from guaranteed.

Donald Trump

Age: 77

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

Twice impeached, criminally charged and generally full of controversy, former President Donald 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, Trump stayed active in politics, campaigning for far-right candidates throughout the 2022 midterm election cycle. His endorsees fared poorly at the polls, contributing to Republicans losing important races and suggesting the unpopularity of election denialism, but it didn't faze him: On Nov. 15, 2022, he formally declared his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election.

Trump has since made history as the first sitting or former president to face criminal charges, being indicted a total of four times in 2023 in separate criminal cases.

The charges have so far not damaged his popularity in the 2024 GOP primary, but if he becomes the party's nominee in a tight rematch against President Biden, on-the-fence voters may fear he has too much baggage.

Ron DeSantis

Age: 44

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

As Florida's governor, Ron 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 possible threat to the former president. Though he previously downplayed his intentions to run for president, he formally entered the 2024 presidential race in May 2023. Numerous polls have suggested that DeSantis is the most popular alternative to Trump, though his campaign has not gone according to plan and he currently trails the former president significantly in primary polling.

DeSantis has dominated headlines since assuming the office of governor 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 becoming governor in 2019, DeSantis represented Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tim Scott

Age: 57

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has potential to be a strong candidate in the 2024 presidential race, proving himself as one of the Republican Party's best fundraisers who spent a significant amount of energy during his 2022 reelection campaign helping other GOP candidates earn support.

The senator, who entered the presidential race in May 2023, assumed his current position in 2013 and remains the lone Black Republican in Congress' upper chamber. Prior to joining the Senate, Scott served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He's also served one term in the South Carolina state House of Representatives and 14 years on the Charleston City Council.

Scott propelled into the national spotlight in 2021, when he delivered the official GOP rebuttal to President Joe Biden's first address to a joint session of Congress. He also made headlines for leading across-the-aisle negotiations in Congress' effort to find a compromise on police reform. Scott has previously spoken out about police brutality, delivering an impassioned speech during the Republican National Convention following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020.

On issues like immigration, climate, health care, abortion and same-sex marriage, Scott has demonstrated conservative views.

Nikki Haley

Age: 51

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

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 Nikki 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."

On Feb. 14, Haley officially made the leap, announcing her candidacy with a video and donation link on social media.

In a July 2022 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. Since then, she seems to have faded out of the conversation more as Pence and DeSantis take center stage, but her early candidacy could help her change that.

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 — though she has clearly moved past that.

Mike Pence

Age: 64

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

As vice president under Donald Trump, Mike 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, who entered the presidential race in June 2023, 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 made it clear that Pence would not join him on the ticket again if he ran a third time, paving a way for Pence to consider a run of his own. Beyond needing to beat Trump in a primary, though — which would come as a great challenge — Pence first needs to convince voters that he's a tough competitor to flashier candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. According to early polling numbers, his path to the White House appears a long shot.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Age: 69

Party: Democratic

Candidacy: Confirmed

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the controversial nephew of late President John F. Kennedy and son of esteemed politician Robert F. Kennedy, filed paperwork to run for president in April 2023 after teasing the idea online for about a month prior.

Kennedy — often called Bobby Jr. — now puts himself in similar shoes to his father, who was a serious contender for the Democratic nomination for president in 1968 when he was abruptly assassinated. Despite the trauma of losing his dad in a hateful act as a teen, he remains interested in entering politics, and is now the fourth person in the large Kennedy family to make a bid for the White House.

In recent years, Kennedy — an environmental lawyer who is married to Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines — has become one of the most controversial figures in his family for becoming an outspoken anti-vaccine conspiracist, lobbying against vaccine requirements and founding a propagandist nonprofit called Children's Health Defense, which a 2019 study says paid for more than half of the ads on Facebook promoting false claims about vaccines, according to The New York Times. More recently, Kennedy came under fire for spreading dangerous disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.

