Illustration by Joseph Ratliff

This blog is tracking major news, updates, poll data, examples of media bias and more on the 2024 U.S. elections, especially the 2024 presidential race.

Click here to see our coverage of key races to watch and more 2024 election season information and resources.


Economist Polling Average Gives Biden Slight Edge

March 15, 2024

The Economist

While former President Donald Trump’s polling average has remained at 45% for several months, President Biden’s has climbed from 42% to 46% since January, according to data from The Economist (Lean Left bias).


Biden and Trump Solidify Nominations, Vie For Haley's Supporters

March 6, 2024

Super Tuesday made it all-but-official: the 2024 presidential race will be President Joe Biden versus former President Donald Trump.

Biden won every state on the docket on Tuesday, and Trump won all but one.

After only winning one state—Vermont—on Tuesday, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley suspended her campaign for the Republican nomination. On the Democratic side, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), whose attempt to primary Biden never gained steam, suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden.

The two sides now shift gears toward the general election for a rematch that most Americans didn’t want.

While Haley's campaign failed to overcome the MAGA movement, outlets are paying attention to her block of politically moderate supporters, speculating whether they will fall in line and vote for Trump, or potentially defect to the Democratic side.

"Donald Trump made it clear he doesn't want Nikki Haley supporters. I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign," Biden said in a statement Wednesday.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump invited "all of the Haley supporters to join the greatest movement in the history of our Nation."


Supreme Court Puts Trump Back on Colorado Ballot

March 4, 2024

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

On Monday, the Supreme Court overturned the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling that Donald Trump is ineligible to hold public office again, ending months of speculation regarding how the court would settle one of the most contentious issues of this election season so far.

The released opinion read, "Because the Constitution makes Congress, rather than the States, responsible for enforcing Section 3 against federal officeholders and candidates, we reverse."

The justices did not rule on whether Trump is guilty under the Section 3 insurrection clause, leading some to conclude that the ruling is not a complete victory for the former president, despite it returning him to the ballot in Colorado before the upcoming Colorado primary. An article in Newsweek (Center bias) stated the justices "failed to do what the former president had asked—clear him of insurrection—and because of this, it could signal bad news down the road."


Dueling Border Visits Highlight Immigration as a Key 2024 Issue

March 1, 2024

President Biden and former President Donald Trump made dueling visits to the southern border on Thursday, signaling that immigration will be a major issue throughout their 2024 presidential campaigns.

The Texas Tribune (Lean Left bias) noted that the visits “came on the heels of a bipartisan immigration bill failing in the U.S. Senate after Trump told Republicans not to vote for it, in part so that he could campaign on the issue.”

The Washington Examiner (Lean Right) said “Trump and Biden have made border security a part of their recent campaign pushes, with the president looking to pass provisions, such as what was seen in the collapsed Senate border bill, and Trump pushing for more hard-line changes to border law.”


SCOTUS Decision Pushes Trump Trial Date Closer to Election

February 28, 2024

Taylor Baucom for The New York Times

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court agreed to rule on 2024 GOP frontrunner and former President Donald Trump's argument that he is immune to prosecution in his case against the Department of Justice, which has charged Trump with attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

In deciding to rule on the argument in late April, the Supreme Court has halted the proceedings of the DOJ's case against the former president and 2024 candidate. This pushes the expected trial date closer to the November election.

Should the Supreme Court rule against Trump and allow the case to continue, the Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) reported the trial "could potentially begin in late May or sometime thereafter."

The New York Times (Lean Left bias) determined the development is a victory for Trump, whose "litigation strategy in all of the criminal prosecutions against him has consisted, in large part, of trying to slow things down."


Despite South Carolina Loss, Nikki Haley Refuses to 'Kiss the Ring'

February 26, 2024

Following her defeat in her home state of South Carolina, many political commentators are wondering what the endgame is for Nikki Haley. She has yet to secure a victory in the Republican primary, and the frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, does not appear to be considering her as his running mate. What's keeping Haley in the race?

"I feel no need to kiss the ring," Haley said last week before the South Carolina primary. "And I have no fear of Trump’s retribution. I’m not looking for anything from him. My own political future is of zero concern."

An analysis in the Wall Street Journal (Center bias) determined Haley is “demonstrating the inconvenient fact that a sizable portion of the Republican primary electorate isn’t on board with another Donald Trump nomination, no matter how inevitable it seems.”

A writer in CNN Opinion (Left bias) argued that “Haley’s increasingly sharp criticism of the former president stands out in a party whose leaders are, for the most part, eager to show the MAGA universe that they are true Trump believers, whatever they may say in private.”

For a writer in the Washington Times (Lean Right bias), the expiation is far simpler: Haley is suffering "delusions of victory," and has not yet reached the "acceptance" stage of the grief process.


Did a Dean Phillips Staffer Coordinate the Viral Fake Biden Robocall?

February 23, 2024

A New Orleans magician says a Democratic operative hired him to create an AI-generated robocall using President Biden’s voice.

“Paul Carpenter says he was hired in January by Steve Kramer — who has worked on ballot access for Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips — to use AI software to make the imitation of Biden’s voice urging New Hampshire Democrats not to vote in the state’s presidential primary,” according to NBC News (Lean Left bias).

NBC also cited “text messages, call logs and Venmo transactions the creator shared with NBC News.”

Phillips’ campaign denounced Kramer’s alleged involvement.


Cognitive Tests for Presidential Candidates?

February 21, 2024

Michael Reynolds/EFE/ZUMA

Following Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report earlier this month, in which he characterized Biden, 81, as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” some are calling on Biden to submit to a cognitive assessment. In response, others are comparing his mental acuity to that of his presumed opponent, former President Donald Trump, 77.

Early in her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called for mandatory competency tests for politicians older than 75. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Fox News (Right bias) that if he were the president and was experiencing a cognitive decline, he would hope a member of his family would encourage him to step aside.

84 House Republicans signed a letter recently stating, “If you are too mentally impaired to stand trial, as your own Department of Justice claims, then we are concerned that your mental state is not at a competent level to serve as the leader of the free world.”

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to calls by stating, “The president proves every day how he operates and how he thinks, by dealing with world leaders, by making difficult decisions on behalf of the American people.”


Haley Vows to Remain in GOP Race Through Super Tuesday

February 20, 2024

AP Photo/David Yeazel

When former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley announced she would be holding a "State of the Race" press conference on Tuesday, some speculated that she would announce the suspension of her campaign for the Republican nomination.

Haley has yet to win a state in the primary race, and polls indicate she will handily lose to frontrunnner and former President Donald Trump in her home state of South Carolina during the state's primary this Friday.

But Haley is not throwing in the towel.

"I refuse to quit," she told reporters during the press conference. Haley vowed to remain in the race at least through Super Tuesday on March 5.

Responding to doubts that she has a chance to beat Trump, Haley stated, "Instead of asking me what states I’m gonna win, why don’t we ask how he’s gonna win a general election after spending a full year in a courtroom?"


Why Did Putin Endorse Biden?

February 16, 2024

Is Vladimir Putin's endorsement of Joe Biden for President in 2024 really what it seems?

"Compare what Joe Biden has said about Vladimir Putin and Russia to what Donald Trump has said in the past," wrote Steve Rosenberg for BBC (Center bias). "Mr Trump has called President Putin 'smart' and 'a genius.' He has even suggested he would 'encourage' Russia to attack any Nato member that fails to pay its bills as part of the Western military alliance. If you were Vladimir Putin, who would you be rooting for?"


Can Nikki Haley Turn Her Campaign Around in South Carolina?

February 14, 2024

Randall Hill/Reuters

Less than two weeks out from the South Carolina Republican primary, outlets and polls are forecasting that Nikki Haley will lose handily to former President Donald Trump in the state where she formerly served as governor.

A Winthrop University poll released Wednesday put Haley's support in her home state of South Carolina at 29%, far behind Trump's 65%.

Winthrop poll director Scott Huffmon said in a statement that "Haley shows strength among Independent Likely Voters but will need to convince many more Independents who are sitting on the fence regarding participation to show up on February 24 in order to cut into Trump’s lead."

Haley continues to argue her case to replace Trump at the top of the Republican Party, stating in an interview Wednesday that Trump is "not the same person he was in 2016," adding, "He is unhinged; he is more diminished than he was."


SCOTUS Appears Likely To Overturn Colorado Ruling, Putting Trump Back on Ballot

February 9, 2024

AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta

GOP frontrunner and former President Donald Trump appeared poised to get his name back on the Colorado ballot.

In December, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was ineligible to hold public office again. The court cited Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars insurrections from holding public office. The court ordered Trump's name be removed from the state ballot.

Trump's legal team appealed the decision, and the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear argument over the case.

On Thursday, both sides argued their case before the Supreme Court, and the majority of the justices appeared skeptical of the Colorado ruling, hinting at a potential overturning of the Colorado ruling.

Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by President George W. Bush, stated that the Colorado ruling could lead to more states deeming candidates ineligible, warning that it “will come down to just a handful of states that are going to decide the presidential election. That's a pretty daunting consequence.” Justice Elena Kagan, appointed by President Barack Obama, stated, “I think that the question that you have to confront is why a single state should decide who gets to be president of the United States.”

The Colorado Republican primary is scheduled for March 5, less than a month away.


The Primaries Aren’t Over. Has Anyone Noticed?

February 2, 2024

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

With 48 states left to vote, the 2024 Presidential Race is far from finished; however, both individuals and especially news media seem to have forgotten that.

The Democrat candidates who remain in the race are President Joe Biden, Marianne Williamson, and Rep. Dean Phillips. Independent and Third-Party candidates include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Professor Cornel West, and Doctor Jill Stein. The Republicans are Former President Donald Trump, Former Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Pastor and Businessman Ryan Binkley.

Trump and Haley are the clear frontrunners of the Republican Primary Race; however, news media’s fixation on Trump vs. Haley from the jump seems to have landed voters into a filter bubble.

On a recent post by Kennedy Jr., a user wrote, “You have.... literally zero media coverage!!! We were unsure if you were even running?” Despite this, a recent Quinnipiac University poll put RFK Jr. at 14%, 23 points behind the Republican nominee if Trump won the nomination, and only 8 points behind if Haley won the nomination. Biden won the poll 50-44 when Trump was the GOP nominee, and Haley beat Biden 47-42 when she was the nominee.

Between about 30-40% (depending on the study) of voters identify as independent. More Democrats than Republicans are changing their party affiliations, particularly in swing states. In Pennsylvania, which Biden won in 2020, voting data reveals that 35,589 voters switched their party affiliation from Democrat to Republican last year, compared to 15,622 voters who switched from Republican to Democrat.


Trump, Biden See Favorable Polls Ahead of South Carolina

January 31, 2024

Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump saw favorable polls this week as the 2024 campaigns hone in on South Carolina.

A new poll from Quinnipiac University gave Biden a 50-44 edge over Trump and signaled that the current president is gaining support among female voters.

That poll was followed by one from CNN (Lean Left bias), which said Trump currently holds a 49-45 lead over Biden.


Immigration Policies Expected to be Critical this Election Year

January 30, 2024

Alex Wong/Getty Images

In 2023, AllSides’ Election Blog reported on events and studies that placed inflation, employment, abortion legislation, economic status, and climate change as critical to voters this election year. Now, immigration is becoming a top issue both locally and nationally.

Media outlets across the spectrum have covered both President Biden and former President Trump’s handling of the crisis at the southern border in both negative and positive manners. Biden is being criticized for his general lack of action, while Trump is being criticized for opposing a recently proposed border deal (of which details have not yet been released). “A BAD BORDER DEAL IS FAR WORSE THAN NO BORDER DEAL!” He stated in a Truth Social post on Saturday.

Biden claimed on Tuesday, "I've done all I can do," in response to a question about his handling of border control. Amidst the considerable criticism of his previous policies and legislation, the President recently shifted his messaging.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to run his campaign by speaking gravely about threats at the southern border, which heightened by about 60% in 2023, according to the Department of Homeland Security. "If we don't have borders and elections, we don't have a country," he declared last week.


Trump’s DA Accused of ‘Racial Prejudice,’ Dismissal on the Table

January 26, 2024

David Walter Banks/Getty Images

Fani Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney presiding over former President Donald Trump’s Georgia election interference trial, was asked by Trump’s lawyers to be dismissed on the grounds of “racial prejudice.”

Willis’ special projector, Nathan Wade, was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Willis before she appointed him to the Georgia case. As of Friday afternoon, Willis has not confirmed or denied the allegation, made by Trump's co-defendant Michael Roman, but responded in a church speech on MLK Day by suggesting that it was racially motivated, as both she and Wade are black.

On the other hand, there has since been speculation, particularly by Trump’s legal team, that Willis used racial victimization against herself to dodge investigations into her alleged relationship and bias in appointing Wade. Trump’s lawyers wrote in court filings on Thursday that Willis’ comments violated the section of the state’s bar rules that states, “refrain from making extrajudicial comments that have a substantial likelihood of heightening public condemnation of the accused.” Additionally, they expressed that jurors in the Georgia county may be further subject to prejudice against Trump because of Willis’ comments.

“Her attempt to foment racial animus and prejudice against the defendants in order to divert and deflect attention away from her alleged improprieties calls out for the sanctions of dismissal and disqualification,” Steve Sadow, lead defense counsel, wrote in the court filings.

Furthermore, Trump’s lawyers referred to Willis’s comments as, “a glaring, flagrant and calculated effort to foment racial bias into this case by publicly denouncing the defendants for somehow daring to question her decision to hire a Black man.”


Trump and Biden Take New Hampshire Primary

January 24, 2024

Mike Segar/Reuters

Former President Donald Trump beat former North Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in Tuesday's New Hampshire Republican primary. Trump won about 54.8% of votes, while Haley won 43.2%. 

"This race is far from over," Haley said in a speech after congratulating Trump on his win.

On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden won with about 51.5% of votes, followed by Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) with 19.8% and Marianne Williamson with 4.7%.

Biden was a write-in candidate after choosing not to campaign in New Hampshire or be named on the ballot. In a similar style to Trump, Biden won while remaining substantially hands-off.

Rep. Phillips accused the DNC of being biased in Biden’s favor by both blocking delegates and attempted schedule changes. He vowed to continue his presidential campaign. "I believe democracy dies in the absence of competition, and right now I’m afraid we have two political parties that are actively working against the very foundations of the democracy," he said in a recent interview on the matter.


What does DeSantis’ Dropping Out Mean for the New Hampshire Primary?

January 22, 2024

Reuters

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his presidential campaign on Sunday, narrowing the Republican primary race down to Donald Trump, the frontrunner and former president, and Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor.

DeSantis exited the presidential race in a speech posted on social media, stating, "Decline is a choice," adding, "we can, in fact, succeed again as a nation."

In his suspension message, DeSantis endorsed Trump for 2024. Despite acknowledging his disagreements with Trump, DeSantis stated that the former president is "superior to the current incumbent, Joe Biden," and promised to honor his pledge to support the Republican nominee. He also criticized Nikki Haley, whom he said represents, "a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism."

DeSantis' departure comes as pollsters indicate a close contest in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. According to a poll published on Sunday, 62% of DeSantis' supporters picked Trump as their second option, while 30% picked Haley.


Is Trump’s Primary Victory Really Set in Stone?

January 19, 2024

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Following Former President Donald Trump’s victory in the Iowa Caucuses on Monday, media outlets across the spectrum have been speculating whether the caucus results indicate a definite victory ahead for Trump in the Republican Primary.

Only about 15% of registered Republicans showed up to vote, compared to the record high of 29% in 2016. This has been speculated to be due to a combination of extreme weather conditions during voting and predeterminations that Trump would win with or without a high turnout. Additionally, suggestions have been made that the fanfare implying major results this early on in the election year is inaccurate and excessive.

Local and national politicians alike have criticized the election results, arguing that they don’t cement a primary victory for Trump. “I don’t think Iowa means anything. The president got 50-some-thousand votes, the lowest number of votes anybody who’s won got. You know, this idea that he’s going to run away — he can think anyway he wants, let him make that judgment,” President Biden said on Thursday.


GOP Field Shrinks with Trump Win in Iowa, Election Controversies Develop

January 16, 2024

Chip Somodevilla/GETTY IMAGES via Newsweek

Donald Trump, the projected primary candidate and former president, won 51% of votes during Monday’s Iowa Caucuses.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trailed behind Trump with 21.2% of votes, followed by former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley with 19.1%. Vivek Ramaswamy obtained 7.7% and suspended his campaign on the same night. In his suspension speech, he said that Trump has his “full endorsement for the presidency.” Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson also suspended his lackluster campaign after obtaining 191 votes.

Despite expectations of Trump’s victory, controversy about media coverage has quickly begun to spread due to how early in the voting process Trump’s win was called. Ron DeSantis’ campaign spokesperson Andrew Romeo accused media outlets of “election interference” for calling the race early.


Republican Field Narrows as Candidates Make Final Pitches in Iowa

January 12, 2024

AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley faced off for the fifth Republican presidential primary debate in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Former President Donald Trump held his own town hall (also in Des Moines) that overlapped with the debate.

Hours prior to the events, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie exited the race during a town hall in Windham, New Hampshire. The media coverage of his exit was largely positive, and most of Christie’s supporters are expected to shift their support to Nikki Haley.

The primary debate, which precedes the Iowa caucuses next week, focused in part on the elephant in the room: Trump, the current Republican frontrunner.

Haley and DeSantis each made their case for why they deserve the nomination over Trump. Meanwhile, Trump’s solo town hall on Fox News (Right bias) pulled in a significantly larger audience than the debate.


