2024 NH Presidential Primary

Democrat

Many believe Stacey Abrams’ voter organization is responsible for flipping Georgia blue in the 2020 presidential election. She is also a powerful fundraiser, although her past two gubernatorial campaigns have almost run out of money – and neither campaign resulted in victory. Abrams is still active in politics, however, and her name still comes up as a possible successor to Biden.

Democrat

In 2021 Joe Biden was the oldest American ever to be sworn in as president, at age 78. From day one of his presidency there was speculation he would step down for a younger Democrat rather than seek reelection. After Democrats outperformed expectations in the midterms, however, Biden supporters gained momentum. The man himself has yet to announce whether he will run again.

Democrat

Pete Buttigieg, then-mayor of a small city in Indiana, was the breakout star of the 2020 presidential primary. At the time he described himself as “a millennial Mayor, Afghanistan war veteran, and husband.” Buttigieg now serves as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and many still see him as a rising star (and maybe even a successor to President Biden). Buttigieg has faced criticism since moving to Washington, D.C., however, most recently for his response to a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Democrat

In a February 2023 interview, Harris said she intends to serve as Biden’s running mate again in 2024. However, Biden has yet to publicly commit to a reelection campaign. As his current vice president, Kamala Harris is an obvious successor if Biden decides to bow out. On the other hand, Harris has faced low approval ratings during her time as vice president, making her a potentially risky candidate for the Democrats.

Democrat

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. spent most of his career working as an environmental lawyer. In recent years he has dedicated his energy to anti-vaccine campaigns. When asked about a presidential run during a visit to the NHIOP, Kennedy said, "I have passed the biggest hurdle, that my wife has greenlighted it. If things go great, we will have the funniest first lady in history, and we all need a lot of laughs, right?" (Kennedy is married to actress Cheryl Hines.)

Democrat

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar ran against Biden in the 2020 presidential primary and might throw her hat in the ring again if Biden decides against a reelection campaign. Since bowing out of the 2020 presidential race, Klobuchar has risen in the ranks of U.S. Senate Democrats. She is known as a moderate Democrat who works well with Republicans.

Democrat

A firebrand in the U.S. House of Representatives with a knack for reaching younger voters through social media, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez represents a new generation of progressive Democrats. Still, Ocasio-Cortez herself has expressed doubt as to whether she could win a presidential run. Last year she told GQ that she feels “conflicted” telling little girls they can grow up to be president someday because, while she wants to believe that anything is possible, “at the same time, my experience here has given me a front-row seat to how deeply and unconsciously, as well as consciously, so many people in this country hate women. And they hate women of color.”

Democrat

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis began gaining presidential buzz when he won reelection handily in the last election, carrying his party to victory in a number of down-ballot races. His brand of Democratic politics emphasizes smaller government and personal responsibility, while also focusing on early childhood education and renewable energy. This makes some believe he could win over both Democrats and Republicans in 2024. He hasn’t said one way or the other if he’ll run, telling Axios, "I'm focused 100% on serving the people of Colorado."

Democrat

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker sparked presidential speculation with trips to early voting states, including New Hampshire. He is a billionaire who could certainly finance his own presidential campaign. Like most Democrats, Pritzker says he will support Biden in 2024, but much of his rhetoric as governor focuses on former president Trump and other “demagogues” in the Republican party (a coded reference to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis).

Democrat

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders ran for the Democratic nomination in 2016 and 2020 and was defeated both times. However, his progressive policy priorities – such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal – have left their mark on the Democratic Party. Sanders says he would support Biden in 2024, but if Biden chooses not to run, Sanders might make one more presidential run. He would be the oldest candidate in the race, however; he will turn 83 in 2024.

Democrat

Elizabeth Warren was an academic before winning a U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts. She brands herself as a watchdog for Wall Street and is known for verbal sparring with former president Trump. In January 2023 Warren said she will run for reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2024 and supports a second term for president Biden. If Biden steps down, however, she could step up.

Democrat

Williamson has been described as a self-help author, spiritual advisor, and activist. She debated Biden and other Democratic candidates in the 2020 presidential primary but dropped out before voters cast their ballots. She has criticized Biden and other Democratic Party leaders for policies that favor wealthy donors over working class voters – including plans to bump New Hampshire later in the presidential primary calendar. In February 2023 she confirmed she will challenge Biden.

Republican

John Bolton, who served as national security adviser under Pres. Trump, has teased he may run for president. Despite having worked for the Trump administration, Bolton’s politics would make him a clear foil for the former president. Bolton has said “I would get in to win the nomination…I wouldn’t run as a vanity candidate. If I didn’t think I could run seriously, then I wouldn’t get in the race.”

Republican

Former U.S. representative Liz Cheney has said she will do “whatever it takes” to make sure former president Donald Trump is not the Republican nominee in 2024, which might include running against him. She would face an uphill battle among some Republicans who believe she betrayed her party by joining the House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Cheney lost her 2022 midterm primary in Wyoming.