Despite his problematic views, Kennedy has long supported Democratic candidates and plans to run on the Democratic ticket. A Kennedy family source tells PEOPLE that "President Biden is hugely popular in the Kennedy family," raising questions about whether Bobby Jr. will even be able to get his own family's support, as many relatives are openly opposed to some of his wide-ranging views.

Asa Hutchinson

Age: 72

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson recently finished his second and final term in office, opening the door for him to seek the presidency — a political jump that he confirmed he will take on April 2, 2023, in an interview with Jonathan Karl on This Week.

"As I've traveled the country for six months, I hear people talk about the leadership of our country, and I'm convinced that people want leaders that appeal to the best of America, and not simply appeal to our worst instincts," Hutchinson told Karl. "And that inspires me when I see everyday Americans just saying, 'Give us good leadership, give us common sense, consistent conservatism and optimism about our great country.' ... I believe I can be that kind of leader for the people of America."

As the Arkansas governor, Hutchinson routinely went against the grain of more extreme members of his party, refusing to sign a gay discrimination bill in 2015, vetoing a bill to deny transgender children with gender-affirming care in 2021 (the state legislature ultimately overrode his veto), and acknowledging that he made a mistake banning mask mandates during COVID-19.

He has also distanced himself from Trump, calling the former president "morally" responsible for the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, urging Republicans to refrain from discrediting the FBI's investigation into Trump, and declaring he would not support another Trump campaign.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Age: 37

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

A leading manufacturer of the corporate anti-woke movement, conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is eager to take on Trump in the Republican primary, announcing his presidential campaign in late February 2023. The businessman is running on a platform of unity — one that's deceivingly divisive.

Ramaswamy, an Ohio native whose parents immigrated from India, has been outspoken against companies using their platforms for social causes and has echoed views of many far-right Republicans today that America's values are in decline, citing critical race theory, affirmative action, environmentalism and self-victimization as things that he believes destroyed the nation's once-shared identity.

"We've celebrated our 'diversity' so much that we forgot all the ways we're really the same as Americans, bound by ideals that united a divided, headstrong group of people 250 years ago," he wrote in a tweet when he announced his campaign. "I believe deep in my bones those ideals still exist. I'm running for President to revive them."

In addition to founding tech and health care companies, Ramaswamy is the best-selling author of Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam, leading the New Yorker to dub him as the "CEO of Anti-Woke, Inc." His book proved him a political thought leader in conservative spheres and earned him regular appearances on Fox News alongside Tucker Carlson, whose hot-tempered tone has seemingly rubbed off on Ramaswamy.

To many on the right, Ramaswamy is a familiar face with intriguing ideas about business and the economy, which will prove a useful reputation as he fights his way through the Republican primary season with far more prominent GOP opponents. The question is whether he can really unite Americans in the way he hopes, or if his foray into right-wing culture wars will come back to haunt him.

Chris Christie

Age: 60

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had repeatedly expressed interest in running for president in 2024 before formally launching his second presidential campaign in June 2023. In recent public appearances, Christie has said that somebody needs to stop Donald Trump from returning to power, suggesting that he's the only Republican willing and able to throw some punches in a face-off with the former president.

"He failed us as president based on what he himself told us in 2015, in 2016, what he would do when he became president," said Christie, who supported Trump during the last two presidential elections, at a town hall event. "He failed us as a president on the promises he made to us."

Christie — who was a prominent force in Trump's 2016 campaign and at one point spearheaded his presidential transition team — told Politico that Trump's weakness "needs to be called out and it needs to be called out by somebody who knows him. Nobody knows Donald Trump better than I do."

The onetime governor launched a bid for the White House in 2016 that was cut short by his poor performance in the earliest primary elections.

Marianne Williamson

Age: 71

Party: Democratic

Candidacy: Confirmed

Marianne Williamson became the first notable Democratic candidate in the 2024 race, revealing in March 2023 that she would be again seeking the nation's highest office.