Trump Claims Immunity, Political Persecution Before D.C. Appeals Court

January 9, 2024

Mike Segar/Getty Images via Insider

Former President Donald Trump defended himself before an appeals court on Tuesday with his attorney, who argued that Trump is immune to criminal prosecution and that President Biden incited Trump’s criminal prosecution as a slanderous political strategy.

Trump’s legal team claimed that Trump, as a former President of the United States, has "absolute immunity" from criminal prosecution, calling for the Justice Department's charges against Trump to be dropped. Trump's legal team argued that a former president can only face prosecution if they are impeached and found guilty by the Senate. Trump was impeached twice during his presidency but found not guilty both times.

Both CNN (Lean Left bias) and Fox News (Right bias) noted that two of the three Circuit Court of Appeals (D.C. District) judges at the hearing were appointed by President Biden, though federally appointed judges are largely assigned at random. The third, like the two appointed by Biden, voiced skepticism toward Trump’s "absolute immunity" argument. She said, “I think it's paradoxical to say that his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed allows him to violate federal law.”

The judges' rulings could be made at any time and will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court.


Epstein Documents Link Pedophile to Members of Both Parties

January 8, 2024

Stephanie Keith/Getty Images via Newsweek

Recently released court documents pertaining to the infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein have revealed new allegations and shined light on old statements linking Epstein to members of both major political parties, including one 2024 candidate. 

Some notable indictees include Prince Andrew, Jean-Luc Brunel, Glenn Dubin, and Bill Richardson, and Former Vice President Al Gore. Richardson recently died in his sleep from what has been speculated to be sudden cardiac arrest.

Both Former President Bill Clinton and Former President Donald Trump are mentioned multiple times in the documents, which contain numerous sex crime allegations; though, neither Clinton nor Trump have been formally accused of criminal activity in relation to Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein himself said that, “Clinton likes them [girls] young” according to Joanna Sjoberg [in 2016], who is a victim of Epstein. In response, Clinton spokeswoman Angela Urena assured that Clinton and Epstein hadn’t spoken in over 10 years and that Clinton knew nothing of Epstein’s crimes. 

Epstein’s defense team attempted to prove a lack of credibility in accuser Sarah Ransome, who claimed that Epstein had sex tapes of both Clinton and Prince Andrew.

In a 2002 interview, Trump, the 2024 GOP frontrunner, called Epstein a “terrific guy,” as Epstein and Trump were supposedly good friends for years. Trump said, “It is even said that he [Epstein] likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Trump later changed his stance, after Epstein’s arrest, and said that he was “not a fan” and that he and Epstein had a falling out and hadn't spoken in 15 years.


Media Coverage and Candidates’ Management of the Capitol Riot’s Anniversary

January 5, 2024

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images via Newsweek

Media outlets and candidates alike have been drumming up buzz for the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot’s third anniversary as another presidential election year commences.

Newsweek (Center bias) reported that former President Donald Trump, who is currently on trial for potential instigation and involvement in the riot, has scheduled two rallies this upcoming Jan. 6 for his current presidential campaign.

President Joe Biden gave an emphatic speech on Friday, and the Biden administration has scheduled a speech for him on Saturday (the anniversary) as well.

In his speech on Friday, Biden said, “Donald Trump's campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future,” and that Trump is “willing to sacrifice our democracy.”

Fox News (Right bias) implied that Biden’s “doubling down” on Trump this week is due to poor performance of his “Bidenomics” messaging, which has been deemed poorly executed by media outlets across the spectrum, despite White House claims.


Constitutional Interpretations Spark Further Polarization

December 29, 2023

Since the December 19th ruling to block GOP frontrunner and former President Donald Trump from the Colorado Republican primary ballot, the slow-motion horse race of the 2024 presidential election has picked up some speed.

Following the ruling, Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy vowed to remove himself from the ballots of any states that block Trump, including Colorado.

“It’s unconstitutional. It’s anti-American. It’s wrong,” said Ramaswamy in reference to Maine following suit with Colorado and removing Trump from its primary ballot on Thursday.

Both the Colorado and Maine rulings are expected to be ruled on by the U.S. Supreme Court. A similar case is pending in Oregon, but Minnesota, Michigan, and California have rejected attempts to remove Trump.

Trump has not yet been convicted of any crimes that blatantly make him ineligible to hold office; thus, many Republicans have continued to criticize President Biden, arguing that if Trump is ineligible, so is Biden.

GOP Candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis argued that the ruling has no “limiting principle” and that application of the same ruling should result in Biden’s removal from ballots as well.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) also spoke out against the rulings, saying, “we defeat candidates at the polls.” He called everything else a “political distraction.”

An Associated Press (Lean Left bias) article questioned whether these rulings may prevent Trump from running for president. The answer is still up in the air.


Colorado Supreme Court Ruling Sets Off Legal Ballot Battles Nationwide

December 22, 2023

Brandon Bell/Getty Images via Newsweek

The 2024 presidential election is heating up— in the campaigns, in the polls, and most recently, in the courts.

This week, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to hold public office again and ordered his name to be removed from the state's primary ballot.

The court determined that Trump aided in an insurrection with his actions on January 6, 2021, violating Section 3 of Amendment 14 of the U.S. Constitution. The ruling set off a frenzy in the media as voices across the spectrum debated the merits of the ruling. Trump is appealing the case, and the United States Supreme Court is expected to take it up. 

Colorado is not the only state where Trump's eligibility is in question. In Maine, California, Michigan, and more, cases are moving through the court system aiming to have Trump's name pulled from the ballot. No other state has gone so far as to rule that Trump is ineligible.

But Trump is not the only candidate facing an eligibility challenge. In response to the Colorado Supreme Court decision, Republican state representatives in Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania are drafting legislation to remove President Joe Biden's name from the state ballots, Breitbart (Right bias) reported. The lawmakers are arguing that "by [Democrats] very own interpretation of the law, Joe Biden is 100% not eligible to run for political office."


What do Voters Care Most about this Election Season?

December 18, 2023

With the upcoming presidential election touching on every policy but the kitchen sink, media outlets have recently been asking different demographics what they care about most when casting their ballots.

A September study conducted by Statista found that 24 percent of American adults viewed inflation and prices as most important, while 10 percent viewed jobs and the economy as such.

NPR (Lean Left bias) released a podcast recently that highlights that Millennials and Gen Z voters, who are commonly viewed as “young people,” will make up about half of the electorate by 2024. The speakers contemplated what this might mean for election outcomes, as Baby Boomers are currently as old as 77 and will eventually be replaced by next-generation voters.

An Environmental Voter Project study last month found that young voters (aged 18–34) were found to be more likely to prioritize climate change and related environmental issues than other age demographics when casting ballots. Second to 18-34 year-olds, 16.4% of registered voters aged 65 and older would be likely to prioritize the climate when voting.  The study also found that “climate voters” are more often female than male.


Few Changes from the Fourth Debate

December 8, 2023

X / The Hill

The fourth Republican presidential primary debate resulted in minimal poll changes.

The debate, which took place on Tuesday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, featured Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Former Gov. Chris Christie.

Similarly to past debates, candidates were prompted to address the elephant in the room, former President Donald Trump, who remains leading in polls. They used the opportunity to bash Trump and promise to be the better option. Haley promised to run a drama-free presidency. Christie was booed as he boldly remarked in his closing statement that Trump “will be convicted of felonies before [the election].”

Haley also took an abundance of heat from fellow candidates following her recent surge in the polls. Ramaswamy continued to make her his main target, as he has in past debates. His note reading “Nikki=Corrupt” has since gone viral on social media.

The public response was similar to previous debates. DeSantis, Haley and Christie’s responses were standard, though Christie’s responses continued to not be nearly as well-received as DeSantis and Haley’s. Ramaswamy’s smear-style debating was largely criticized, as was Trump’s lack of attendance. But Trump’s Tuesday night town hall in Iowa ended with a standing ovation.


Gov. DeSantis and Gov. Newsom Face Off in 'Red vs. Blue State' Debate

December 1, 2023

Fox News

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis faced off against non-presidential candidate California Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday night on Fox News (Right bias) for the "The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate." The two governors discussed tax policy, education, immigration, President Joe Biden, abortion, and more.

The debate generated commentary and reflection across the spectrum.

Frank Bruni (Lean Left bias) wrote: "While the gov-on-gov action was billed as a battle of red-state and blue-state worldviews and governing agendas, of the Republican way and the Democratic way, it became even more of a mirror of just how little quarter each side will give the other, how little grace it will show, how spectacularly it fails at constructive and civil dialogue, how profoundly and quickly it descends into pettiness."

A Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) writer wrote: "For anyone with a shred of honesty, integrity, or functioning brain stem, DeSantis stole the show, buoyed by the fact that each debate topic was built on statistical reality. The debate was essentially a sales pitch to persuade those who haven’t yet escaped California to book one of the few remaining U-Hauls and get the hell out of there before it’s too late."


