This election year is one of the most consequential in modern American history. A series of unique circumstances has transformed a seemingly repetitive election cycle into a once in a lifetime occasion. A second-rate debate performance and concern over his age caused current President Joe Biden to drop out and created a historic matchup as Kamala Harris soon stepped into the race as the presumptive Democratic nominee and later became the first female black and Asian official Democratic Party candidate.
By August 6, only three months before election day, the tickets had been determined. Former President Donald Trump picked Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, and Vice President Kamala Harris picked Governor Tim Walz. Vice president picks have historically been a way to balance out presidential tickets and appeal to swing states. J.D. Vance, author of that popular novel that inspired a later movie adaptation, Hillbilly Elegy, is a former venture capitalist and Marine veteran.
The Ohio Senator is one of the youngest vice presidential candidates in recent history, only 40 years old. He has a net approval rating of -9, with 33% of voters viewing him favorably and 42% unfavorably, according to recent polling. Tim Walz is a former schoolteacher and football coach as well as a retired U.S. Army commission officer. He is the Minnesota state governor, proudly emphasizing his Midwest heritage now that he is speaking publicly on a national scale. Tim Walz’s favorability rating currently stands at 40.2% while 36.4% view him unfavorably.
The first debate with this new matchup of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was September 10. The debate was watched by millions of Americans and topics ranged from the economy, to abortion, to global policies. Post debate polls reveal that Kamala Harris is 6% ahead nationally, the first lead she’s gained over Trump outside the margin of error. However, key swing states polls show that the race is still close. November 5, 2024 and its impact on the next four years is still up in the air.