The self-help author, who has written 14 books, previously ran in the 2020 presidential race. She struggled to gain traction with primary voters, instead making headlines for strange quotes on the campaign trail, like how her first act as president would be to tell then-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, "Girlfriend, you are so on," and how the only way Trump could be defeated was by channeling "love."

Williamson's signature 2020 policy proposal called for $200 to $500 billion to be distributed by Black American leaders for community development and education. Her policy platform also generally aligned with the Democratic mainstream, including proposals to perform gun laws, combat man-made climate change and provide universal health care.

Larry Elder

Age: 71

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

Larry Elder — the right-wing radio host and political commentator who unsuccessfully challenged California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a 2021 recall election — jumped into the crowded 2024 Republican primary in April 2023.

"America is in decline, but this decline is not inevitable," the self-described libertarian wrote on Twitter in announcing his campaign. "We can enter a new American Golden Age, but we must choose a leader who can bring us there. That's why I'm running for President."

Elder is a former lawyer and the longtime host of the nationally syndicated conservative radio program The Larry Elder Show. Aside from his political views, he's stirred controversy for insulting women's intelligence in a 2000 magazine column, getting accused of menacingly brandishing a gun while his ex-fiancée was talking (allegations he has vehemently denied), and claiming election fraud when he lost the long-shot recall bid in California.

His 2024 election website lists his top priorities — which include tackling crime, "breaking the monopoly of the public school system," squashing critical race theory and diversity, equity & inclusion "cults," containing China, and securing the border.

Will Hurd

Age: 46

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

Former Texas Rep. Will Hurd jumped into the presidential race in late June 2023, calling himself a "dark horse" candidate and saying he's "pissed" that politicians aren't spending enough time talking about serious issues.

"I believe the Republican Party can be the party that talks about the future, not the past," Hurd said while announcing his campaign on CBS Mornings. "We should be putting out a vision of how do we have unprecedented peace, how do we have a thriving economy, how do we make sure our kids have a world class education, regardless of their age and location? We can do this. It's hard. But here's one thing I've learned: If we remember two things, we can pull this off. America is better together. Way more unites us than divides us."

Hurd served in Congress from 2015 to 2021, retiring alongside several other Republican House members ahead of the 2020 election. His district was primarily Hispanic and seated a Democrat before he got there; despite being a Black Republican, he ousted the incumbent in 2014, at the time crediting his ability to "engage people where they are" rather than catering his message to a specific race, gender or party.

The former congressman got his start in government at the Central Intelligence Agency, which sent him to a handful of South Asian countries during his nine-year employment and made him fluent in Urdu. At the CIA he also was tasked with briefing members of Congress, which he told The Washington Post in 2015 was the reason he grew interested in pursuing politics.

Doug Burgum

Age: 67

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Confirmed

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a former Microsoft executive, jumped into the presidential race in June 2023, adding his name to a growing list of far-better-known Republican candidates. Burgum was reelected to a second term as governor with about two-thirds of the vote in 2020, proving his popularity in North Dakota—but the state ranks 47th in population, meaning he has a long way to go toward earning the recognition and popularity he’d need to pose a real threat to fellow candidates.

Burgum’s tenure as governor has seen him approve a substantial income tax cut in North Dakota, enact one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the nation, and enter culture war territory by banning critical race theory in K-12 schools and banning gender-affirming care for minors (in addition to numerous other anti-trans actions).

In both 2016 and 2020, Burgum and Trump endorsed one another’s campaigns.

Cornel West

Age: 70

Party: Green

Candidacy: Confirmed

Cornel West, a prominent Black academic known for his discussions on race and class in the United States, initially entered the 2024 presidential race as a candidate for the People’s Party before shifting gears to say he would seek the Green Party’s nomination.

A self-described “non-Marxist socialist,” the philosopher has taught at numerous universities — including four Ivy Leagues — and served as honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. In both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, he endorsed independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.

West is thus far the furthest-left candidate in the presidential race, criticizing both major parties as well as their current figureheads, Biden and Trump. His stated positions include prioritizing clean energy, ending war, forgiving student debt and expanding Social Security.