2028 Preview? DeSantis and Newsom Set to Face Off in Debate on November 30

November 20, 2023

Getty Images via BBC News

In what some are deeming a preview of a potential 2028 presidential election matchup, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) will face off in a debate hosted by Sean Hannity on November 30.

DeSantis is currently running for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, polling second behind former President Donald Trump in most polls. Newsom, meanwhile, is not running for the Democratic nomination but is seen as a rising star in the party.

Florida and California are widely seen as representative of the blue-state/red-state divide, and the two governors frequently critique one another for state-level policies pertaining to immigration, COVID-19, and more. This divide led BBC News (Center bias) to state the debate "will be one that presents two increasingly divergent visions for America."


Is Gov. Gavin Newsom Running a 'Shadow Campaign'?

November 17, 2023

Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock via California Globe

In the third Republican Presidential Debate, Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy closed his argument with a message to the Democratic Party, saying, “End this farce that Joe Biden is gonna be your nominee. We know he’s not even the President of the United States. He’s a puppet for the Managerial Class. So, have the guts to step up and be honest about who you’re actually gonna put up, so we can have an honest debate. Biden should step aside– end his candidacy now– so we can see whether it’s Newsom, or Michelle Obama, or whoever else.”

Former President Donald Trump is currently beating President Biden in major polls, whose cognition and age are a growing concern for voters, in most polls, according to the New York Post (Lean-Right Bias). In accordance, there has been media speculation that Biden won’t be the real nominee; and, instead, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is running a "shadow campaign."

Democratic presidential primary candidate Dean Phillips is among the Newsom critics, as he addressed in an interview with NewsNation (Center Bias).

In an endorsement for Biden in early November, Sen. John Fetterman also made this accusation, according to NBC News (Lean-Left Bias).

According to analyzed polls, “70% of California Voters Oppose [the] 2024 Presidential Run for Gov. Newsom,” states California Globe (Center Bias); however, Newsom has recently been traveling and drumming up media attention through his speeches, increasing coverage of the alleged shadow campaign.

At a conference on Wednesday, Biden said of Newsom, “He can be anything he wants — he could have the job I’m looking for.”


Flipped Seats, 'Political Warfare,' and More

November 13, 2023

Carolyn Kaster / U.S. News & World Report

On Tuesday, Ohio passed legislation allowing abortions until “viability”, according to U.S. News & World Report (Lean Left bias). Andy Beshear (D) held on to his gubernatorial seat in Kentucky, Daniel McCaffery (D) was elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and Virginian Democrats won “full control” of their statehouse, according to The Associated Press (Lean Left bias).

But Tuesday was not a complete loss for the Republican Party. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) won his reelection in Mississippi, and local elections flipped seats in Massachusetts and New York after decades of Democratic control.

Following Wednesday’s Republican Primary Debate, Senator Tim Scott suspended his campaign. Meanwhile, Nikki Haley is predominately credited with winning the debate, just ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Democratic Representative Dean Phillips, who recently announced his candidacy for president, has promised to elect Republicans to his cabinet, calling a cabinet of like-minded people “absurd.” Phillips also criticized Biden’s mental and physical states, which are a growing concern among voters, according to Forbes (Center Bias) and a poll by NBC News (Lean Left).

Former President Donald Trump is currently leading polls despite his ongoing fraud trial, which, last Monday, he referred to as “political warfare” and interference by the Biden administration.


Mike Pence Drops Out of the Race, Endorsement Up in the Air

November 3, 2023

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Former Vice President Mike Pence dropped out of the 2024 presidential race on Saturday.

During his speech, Pence said, “It’s become clear to me: This is not my time.” He then addressed the anxious Las Vegas crowd by saying, “After much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president.”

The former vice president to Donald Trump has not divulged who he will be endorsing, but he did remark that he would “never leave the fight for conservative values.”

Trump suggested on Saturday that Pence, who previously denounced Trump, should endorse him.

Nikki Haley has been experiencing some of the biggest jumps in support, as shown in a recent poll of Iowa voters. She did not directly suggest an endorsement on Saturday, but did say, “He’s been a good man of faith. He’s been a good man of service. He has fought for

America and he has fought for Israel. And we all owe him a debt of gratitude.”

An upcoming endorsement may significantly shift polls, but how dramatic those shifts will be remains to be seen.


Speaker Mike Johnson and the 2024 Election

October 27, 2023

Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Mike Johnson was elected on Wednesday as the 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

The correlation and support between Speaker Johnson and former President Donald Trump have sparked some speculation as to how the new speaker will affect the 2024 presidential election.

Johnson, a Louisiana Congressman, has been dubbed “‘MAGA Mike Johnson,’” according to The Hill (Center Bias); however, The Washington Post (Lean Left Bias) reported that “Johnson may have simply advocated rather than initiated” efforts to overturn the 2020 Presidential Election.

Trump remains at the forefront of the Republican presidential candidates, as polls show.

In a press conference on Wednesday, President Biden expressed his lack of concern for Johnson’s influence in the 2024 Presidential Election, as he was "not worried that the last guy would be able to overturn" it.

Meanwhile, Johnson’s expected continued support for Trump is stimulating fear in Democrats, according to The Week (Lean Left Bias).

Many Christian leaders are rallying behind Johnson, who said, "I believe that each one of us has a huge responsibility today to use the gifts that God has given us to serve the extraordinary people of this great country and they deserve it."

Despite skepticism about Johnson’s ability to handle his new position amid upcoming votes on government funding and Israeli support, much of the Republican Party remains hopeful.


Major South Carolina Newspaper Endorses Nikki Haley for GOP Nomination

October 23, 2023

Evan Vucci / The Post and Courier

The Editorial Staff of the Post and Courier (Lean Right bias), a major South Carolina newspaper, endorsed former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election.

In an opinion article published on Saturday, the Editorial Staff stated, "Ms. Haley is the one Republican who is clearly ascending — in the polls, in fundraising, in her willingness to challenge the former president."

The article calls on the other non-Trump Republican candidates to drop out of the race so that the anti-Trump coalition of the party can rally behind a single candidate, arguing Haley is that candidate.

Determining that "Trump is the least likely candidate to defeat President Joe Biden," the staff calls on the party to unify around Haley, arguing she can appeal to moderate and independent voters in a way Trump cannot.

"Although Ms. Haley should never be confused with a moderate, she could easily be next year’s choice of independents and traditional Republicans. But that requires the other candidates getting out of the way."


Potential House Speaker Impacts on 2024 Presidential Election

October 20, 2023

Associated Press-NORC

House Republicans remain divided as postulations of presidential election impacts increase, following a final vote on Friday to drop Jim Jordan from the House Speaker race.

“The public is evenly split on McCarthy’s removal, with 25% approving, 25% disapproving and nearly half neutral,” according to an Associated Press-NORC poll. This split has led to speculation that Republican candidates will be negatively affected in the 2024 presidential election as well. “The infighting between Republican lawmakers over the shutdown fight and now the speaker battle have only added pressure to the GOP,” reported USA Today (Lean-Left Bias).

Joining the race on Friday, Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern said, "We must unify and do it fast,” according to Fox News (Right Bias).


Arizona Speculated to Delay 2024 Presidential Election and Conflict With Outcome Evaluations

October 6, 2023

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/ File Photo

The Arizona Recount Law is speculated to delay the 2024 Presidential Election, according to The Washington Post (Lean Left bias).

Issues with ballot printing in Maricopa County during the 2022 Arizona Gubernatorial Election led to the law, which requires votes in Arizona to be "automatically recounted if the final margin between two candidates or ballot measures is less than half a percentage point of the total votes cast," according to Arizona Central. This means that Arizona may miss the deadline for states to certify their votes, and outcomes may be delayed.

Arizona is a “closely divided” state with a growing population that “could determine the next [general presidential] election,” according to Reuters (Center bias). Arizona’s reputation as a purple state, along with the recount law, is why officials are predicting both the delay and outcome uncertainty.


Supreme Court Rejects Case Seeking to Disqualify Trump From 2024 Election

October 2, 2023

REUTERS/David Swanson/ File Photo

The Supreme Court declined to hear an argument that former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump should be disqualified from running for federal office under the 14th Amendment's "insurrection" clause.

The Texas tax consultant that brought forth the case argued that under the clause, 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… shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof," Trump should be disqualified from running in 2024 on account of his alleged actions on January 6, 2021.

The court declined to hear this case, but Reuters (Center bias) reported that "this may not be the final time that the Supreme Court is asked to weigh in on the subject." Other similar challenges are working their way through the court system and receiving moderate coverage in left-rated media outlets.


Biden Recruits Newsom as 'Surrogate' to Counter GOP Debate

September 22, 2023

The Messenger / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

After months of speculation that California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) may seek to challenge President Joe Biden in the Democratic Primary, the Biden team is now utilizing Newsom as part of its campaign strategy.