Republican

Chris Christie has been reportedly meeting with private donors ahead of a potential presidential bid. He has also made clear that he does not believe Trump could win against President Joe Biden in 2024. Christie described Trump in a recent interview as “the only man to lose to Biden outside Delaware” and added that the “loss to Joe still stings,” referring to the 2020 presidential election.

Republican

Ted Cruz has not said outright whether he will run for president in 2024, but he has announced he will seek reelection next year to the Senate. Texas’s state election code would allow him to still run for president under these circumstances, however. “I think there will be plenty of time to discuss the 2024 presidential race. I’m running for reelection to the Senate,” he said in a recent interview.  

Republican

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has gained national attention for splashy, “anti-Woke” policies, from a tax break for gas stoves, to banning AP African American studies, to flying migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. While he hasn’t said much in public about a presidential campaign, he has plenty to say about his potential opponent, President Joe Biden. “I spend my time delivering results for the people of Florida, and fighting against Joe Biden, that’s how I spend my time,” he recently said. “I don’t spend my time trying to smear other Republicans.”

Republican

Nikki Haley served as governor of South Carolina and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under president Trump. While she once said she would not run against Trump, her campaign announcement in February included a clear jab at both Trump and Biden: “America is not past our prime, it’s just that our politicians are past theirs.” She also touted her success as a first-generation Indian American. “Joe and Kamala even say America is racist. Nothing could be further from the truth,” she said.

Republican

Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, a vocal critic of Donald Trump from a deep-red state, was barred from running for governor again by term limits. He says he plans to announce whether or not he will run for president by April. In an interview with CBS, he said he believes voters are “looking for someone that is not going to be creating chaos, but also has got the record of being a governor, of lowering taxes.”

Republican

After a decade working in finance, Steve Laffey served as mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island from 2003 to 2007. While his residence is in Colorado, he told WMUR, "I'm here for three months. I'm living in Manchester. My kids are coming. My family will come. You thought the Kennedys campaigned hard in the '60s? Every single person in New Hampshire will meet my family. And we're going to breakthrough right here, right in New England, where I'm from."

Republican

Kristi Noem is governor of South Dakota (the first woman to hold that office) and has gained national attention as a potential GOP presidential candidate. Still, Noem has been non-committal about the idea: “I’m not convinced that I need to run for president,” she told CBS earlier this year.

Republican

There was a rift between former vice president Mike Pence and former president Donald Trump over the certification of the 2020 election results and the attack on the Capitol January 6th. Since then Pence published a book and has been traveling the United States to publicize his policy ideas. One notable difference between Pence and some other Republicans is his vocal support for pro-life policies; some Republicans (including Trump) believe the overturning of Roe v. Wade hurt Republicans in the 2022 midterm elections. Pence says he will make a decision about running for president later this year.

Republican

Mike Pompeo is the only person to ever serve as Director of the CIA and then Secretary of State, both under former president Trump. He doesn’t support Trump’s 2024 campaign, however, and tweeted, “We need more seriousness, less noise, and leaders who are looking forward, not staring in the rearview mirror claiming victimhood.” Pompeo says he will decide on a presidential campaign later this spring.

Republican

Vivek Ramaswamy is an entrepreneur who gained attention from Republicans after publishing “Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam.” In an editorial announcing his campaign he wrote, “I am launching not only a political campaign but a cultural movement to create a new American Dream—one that is not only about money but about the unapologetic pursuit of excellence.” Ramaswamy is new to politics and may face an uphill battle on name recognition.

Republican

Some speculate that Sen. Marco Rubio will make another attempt at beating Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, currently serves as U.S. Senator from Florida. He lost the Florida presidential primary to Trump in 2016.

Republican

Sen. Tim Scott has begun building out campaign infrastructure, including hiring for a super PAC, and recently held an event in Iowa. A U.S. Senator from South Carolina, Scott would be running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination against fellow South Carolinian Nikki Haley, who served as governor of that state. He said in his recent Iowa speech, “I see a future where common sense has rebuilt common ground, where we’ve created real unity, not by compromising away our conservatism, but by winning converts to our conservatism.”

Republican

New Hampshire’s own Chris Sununu is considering a 2024 presidential run. He has talked about the importance of reaching out to the next generation of Republican voters and having a positive vision that is not just anti-Democrat. He also has no fear of criticizing Trump; he has called Trump “crazy” and says he has no chance of beating Biden.

Republican

Shortly after the 2022 midterm election former president Donald Trump announced his third presidential campaign from Florida. Sticking with his previous campaign catchphrase, he said, “Our country was great. Our country is not great anymore.” He is still a formidable campaign fundraiser, but Republicans are not as enchanted with him as they were in the past.

Republican

Glenn Youngkin’s successful 2021 bid for governor of Virginia won him national attention. His focus on empowering parents in the school system was particularly appealing to many Republicans. Youngkin has appeared with Republicans running for governor in other states, suggesting his own national ambitions.