Isha Sinha
The 2020 election is one that Americans will never forget. It was followed by an explosive debate over election results, violence, and an uprising that some call an insurrection. With the next election around the corner, is it possible for it to fall in 2020’s footsteps? One message is certain: the upcoming election will affect all on the scale of conservative to liberal.
Trump’s determination to win a second term has been a continuous topic of discussion amongst Americans, with opinions on the matter varying significantly. Some believe that Trump will do so, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows: “I don’t speak for [former] President Trump, but I do speak to him all the time, and I can tell you if I were a betting man, I would bet, I would go all in on the fact that he’s going to run.”
While many hold a similar viewpoint to Meadows, others disagree. After the Capitol attacks on January 6, 2021, there has been much division on whether Trump is even eligible to run for a presidential position.
Some point to Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which states, “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”
Most Democrats believe that the amendment provides grounds for the argument that Donald Trump is not eligible for the presidency, raising the question of whether the Capitol attacks should be considered an insurrection.
While some agree that an insurrection occurred on January 6, many Trump supporters have voiced their opposing opinions. This fundamental question has made the consideration of a second Trump term all the more polarizing.
If not Trump, who else? Our next president must be one to guide America out of a struggling economy after COVID-19 and a polarizing political scale that continues to divide the population, which is not an easy task.
Democrats speculate that Joe Biden will not run for re-election, due to his old age and a quote from the President himself: “Look, I view myself as a bridge, not as anything else,” he said. “There’s an entire generation of leaders you saw standing behind me. They are the future of this country.”
While many believe that Biden’s rhetoric has indicated he will not compete again, it is widely suspected that Trump will run. This is the viewpoint of Jason Miller, a former top adviser to Trump: “I think ultimately in 2024 President Trump does run again–at least that is my hope. But I don’t think it will be against Joe Biden. I think it will be a [Vice President] Kamala Harris or maybe a [Governor of California] Gavin Newsom”
Across political lines, the values of the population regarding the president remain the same: that they guide the American population in the right direction and allow for a better future. Those who cast their votes every four years have these intentions in mind. While people from all political factions have speculations on who will run, it is important to keep in mind that there is no correct answer until the actual election; all the population can do until then is raise the question. Now is a better time to do so than ever, as the next American election will affect the global population tremendously, whether it be through the topic of immigration, vaccination policies, or abortion.
While the 2024 election may seem in the distant future, the importance of this election cannot be overstated. For all on the political scale, this next election is extremely influential.
For Republicans, it is important to regain political control over the Executive and Congress, while for the Democrats, the next presidency may be the one to pass climate change and rein in Republican states. Recently, growing polarization has caused important issues to be held off due to different political factions being unable to reach a consensus. Thus, the president of 2024 must unite our political differences while still keeping them under consideration.
Ultimately, the result of the upcoming election will be influenced by everyone’s decisions, and the choice that we make will forever be reflected in American history.
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