Outlets across the spectrum are reporting that Newsom will spearhead the Democratic "counterprogramming" to the Republican debate next week in California. 

Newsom's demonstrated ability to defend Biden Administration policies during interviews with conservative commentators such as Sean Hannity has reportedly led the Biden team to use Newsom as a "surrogate" for the campaign, with one Biden aide telling The Messenger (Center bias) that Newsom is an "incredibly effective surrogate and he has shown himself to be more than willing to do whatever the campaign needs, whether it is media, whether it is fundraising, whether it is helping mobilization efforts."


Trump Will Skip Next Week's GOP Debate

September 20, 2023

CNN/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump is skipping the second Republican primary debate next week, according to CNN (Lean Left bias).

Before the first debate, there was a lot of talk about how Trump's absence would impact his support among Republicans. Since the first debate in late August, Trump's lead has grown, according to poll aggregate FiveThirtyEight (Center bias).

It appears Trump's strategy to forgo the debate stage is working. Apart from Vivek Ramaswamy's slight bump in the polls following August's debate, the debate did not significantly alter the state of the primary race.

Instead of taking part in the second debate on September 27, Trump will travel to Detroit, Michigan and hold a rally with striking autoworkers.


Trump and Biden Neck and Neck, Voters Divided on Impeach Probe

September 18, 2023

CNBC via Reuters

It's time to check in on the pollsters.

According to a Quinnipiac poll, Joe Biden and Donald Trump are neck and neck, with Biden sitting at 47% and Trump at 46%.

Interestingly, 51% of Biden's current supporters are open to alternative options "depending on what happens leading up to the Democratic primary," while 68% of Trump's current supporters are locked in on Trump "no matter what happens leading up to the Republican primary."

This divide is in contrast to the media's coverage of the two primaries. In the crowded Republican primary, candidates polling on average in the single digits, such as Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley, are receiving significant media coverage, while Biden's strongest challenger, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., polled at 11% in the Quinnipiac poll and is receiving very minimal coverage from mainstream outlets.

A Harvard University CAPS/Harris poll found voters are evenly split regarding the merits of the impeachment probe into Biden, with the divide mostly along party lines. 54% of independent voters believe the impeachment probe is politically motivated.


Biden Balances Green Agenda With Union Commitment

September 15, 2023

REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

President Biden's self-described reputation as the "most pro-union president in American history" is being tested by the United Auto Workers' strike against the 'Big 3' auto manufacturers.

With the strike beginning on Friday, Biden's policy agenda aimed at accelerating America's transition toward electric vehicles could be halted in its tracks.

Biden is caught between his commitment to union members and his commitment to environmental groups. With a halt in automotive production also threatening to slow economic recovery, Biden is facing a difficult situation that will certainly remain fresh in many voters' minds next year.

As Dan Schnur (Center bias) said in his column this week, Biden is "being forced to dodge friendly fire from those he expects to have in his corner."

Back in September, Biden signed a bill to block railroad workers from going on strike. He said at the time it was "tough for me, but it was the right thing to do at the moment" to avoid an "economic catastrophe."

On Friday, Biden voiced support for the striking autoworkers and called on manufacturers to "go further to ensure record corporate profits mean record contracts for the UAW."


The Continuing Concern Over Electing an Elderly President

September 13, 2023

Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

If you're already tired of hearing about President Joe Biden's age, get ready for an exhausting 13 months (at minimum).

Biden continues to be old, so commentators across the spectrum continue to speculate on how the American public feels about reelecting a president who would be 86 at the end of his hypothetical second term.

Charles C. W. Cooke (Right bias) recently argued that "Joe Biden is too old to be president. Hell, Joe Biden is too old to be a greeter at Walmart. I don’t care if that’s rude or inconvenient to confirm. It’s true."

Frank Bruni (Lean Left bias) responded to these criticisms by comparing Biden to his expected opponent, former President Donald Trump, stating, "Trump is a mere three years younger than Biden, and he’s overweight. His diet is garbage. His cardio is golf putts. Biden, on the other hand, is a trim tribute to regular exercise."

Sparring columns aside, what does the American public think? According to a Wall Street Journal (Center bias) poll, three-quarters of Americans (including two-thirds of Democrats) believe Biden is too old to serve as president. Additionally, a Quinnipiac University poll found 61% of voters are in favor of an age limit for presidential candidates, with the supported age limit sitting between 70 and 80.


Gov. Newsom (D) Denies Speculation He's Considering 2024 Bid

August 8, 2023

Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via AP, File

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has frequently been noted as a potential sleeper Democratic presidential candidate in 2024 in the event that President Biden cannot or chooses not to run for a second term.

But Newsom has repeatedly shot down rumors and speculation surrounding a 2024 run.

Most recently, Newsom told NBC News (Lean Left bias) that he was not looking to run in 2024.

Should Biden drop out of the race, Newsom said Vice President Kamala Harris would be the likely candidate.

"Well, I think the vice president is naturally the one lined up," Newsom said, "and the filing deadlines are quickly coming to pass, and I think we need to move past this notion that he’s not going to run. President Biden is going to run, and we’re looking forward to getting him reelected."


Colorado Voters Sue to Keep Trump off the Ballot

September 6, 2023

Doug Mills/The New York Times

A group of Republican and Independent voters in Colorado filed a lawsuit Wednesday to prohibit former president and GOP frontrunner Donald Trump from appearing on the state's Republican primary ballot.

The group stated in the court filing, "Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and interfere with the peaceful transfer of power were part of an insurrection against the Constitution of the United States. Because Trump took these actions after he swore an oath to support the Constitution, Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits him from being President and from qualifying for the Colorado ballot for President in 2024. Petitioners bring this action now to protect the rights of Republican and Independent voters to fully participate in the upcoming primary election by ensuring that votes cast will be for those constitutionally qualified to hold office."

We covered the legal theory surrounding the 14th Amendment last month

A report from The Guardian (Lean Left bias) cited a former judge to state that the Supreme Court "is likely to soon determine whether Donald Trump is eligible to run for president in 2024."


Voters Say Biden is "Old," Trump is "Corrupt"

August 28, 2023
AFP

In the eyes of some Americans, the two options they are expected to choose from on the 2024 presidential ballot will be the "old" one or the "corrupt" one.

A new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research asked 1,165 adults what terms they would use to describe both President Biden and former President Trump, the respective party frontrunners in the 2024 election.

The top terms for Biden were "old" and "confused." The top words for Trump were "corrupt" or "crooked."

An analysis of the poll from the Associated Press (Lean Left bias) determined the results offered "ominous signs" for both parties heading into 2024, as voters on both sides of the aisle do not appear to be enthusiastic about the prospective candidates.

Voices quoted in the AP article expanded on their feelings, with many expressing worry that Biden is suffering from a cognitive decline as a result of his age and that Trump's legal troubles and attitude toward his opponents would be a distraction during a second term.


Who Won the First Republican Debate?

August 25, 2023

Kenny Holston/The New York Times

Of all the candidates that took the stage Wednesday night for the first Republican primary debate, two in particular caught the attention of viewers and columnists.

Vivek Ramaswamy was widely seen as the star of the night on account of his tenacity for provoking his opponents into heated exchanges (at one point accusing all the other candidates on stage of being "bought and paid for") and his eagerness to defend the absent Donald Trump (he was the first to raise his hand when the candidates were asked if they would still support a potentially criminally convicted Trump).

But while Ramaswamy may have put on the most memorable performance of the night, a number of prominent voices in the right-rated media sphere determined it was former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley who best presented her case for the nomination.

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board (Lean Right bias) wrote that Haley "respected viewers by telling them the truth" about the feasibility of a national 15-week abortion ban, as well as her criticism of Republican lawmakers for increasing the national debt by $8 trillion during the Trump Administration.

David Brooks (Lean Right bias) concluded after Wednesday night that Haley is the "best Trump alternative." Brooks voiced uncertainty of if Haley can win given the current mood and makeup of the Republican Party, but stated, "if any of my friends and acquaintances want to stop Trump, this is their moment to give Haley her chance."


Will Trump Regret Skipping the Republican Primary Debates?

August 21, 2023

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Donald Trump confirmed he will not take part in the Republican primary debates, the first of which is set to take place Wednesday evening. Will Trump's decision to skip the debates hurt his primary chances?

Trump and voices in the media have already outlined the reasons he doesn't want to take part: risking his sizable lead in the polls, giving his opponents (mostly Chris Christie) a national platform to attack him, and giving a ratings boost to Fox News (Right bias), the network hosting the first debate, which Trump has soured on in recent years.

But could his decision come back to bite him?

Newsweek (Center bias) quoted Thomas Gift, founding director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, arguing that Trump skipping the debates will not hurt his reputation among Republicans.

"If four indictments in the last several months did nothing to damage Trump's poll numbers, a no-show at debate certainly won't," Gift said.

