updated March 7, 2024
Seven years ago I wrote in a post-
“Anyone following the United States Presidential campaign knows it has become one of the most unexpected, unpredictable, and contentious races in history. And so far the candidates are only vying for their parties’ nominations.”
Now, in 2023, I could write the same thing!
(Remember: when I write about politics, my remarks are strictly non-partisan. My blog offers “information and inspiration” to encourage your own thoughts and opinions. I have my own political opinions, but that’s not what this blog is about. And, this information is correct as of the published date. )
Republicans for President
The frontrunner is former President Donald Trump, who is facing at least four indictments, including one for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
After almost all contenders for the Republican nomination dropped out -Tim Scott, Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, and Vivek Ramaswamy-Nikki Haley continued her quest for the nomination.
update
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley suspended her bid for the GOP presidential nomination, a day after losing 14 of 15 state primary contests to former President Donald Trump on Super Tuesday. Haley, the last major Republican challenger to Trump’s reelection bid (and his former ambassador to the United Nations), declined to endorse Trump during her announcement.
Democrats for President
Current Democratic President Joe Biden is running for reelection, along with his Vice President, Kamala Harris, the first woman to be VP.
Spiritual author Marianne Williamson, who ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020, has again declared as a candidate, challenging Biden. She dropped out but then “unsuspended” her campaign as of February 28, 2024.
Long-time Democrat Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. changed to run as an Independent. (His uncle was Democratic President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated 60 years ago, on November 22, 1963.)
How the United States elects a President
Physician Presidential candidates
In 2016 I wrote posts about the three physicians who were running for President-yes, physicians. Two of them were men and Republicans.
Dr. Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist, and Dr. Benjamin Carson, a neurosurgeon, ran for the Republican nomination but eventually suspended their campaigns. Dr. Carson became the Secretary of HUD under President Trump and Dr. Paul is still serving in the Senate. You can read about them at this link
From the O.R. to the Oval Office
The third doctor candidate in 2016 was neither a man nor a Republican. It was a woman, Dr. Jill Stein, an internal medicine physician, running as the Green Party candidate. It was not her first presidential campaign, nor her last-she is running again.
“Two-time Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein announced Thursday she plans to seek the party’s nomination for the White House in 2024.” (CNN.com)
“The Democrats have betrayed their promises for working people, youth and the climate again and again, while Republicans don’t even make such promises in the first place,”
Dr. Jill Stein, per CNN.com
Jill Stein, M.D.- Green Party candidate
- Dr. Stein graduated from Harvard Medical School.
- Her hobbies include writing and performing music.
- She ran for President in 2012, also on the Green Party ticket.
- She is a physician’s wife, mother, internal medicine physician/teacher, and “environmental health advocate.”
- She developed the “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” teaching program.
- She has been interviewed on the Today Show, 20/20, and Fox News network.
- In Massachusetts, she ran for Governor, State Representative, and Secretary of State.
- She co-founded the Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities, a non-profit organization.
- She likes to walk with her Great Dane Bandita.
- She has advocated for several environmental issues in her home state-
- Mercury contamination of fish
- The “Filthy Five” coal plants clean up
- Mercury and dioxin contamination from burning trash
What woman could become President?
Nancy Patricia Pelosi served as the 52nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. As Speaker, she was third in line to become President in case of presidential disability or death.
In 2008, then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was the Republican vice presidential nominee, and in 1984, then-Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York, a Democrat, was the first woman on a major party ticket.
Current Vice President Kamala Harris is the third woman nominated for VP on a major party ticket. As Vice President, she would assume the office of President if Biden becomes disabled or dies.
In 2016, former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the first woman on a major party ticket to run for President. She won the popular vote with 66 million votes, but Donald Trump, with 63 million votes, received more electoral votes, so Clinton did not become President.
For the election in 2024, the three potential contenders are Marianne Williamson, Jill Stein, and Nikki Haley. In my opinion, all three are long shots, but Haley had the best chance, considering how our voting system works. (That is, third-party or independent candidates are unlikely to win, although votes cast for them can help or hurt the major party candidates.)
But who knows? As our last election proved, anything can happen, but more important is that the nation wins- because the Constitution works, even when it is severely challenged. And here’s a link to the document
Constitution of the United States
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
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