“In these bleak times, I have decided to run for truth and justice,” West said upon announcing his 2024 campaign. “I enter in the quest for truth. I enter in the quest for justice, and the presidency is just one vehicle to pursue that truth and justice, what I’ve been trying to do all of my life.”

John Bolton

Age: 74

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Likely

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has announced plans to challenge his ex-boss Donald Trump on the 2024 presidential ballot.

Bolton — whose resume includes serving as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under George W. Bush and an assistant attorney general under Ronald Reagan — is a controversial figure all around, one who was plucked from his role as chairman of the anti-Muslim think tank Gatestone Institute to join Trump's administration. As the national security advisor he showed hostility to international organizations, which he has long characterized as threats to U.S. sovereignty (despite serving as U.N. ambassador).

Bolton left the Trump administration on bad terms and has since feuded with the former president a number of times, heightened by a tell-all memoir of his time in the White House that painted Trump in a negative light.

In January 2023, Bolton exclusively told a British news station that he would run for president in 2024, arguing that Trump was facing a "terminal decline" in the GOP and that he has the foreign policy experience necessary to better position the U.S. internationally. His chances of defeating Trump — or any other big names in the race — are slim, but that hasn't seemed to damage his confidence.

Rick Scott

Age: 69

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Likely

Florida Sen. Rick Scott is believed to be considering a presidential run, even as fellow Floridians Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis hog the buzz. Scott's had a rough go lately — rather than running for reelection as Senate GOP chair in November, he unsuccessfully ran to unseat Mitch McConnell as the Senate party leader, ultimately being ousted from the GOP leadership team altogether.

Scott preceded DeSantis as the governor of Florida, yet appears the underdog if he were to face DeSantis in a 2024 primary. Despite Scott's past support of Trump, he has stayed noticeably quiet on whether he plans to rally behind the former president's latest White House bid, further heightening suspicion of his own D.C. ambitions. That said, Scott's chances of becoming a far-right president look rather slim as he remains in the shadow of other, flashier Republican stars.

Stacey Abrams

Age: 49

Party: Democratic

Candidacy: Rumored

Stacey 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 has remained her focus thus far, as she sought the Georgia governorship for a second time in 2022, ultimately being defeated.

Abrams has openly declared her intention to run for president at some point in her career, but has not yet suggested that 2024 is the year. Up until recently, she had planned to be in the governor's mansion until at least 2028. Now that she will not be carrying out a full term in Georgia, it's unclear if she'll face pressure from Democrats to speed up her timeline.

Pete Buttigieg

Age: 41

Party: Democratic

Candidacy: Rumored

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. Pete 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 been deemed the most likely Democratic replacement for President Biden by political strategists. With Biden now formally running for reelection, the likelihood of Buttigieg running has greatly diminished — but there's still time for anything to happen.

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.

Tucker Carlson

Age: 54

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Rumored

Tucker Carlson, the longtime Fox News host who abruptly parted ways with the network in April 2023, has seen his name floated as a possible 2024 presidential contender, particularly since his schedule freed up.

Even current GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who frequently appeared as a guest on Carlson's Fox News show, told Politico, "I think he'd be a good addition to the race. I think someone should only do this if they feel called to do it, but I think it'd be good for the country if he got in, to be honest with you."

Carlson — whose career has been built atop a mountain of controversies and conspiracy theories, and who is known to stoke anger among his far-right followers — has not announced an intent to run for president, but has left cryptic hints about his next career move, saying in a video days after his Fox News departure that after stepping "outside the noise" for a moment, he's realized "how unbelievably stupid" heated debates on television are. He closed the video with a suggestion that an announcement of some sort is on the way, saying, "See you soon."