On the other hand, Trump's former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the decision a "political miscalculation," stating on Fox and Friends, "You will get attacked even if you're not there, and no one can answer those attacks better than President Donald Trump himself. He's really good at it."


DeSantis' Potential Debate Strategy Leaks Online

August 18, 2023

Scott Olson/GETTY

If recent reporting proves accurate, Donald Trump will not be on the debate stage next week alongside his Republican competition. Without the far-and-away front-runner in the GOP primary, what will the debate look like?

With Trump absent, the top candidate on stage in terms of consistent poll numbers will be Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. As it happens, a document that appears to be DeSantis' debate strategy appeared online this week.

The DeSantis campaign's communications director denied the authenticity of the document, which was posted on the website of Axiom Strategist, a company connected to the pro-DeSantis Super PAC Never Back Down.

The full document is available to read on Newsweek (Center bias), but here are the highlights:

  • "Attack Joe Biden and the media 3-5 times."
  • "Defend Donald Trump in absentia in response to a Chris Christie attack."
  • "Take a sledge-hammer to Vivek Ramaswamy: 'Fake Vivek' Or 'Vivek the Fake.'"
  • "Invoke a personal anecdote story about family, kids, Casey, showing emotion."

Trump Spars With RNC Over "Loyalty Pledge"

August 16, 2023

Butch Dill/AP Photo

Donald Trump said he would announce this week if he will participate in the first Republican debate later this month, but given this week's news, he might be a bit preoccupied. Should he decide to participate, he will put the Republican National Committee in a tough spot.

Last week, Trump told Newsmax (Right bias) he would not sign the RNC's "loyalty pledge."

According to ABC News (Lean Left bias), the loyalty pledge reads, "I affirm that if I do not win the 2024 Republican nomination for President of the United States, I will honor the will of the primary voters and support the nominee in order to save our country and beat Joe Biden. I further pledge that I will not seek to run as an independent or write-in candidate nor will I seek or accept the nomination for president of any other party."

Signing the pledge is a requirement to participate in the Republican primary debates,

"Why would I sign it?" Trump said in the Newsmax interview. “I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So right there, there’s a problem.”

In 2015, Trump made it clear he did not support some of his fellow Republican candidates, but signed the loyalty pledge regardless. But the balance of power between Trump and the Republican establishment has changed considerably since 2015.

The Hill (Center bias) quoted Jennifer Horn, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, asserting, "The RNC needs Trump a lot more than Trump needs the RNC."


The Crucial Factor That Will Decide The Next President

August 14, 2023

Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

This may come as a surprise, but elections are not determined by how much media coverage a candidate gets or how much noise a candidate makes. The winner is determined by the number of ballots cast during the voting period. For this reason, there is no factor more crucial for politicians than voter turnout. It doesn't matter how good a candidate's policies are if people don't make an effort to vote for them. With the primaries still months away, how confident are the major parties that voters will show up for their candidate in 2024?

The Hill (Center bias) interviewed a number of Republican strategists, many of whom are worried that Republican turnout would take a massive hit (potentially over a quarter of the party) if the GOP nominee is anyone other than former President Donald Trump. While looking at the current polls alone would do away with any doubt that Trump's name will be on the ballot come November 2024, an ever-growing stack of criminal indictments against Trump is casting slight uncertainty on his political future.

On the other side of the ballot, Vice President Kamala Harris is also voicing concerns over voter turnout in 2024. In an interview with MSNBC (Left bias), Harris said there has been "a lot of effort and laws that have been passed to try and make it more difficult for people to vote." Harris worries that busy Americans will opt not to vote if options such as mail-in ballots are not available in their state. Looking at the high number of mail-in ballots in the 2020 election, which tended to favor Democratic candidates, it makes sense that this would concern her.


Ramaswamy Overtakes DeSantis in Cygnal's August Poll

August 11, 2023

Twitter / @IAPolls2022

Vivek Ramaswamy overtook Gov. Ron DeSantis in a recent Republican primary poll conducted by Cygnal, claiming the second-place spot for GOP voters.

This is just one poll, and "second-place" almost minimizes how wide a lead former President Donald Trump has over all other Republican candidates (Trump got 53% in this poll, compared to Ramaswamy's 11.4%), but even this small sample reveals two things.

First, outsiders remain popular. Like Trump in 2016, Ramaswamy is not campaigning on his political experience. It's quite the opposite. He is emphasizing his "outsider" approach and desire to disrupt Washington's status quo. Ramaswamy's surprise (relative) success shows that this model remains an effective strategy for courting Republican voters.

Second, DeSantis' messaging is not connecting with Republican voters. Since announcing his campaign, his poll numbers have mostly trended in a downward direction. Looking back at his polling numbers from the beginning of the year before he formally announced his bid, his campaign appears to have been more successful when it was an abstract idea, not a real effort.


Biden Stays (Mostly) Silent About Third Trump Indictment

August 9, 2023

REUTERS/Leah Millis

President Biden has refrained from making public statements about Donald Trump's mounting legal troubles, but scattered reporting is offering some insights into the Biden campaign's strategy regarding their presumed Republican opponent.

When the third indictment against Trump was unsealed last week, White House spokesperson Ian Sams declined to comment on behalf of the administration, quoted in Reuters (Center bias) stating, "We would refer you to the Justice Department, which conducts its criminal investigations independently."

Newsweek (Center bias) spoke with a Democratic strategist, who said the Biden team's current plan is to let the Republican primary candidates "duke it out" without input from Biden.

But that does not mean Biden is staying completely silent about Trump's battle with the Department of Justice. CNN (Lean Left bias) reported that at a Democratic donor event last week, Biden told attendees that "If you just take what [Trump] said, on the record... some would say it’s just flat seditious."


DeSantis Refutes Trump's 2020 Election Fraud Claims

August 7, 2023

Maddie McGarvey for NBC News

This past weekend, Governor Ron DeSantis (R) participated in his first broadcast network interview since launching his campaign for the Republican nomination. Sitting down with NBC News (Lean Left bias), DeSantis dismissed Trump's claims that the 2020 election was stolen, asserting "of course [Trump] lost" and, "Joe Biden’s the president."

But DeSantis did state that the 2020 election was not a "good-run election," targeting mail-in ballots as an issue.

When pressed about Trump's legal troubles, DeSantis refrained from criticizing Trump, arguing that the Republican Party would lose the election if that was the focus.

Instead, he determined the party needs to focus voters' attention on the current administration, not the former one, stating, "If the election is a referendum on Joe Biden’s policies and the failures that we’ve seen, and we are presenting a positive vision for the future, we will win the presidency, and we will have a chance to turn the country around."


GOP Primary Candidates' Response to Third Trump Indictment

August 4, 2024

Sam Wolfe for The Washington Post via Getty Images

2024 Republican front-runner and former President Donald Trump was hit with a third indictment this week, this one containing four charges related to the 2020 election and the January 6 riot. Here's how his opponents in the Republican primary responded to the news.

Ron DeSantis: "As President, I will end the weaponization of government, replace the FBI Director, and ensure a single standard of justice for all Americans."

Vivek Ramaswamy: "I believe each of these indictments reek of politicization...We the people determine who leads the country. That’s the American way, not the federal police state eliminating the competition."

Tim Scott: "I remain concerned about the weaponization of Biden’s DOJ and its immense power used against political opponents. What we see today are two different tracks of justice. One for political opponents and another for the son of the current president."

Mike Pence: "Today's indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States."

Chris Christie: "This disgrace falls the most on Donald Trump. He swore an oath to the Constitution, violated his oath & brought shame to his presidency."

Nikki Haley: "We should be focusing on how to stop China. We should be focusing on how to close the border. We need to be reversing Bidenomics. Putting a 77-year-old former president in prison doesn’t do any of that. We’ve got to move on already."


GOP Candidates Travel to Iowa 6 Months Before Caucuses

July 31, 2023

Sergio Flores | AFP | Getty Images

Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mike Pence, and other 2024 Republican candidates traveled to Iowa this past weekend, six months shy of the Iowa caucuses, to speak at the Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines.

The candidates gave brief speeches before the crowd, each giving a pitch on why they were the party's best chance at taking the White House. 

Trump lashed out at DeSantis during his speech, while DeSantis refrained from mentioning Trump in his speech, telling reporters afterward that the focus should be on "Joe Biden’s failures and our positive vision for the future."

Meanwhile, Trump continues to dominate the polls. A Times/Siena Poll published Monday gave Trump a "landslide" 37-point lead over DeSantis. 54% of Republican respondents to the poll preferred Trump, while 17% preferred DeSantis. No other candidate cleared the 5% mark.


Burgum Qualifies For GOP Debate By Paying $20 For $1 Donations

July 26, 2023

Scott Olson/Getty Images

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a long-shot candidate in the Republican primary, has so far not been able to get his name in the conversation for the nomination. In a crowded Republican field with no shortage of big personalities, the governor is receiving little coverage in the mainstream media.

