Trump Announces Another Presidential Campaign

The 2022 midterm elections just occurred, and already some of the nation’s attention is turning to the 2024 presidential election. On November 15, 2022, former president Donald Trump publicly announced that he will be running for president again in 2024. Here, Election Central takes a closer look at this announcement. 

The Announcement 

Trump made his official announcement at 9:00 p.m. on November 15 at his Mar-a-Lago estate. In his speech, Trump discussed much of the “unfinished business” from his first term, such as the wall along the U.S. southern border. He also criticized the Biden administration. He blamed the Biden administration for a struggling economy and rising crime. At the same time, he also criticized members of the Republican party who failed to support him. He mentioned the 2020 presidential election and called for an end to early voting and voting by mail, as well as a return to paper ballots. He also complained about the ongoing legal investigations he is facing.   

The “Red Tide” That Wasn’t 

While Trump still has a strong following, many political experts believe that Trump’s position is not as strong for the 2024 campaign. For one thing, the messages that worked so well eight years ago might not be as successful now. Furthermore, Trump’s political influence may have been weakened by the recent midterm elections. Republicans had predicted many convincing wins across the nation (a “red wave”) in 2022, but that didn’t happen. Republicans did achieve a slight majority in the House of Representatives. But Democrats retained control of the Senate, flipped two governor seats from Republican to Democrat, and held many more seats in the House than predicted. Trump supported many Republican candidates, with mixed results.  

Looking Ahead to the Primaries 

Trump has already collected $69 million to spend on his campaign. He also has access to a huge database of donors, and regularly holds packed rallies. These strengths will help Trump’s candidacy for the Republican nomination. 

This time around, Trump will also likely face a formidable challenger: Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, who defeated his challenger by a twenty-point margin in the midterms. DeSantis, however, has not declared his candidacy. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin have also hinted at their desire to run for the White House in 2024.  

Dig Deeper Besides Trump, which president(s) have run for the White House again after losing reelection?