Liz Cheney

Age: 57

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Rumored

Representing Wyoming in the House of Representatives since 2017, Liz 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 quickly 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 lost her uphill battle to reelection to a Trump-backed candidate in August. But even after getting booted from Congress, she remains proud of her choices, 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 repeatedly entertained the idea and — after losing her bid for another term in the House over the summer — said she would be making a decision on her future plans in the coming months. "I won't let a former president or anyone else unravel the democracy," she previously told Today's Savannah Guthrie in 2021. "Whatever it takes."

Ted Cruz

Age: 52

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Rumored

After President Trump lost reelection in 2020, Texas Sen. Ted 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.

Kamala Harris

Age: 58

Party: Democratic

Candidacy: Rumored

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. Kamala Harris, an experienced attorney who climbed the political ranks relatively quickly, could be the next to vie for the White House — but only if her boss steps out of the race before the Democratic primary.

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 aren't convinced she's the strongest candidate to put forward. It would not be an easy task, but neither was becoming the nation's first female, first Black and first Asian vice president.

Josh Hawley

Age: 43

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Rumored

Formerly the attorney general of Missouri, Sen. Josh 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.

In the meantime, at least one person has already announced plans to challenge him for his Senate seat in 2024.

Joe Manchin

Age: 75

Party: Democratic

Candidacy: Rumored

"If I get in a race, I'm going to win," West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin declared at a New Hampshire event in July that sparked rumors of a potential third-party presidential campaign. "With that being said, I haven't made a decision."

Manchin — the conservative Democrat best known for thwarting many of his party's attempts at passing legislation by siding with Republicans — is up for reelection in the Senate in 2024, but has yet to announce whether he will run again.

After delivering a speech in an early primary state at an event hosted by centrist political group No Labels, Democrats are now wondering if Manchin plans to join a third-party ticket, which would almost certainly be detrimental to President Joe Biden's chances of securing a second term as well as Democrats' chances of maintaining a majority in the Senate (West Virginia is deeply conservative, making Manchin a valuable asset to the Democratic Conference).

On specific issues, Manchin has taken notably conservative stances on abortion, energy and immigration, and has flip-flopped on his support of same-sex marriage, ultimately supporting the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act that codified federal protections for LGBTQ+ couples.

Kristi Noem

Age: 51

Party: Republican

Candidacy: Rumored

A former U.S. representative and the current South Dakota governor, Kristi Noem has been rumored to be considering a presidential run, despite her current race for reelection.

South Dakota Public Broadcasting noted that Noem ran digital ads in three states beyond where she lives, each of which have early presidential primaries and are considered key states to win in order to get a major party's nomination. Previously asked by CBS News' chief White House correspondent if she was considering a presidential bid, Noem said, "I don't rule it out. Just because people bring it up quite often."

The governor is faithfully conservative on social and health issues. She previously came under fire in her home state after intervening when her daughter was denied a real estate appraisal license in South Dakota, allegedly pulling strings to get her daughter certified and leading to the forced retirement of the woman overseeing the certification program. Even so, Noem's scandal may be too localized to dissuade staunchly conservative voters around the nation from supporting a woman seeking to make history in D.C.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Age: 33

Party: Democratic

Candidacy: Rumored

While Rep. Alexandria 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.

Elizabeth Warren

Age: 74

Party: Democratic

Candidacy: Rumored

Sen. Elizabeth 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's 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 she plans to support Biden's reelection campaign, even announcing her own 2024 Senate reelection campaign in late March. While it seems unlikely now, some continue to speculate that if Biden were to withdraw from the race, she may reconsider — and she certainly could build a strong campaign.

Gretchen Whitmer

Age: 51

Party: Democratic

Candidacy: Rumored

Once on Joe Biden's shortlist for vice president, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer 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 spent most of 2022 distracted by her reelection bid, in which she faced (and beat) a deeply conservative Trump-backed candidate. Though Whitmer has not declared an intent to leave Michigan politics, she has repeatedly been identified as someone who could excel in federal government. Her reelection to begin a new term may keep her from looking elsewhere — but at the same time, it reaffirmed her Midwest stronghold, surely heightening external pressures to set her eyes on the White House.

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