But that's not deterring him. He recently announced that he met the qualifications for the GOP debate set for next month, earning him his best opportunity yet to get national reach for his platform.

What's more interesting is the unorthodox tactic his team employed to meet the qualifications. In order to get on the debate stage, a candidate needs 40,000 individual contributions with at least 200 unique donors in 20 or more states. To reach this number, Burgum gave away $20 Visa or MasterCard gift cards to anyone who donated $1 to his campaign.

Burgum said this tactic was cooked up to combat a set of rules created to "oppose somebody from a small town, small state who's trying to bring fresh ideas."


Ramaswamy's Rise in the Polls Earns Praise From Trump

July 24, 2023

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Vivek Ramaswamy appears poised to break from the pack of 2024 Republican hopefuls toiling in the single-digits in the polls. In a recent Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll survey, 10% of respondents said they would vote for Ramaswamy if the primary election was held today.

Donald Trump remains dominant in the polls, with Ron DeSantis a clear— but distant— second. But a surging Ramaswamy could change the conversation of the primary race, as DeSantis struggles to gain momentum among voters and the media.

Front-runner Trump does not appear too worried about Ramaswamy. He took to Truth Social to praise the biotech entrepreneur, stating, "I am pleased to see that Vivek Ramaswamy is doing so well." While Ramaswamy remains a long shot for the nomination, he is certainly getting his name into the national discourse.

Assuming Trump secures the nomination, he will be looking for a new running mate...


Trump's Doc Trial Set to Begin in Middle of Republican Primary

July 21, 2023

Mario Tama/Getty Images

The federal judge presiding over the Department of Justice's case against former President Donald Trump regarding the alleged mishandling of classified materials set the start date for the trial. It will begin in May, right in the midst of the Republican primary.

The Trump team worked to delay the trial until after the election, and prosecutors pushed for an accelerated start date this December. Neither side got what they wanted.

According to ballotpedia, at least 23 states will already have held Republican primary elections prior to May, when the case is set to begin. Super Tuesday, when at least 12 states are slated to conduct Republican primary voting, is set for March 5.

Given that roughly half the states will already have cast ballots in the Republican primary before the trial begins, there is a chance that Trump will already have secured, or lost, the nomination by the time he gets to the courtroom.


Will a Third Trump Indictment Change the Narrative in the GOP Race?

July 19, 2023

Scott Morgan/Reuters

Donald Trump will most likely be hit with another indictment in the near future. He revealed on Tuesday that the Department of Justice sent him a letter indicating he is a target in a wide-ranging investigation into the 2020 election led by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Analysts
are determining
that this means a formal indictment is imminent.

Trump's opponents in the Republican race appear to be more open to using these charges against him than the previous ones. There is less talk of a 'two-tiered' justice system among candidates and more talk of 'distractions' interfering in the election process. Ron DeSantis refrained from endorsing the DOJ's actions but also criticized Trump for his action on Jan. 6, saying he should have "come out more forcefully" to calm the protestors. 

The previous indictments have increased support for Trump among Republicans. Will these charges break the trend?


DeSantis Cuts Some Campaign Staff ahead of CNN Interview

July 17, 2023

Rebecca S. Gratz/The Washington Post/Getty Images

DeSantis is shaking up his team two months into his campaign. After a few weeks of negative coverage and pessimistic polls, the DeSantis campaign fired "roughly a dozen" staffers, with additional firings expected, according to NBC News (Lean Left bias)

Reporting indicates the firings are a cost-cutting measure. In the first few months of his campaign, DeSantis has not made significant gains in Republican polling, with former President Donald Trump still the dominant primary candidate.

Meanwhile, DeSantis is slated to speak with Jake Tapper in an exclusive interview with CNN (Lean Left bias) Tuesday.

Will this staff shakeup and venture into unfriendly territory at CNN give DeSantis some much-needed momentum? Time will tell.


Tucker Carlson to Host GOP Candidate Forum Friday

July 12, 2023

The Blaze / Twitter

Republican voters will get their first opportunity to watch GOP primary candidates face off this Friday.

While the first official, Republican Party-sponsored debate will take place next month, The Blaze (Right bias) is sponsoring a presidential forum on June 14 at 10 a.m. EST, hosted by former Fox News (Right bias) host Tucker Carlson (Right bias).

A tweet from The Blaze confirmed that Gov. Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Tim Scott and Mike Pence will all be in attendance.

Notably, Republican primary front-runner and former President Donald Trump is not slated to take part in the forum. Trump has previously indicated he would not participate in Republican primary debates across the board, believing that doing so would offer him, the leading candidate, no additional advantage in the polls.


What to Make of DeSantis' Bad Media Coverage

July 10, 2023

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

A new wave of DeSantis coverage washed over the media spectrum on Monday, and few reports were positive.

The Hill (Center bias) ran a handful of articles over the weekend highlighting criticism of DeSantis, such as "DeSantis’s stumbles have GOP mulling other Trump alternatives" and "Florida poll finds Trump well ahead of DeSantis in state."

Over in Politico (Lean Left bias), a columnist attempted to explain the "DeSantis stall" as they called it, determining, "The more information voters have received about him, the worse he does."

This is reflected in polls aggregated by FiveThirtyEight (Center bias), which show Trump's lead growing over the past few months.

Is the criticism legit? Is DeSantis' campaign flopping? DeSantis himself dismissed the negative coverage as a false media narrative, arguing left-rated media were going after him because they fear DeSantis has the best chance of beating Biden in the general election.

Despite rough looking polls and negative headlines, the DeSantis campaign certainly has the cash to stay in the fight. The Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) reported the DeSantis campaign pulled in $20 million in the first six weeks of the campaign. That will get him to the first Republican debate next month, after which the election will really start to heat up.


What's the Secret to RFK Jr.'s Early Success?

July 7, 2023

Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-shot challenger to President Biden in the Democratic primary, hauled in $3 million in three days recently, according to The Hill (Center bias).

RFK Jr. is not receiving overly favorable coverage from left-rated media. He is consistently ridiculed by left-rated voices for his stances on vaccines, gender dysphoria, and more. Despite this, he is finding a base of support and consistently polling in the double digits, according to poll aggregate FiveThirtyEight (Center bias). What's the secret to his early success?

A writer in The Atlantic (Left bias) argued that "Kennedy’s popularity comes not from his odd ideas, but from his anti-establishment affect." The article goes on to state that historically, "a quarter of voters reject their party’s political establishment and resent its attempts to anoint a presidential nominee," leading to outsider candidates surging early on, such as RFK Jr. in 2024 and, in 2016, Donald Trump.


A Centrist Third-Party Bid for 2024?

July 5, 2023

AP Photo/John Froschauer

The non-partisan "No Labels" group is floating the possibility of sponsoring a third-party candidate in the 2024 presidential election. This potential additional challenger is leading some left-rated voices to worry.

A piece in The New Republic (Left bias) argued a third-party candidate "could hand the election to Donald Trump," arguing that an additional option on the ballot would pull more centrist votes away from Biden than Trump. Additionally, a piece in Salon (Left bias) criticized the group, theorizing that the No Labels leadership is "locked in a mutually delusional feedback loop."

The Wall Street Journal Opinion (Lean Right bias) Editorial Board pushed back on the criticism, calling the No Labels group "patriots who want to spare the country from a campaign that offers four more years of the last two polarizing Presidencies," arguing that the presence of a third candidate in the race "may serve to wake up both parties that they can do better, and should do better, or face a third-party challenge."


DeSantis Campaign Video Attacks Trump for Pro-LGBTQ Statements

July 3, 2023

AP

The Ron DeSantis campaign took some heat over the weekend from across the spectrum after it posted a video on Twitter criticizing Donald Trump's statements supporting LGBTQ Americans. 

It appears the video was not originally made by the DeSantis team but was reposted with the caption-- "To wrap up “Pride Month,” let’s hear from the politician who did more than any other Republican to celebrate it…" The video contrasts Trump's statements with Florida legislation championed by DeSantis limiting transgender surgery, drag performances, and more.

Left-rated outlets, unsurprisingly, published articles criticizing the video. Additionally, Newsweek (Center bias) ran an analysis article titled "Ron DeSantis' Campaign is Imploding," and The New York Post (Lean Right Bias) ran an article highlighting criticism of the video from conservatives, including the Log Cabin Republicans— a conservative LGBTQ group— and Caitlyn Jenner.


Christie Presses Trump to Participate in Republican Primary Debates

June 30, 2023
 
Greg Nash

Chris Christie is putting pressure on Donald Trump to participate in Republican primary debates.

"If Trump doesn’t want to debate then he doesn’t want to be president," Christie tweeted Monday.

While most other Republican primary candidates have refrained from directly attacking the former president and leading candidate in the race, Christie is taking advantage of every opportunity to criticize Trump. In numerous interviews this week, the former New Jersey governor targeted his former boss, insisting he take the debate stage and make his case for the nomination.

