A presidential race is the process by which people in America vote for a president and vice president. Voting occurs on Election Day, which since 1845 has been held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The winner of the election is determined by the Electoral College, a group of electors chosen by state laws. The candidate who receives the majority of electoral votes becomes president, and the second-place finisher becomes vice president.
The candidates start the race by campaigning around the country to win support from voters. During the campaign, the candidates try to convince voters that they have the best plan for the future of the nation and its citizens. They also have to find ways to fund their campaigns. Advances in technology have made it possible to reach many Americans with national political advertising.
Once a potential candidate has gained enough support, they officially announce their candidacy. Then they begin to raise money and form teams. Candidates from the two major political parties, the Democrats and Republicans, usually begin their official campaign trails in the spring of the election year. They often form exploratory committees earlier to determine whether they can realistically run for president.
After Biden’s poor performance in a nationally televised debate with Trump, calls from Democratic leaders and prominent journalists for him to drop out of the race grew louder. Biden ultimately ended his campaign in June 2024, and endorsed Harris as his replacement.