Trump has indicated he will not participate in the first primary debate in August. In an interview with Reuters (Center bias) Thursday, he said, "Why would I give them time to make statements? Why would I do that when I'm leading them by 50 points and 60 points."


White House Goes All-In on 'Bidenomics' for 2024

June 28, 2023

Leah Millis/Reuters

President Biden's 2024 reelection campaign is starting to take shape. During a speech in Chicago on Wednesday, Biden made a pitch for his administration's economic strategy— Bidenomics.

According to a statement on the White House website, Bidenomics is centered around three key pillars: "making smart public investments in America," "empowering and educating workers to grow the middle class," and "promoting competition to lower costs and help entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive."

The White House's messaging push comes as the president works to convince Americans that positive economic news is a result of his policies. A CNN (Lean Left bias) poll in May concluded that two-thirds of Americans disapprove of how Biden has handled the economy. Approaching 2024, Biden is betting his name on the economy's continued strength.


DeSantis Releases Plan to Address Border Crisis

June 26, 2023

Fox News - Alexandria Hernandez

Florida governor and Republican primary candidate Ron DeSantis revealed his plans for the southern border if elected in 2024.

According to Fox News (Right bias), a statement from the DeSantis campaign read, "For decades, leaders from both parties have produced empty promises on border security, and now it is time to act to stop the invasion once and for all. As president, I will declare a national emergency on day one and will not rest until we build the wall, shut down illegal entry, and win the war against the drug cartels. No excuses. We will get it done."

According to The Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias), DeSantis released a 21-point plan to "stop the invasion," including ending "catch-and-release" policies, reimposing the "Remain in Mexico" policy, working to "end the idea that the children of illegal aliens are entitled to birthright citizenship," and more. Additionally, the DeSantis campaign released detailed campaign promises to "build the wall," "hold cartels accountable," and "work with states to enforce the law."


Candidates Talk Abortion One Year Out From Dobbs Decision

June 23, 2023

AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File

One year out from the Supreme Court's Dobbs ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion is the topic of the day for many 2024 candidates.

A number of Republican primary candidates are speaking at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual conference, according to the Associated Press (Lean Left bias). Front-runner and former President Donald Trump will give the keynote speech on Saturday, but attendees are hearing from former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott today. Each GOP candidate is arguing that they are the best choice to advance the efforts of the pro-life movement at the federal level.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden will mark the one-year anniversary of Dobbs by signing an executive order to increase access to contraception, according to The Hill (Center Bias). Recent court battles have challenged access to popular contraceptive pills, and Biden's executive order looks to be a demonstration of his commitment to pro-choice efforts.


Chris Christie Breaks With GOP Field on Trans Care Laws

June 21, 2023

Joseph Prezioso

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a candidate in the Republican primary, broke from the GOP pack this week when he told CNN (Lean Left bias) he opposes laws banning doctors from performing transgender medical procedures on minors.

Christie stated, "I don't think that the government should ever be stepping in to the place of the parents in helping to move their children through a process where those children are confused or concerned about their gender," adding, "The fact is that folks who are under the age of 18 should have parental support, and guidance, and love as they make all the key decisions of their life, and this should not be one that excluded by the government in any way."

Christie's stance puts him at odds with other GOP candidates, and according to Fox News (Right bias), voters as well. In Fox's coverage, it cites a poll finding majority support for restrictions among voters.


Biden Secures Major Union Endorsement For Reelection Campaign

June 16, 2023

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP

President Biden's reelection campaign kicks into high gear this weekend with a visit to Pennsylvania, where Biden is expected to laud his administration's pro-labor policies.

According to The Washington Times (Lean Right bias), 18 unions have already endorsed Biden's reelection campaign, including the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), which announced its endorsement Friday. The AFL-CIO represents 60 unions and 12.5 million workers, and has never endorsed a presidential candidate this early in the race before.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond is quoted in the Washington Times saying Biden is "rebuilding America, brick by brick, through good jobs and opportunity for all."

Heading toward 2024, an Axios (Lean Left bias) analysis states, Biden seeks to convince blue-collar voters "that his economy is working for them" while calming persistent fears of an economic downturn.


Republican Voters Mostly Unswayed by Trump Indictment

June 14, 2034

James Keivom

Former President Donald Trump's past week of legal trouble doesn't seem to be hurting his chances of securing the Republican nomination for the 2024 election.

Polls indicate Republican voters are unmoved by the indictment against Trump, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll finding 81% of Republicans believe the Department of Justice's case against Trump is politically motivated. Trump voiced a similar sentiment in a speech Tuesday night after his arraignment, calling the indictment "election interference." 

It's too early to say how the indictment and pending trial will impact the general election, but for the party primary, Trump's campaign remains full steam ahead.


Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt Endorses Ron DeSantis

June 12, 2023

DeSantis Office

Florida Governor and 2024 candidate Ron DeSantis (R) picked up his first endorsement from a fellow governor this past weekend from Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R).

"Governor DeSantis is a strong conservative and principled leader, and I am proud to endorse him for president," a statement from Stitt read. "As fellow Governors during COVID, DeSantis did not surrender states’ rights and individual liberties over to groupthink. In this election cycle, Oklahomans will remember that DeSantis was one of the few who never backed down in the face of adversity, because DeSantis operated with dogged conviction and shared our values for a limited government and free country."

In early polls aggregated by FiveThirtyEight (Center bias), DeSantis trails behind former President Donald Trump, who has received endorsements from two governors, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R


The Race for the GOP Nomination Grows

June 7, 2023

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

The crowded field for the Republican nomination grew this week as three new names entered the race— former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.

Ballotpedia (Center bias) now lists 11 candidates in the running for the Republican nomination.

Despite the new choices, major polls indicate a dominant portion of Republican voters remain committed to former President Donald Trump.

An opinion writer for USA Today (Lean Left bias) argued a crowded race in the Republican primary "plays right into Trump’s orange hands," arguing the non-Trump candidates will tear each other apart, allowing Trump to solidify his base and easily acquire the nomination.


Twitter Founder Endorses RFK Jr. For Dem Nomination

June 5, 2023

Sophie Park for The New York Times

Jack Dorsey, billionaire co-founder of Twitter, endorsed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the race for the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential election. Dorsey tweeted a link to a video of RFK Jr. asserting he could beat the two leading Republican nominees, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Along with the link, Dorsey stated, "he can and will."

A few Twitter users replied to the tweet, expressing doubt the Democratic National Committee would nominate a candidate other than President Joe Biden, who is running for a second term. Dorsey determined establishing pushback is "even more reason" to nominate RFK Jr. and that the DNC "seem to be more irrelevant by the day."

Polls compiled by data aggregate FiveThirtyEight (Center Bias) are consistently finding RFK Jr. polling above 10% with Democratic voters, with some polls putting him as high as 20%.


$32 Million Already Spent on Ads in GOP Primary Race

May 30, 2023

Russell Cheyne/Reuters

NBC News (Lean Left Bias) reported Tuesday that Republican candidates in the 2024 presidential race and outside groups have already spent $32 million on political advertisements. The report cites data from AdImpact, an advertising tracking company.

Calling the pace of spending "historic," the NBC News report states that the "massive escalation comes as candidates have taken great lengths to fill their super PAC coffers and woo mega-donors behind the bids, gearing up for a costly fight."

According to OpenSecrets (Center Bias), roughly $5.7 billion was spent on the 2020 presidential race alone, making it far and away the most expensive election in United States history. In 2020, Democrats outspent Republicans by a wide margin. With a crowded Republican field competing in the 2024 primary race, the GOP is likely to close the spending gap.


Ron DeSantis Rakes in $8.2 Million in First 24 Hours of Campaign

May 26, 2023

Marco Bello/Reuters

In the first 24 hours after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced his campaign for the presidency, his team reported $8.2 million in fundraising. This figure offers an early look into the momentum and strength of DeSantis' White House bid.

Outlets across the spectrum are comparing this figure to the money reportedly raised by former President Donald Trump during the 24-hour period after the Manhattan DA announced its criminal charges against him, which totaled roughly $4 million.

While DeSantis' short-term fundraising total eclipses Trump's, a key element that factors into campaign strength is the number of individual donors. The New York Times (Lean Left Bias) noted that Trump's fundraising total was accumulated "organically online" while DeSantis' "includes both online contributions and donations secured by bundlers who had gathered on Thursday at the grand ballroom in the Four Seasons in Miami."

The $8.2 million was enough for The Washington Times (Lean Right Bias) to determine DeSantis is Trump's "most formidable rival" in the contest for the Republican nomination. Incredibly early polling suggests DeSantis faces an uphill battle for the nomination, with an NBC News (Lean Left Bias) poll concluding Trump has the support of 46% of Republican voters, while DeSantis sits in second place with 25%.


Check back for regular updates on the 2024 election and analysis of media coverage.