ABC News Presidential Debate. Photo credit to ABC News.
This election year has been eventful as candidates race to the finish line on Nov. 5. This is an overview of the election year so far.
On Jan. 5, the U.S. Supreme Court started the year by reviewing a Colorado Supreme Court ruling on whether former President Donald Trump was eligible for Colorado’s Republican primary ballot.
Soon after the court's decision in favor of Trump, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie withdrew his Republican Party presidential candidacy and became an undecided voter.
Also in January, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Gov. of Florida Ron DeSantis revoked their Republican Party candidacies and endorsed Trump.
Democratic Party candidate Marianne Williamson ended her campaign and endorsed President Joe Biden at the beginning of February.
The U.S. Justice Department released a report that determined Biden was not guilty for criminal charges that involved allegedly taking classified documents at the end of Biden’s Vice Presidency.
On Feb. 16, AP News reported that Trump was ordered by a New York judge to pay $355 million in penalties. This was in response to a finding that the former president had not been truthful about his wealth.
On March 4, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states are not allowed to exempt presidential candidates from the ballot. This overturned the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to keep Trump off the Republican primary ballot.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley suspended her Republican candidacy on March 6. This led to Trump becoming the presumptive Republican Party presidential nominee.
Democratic Representative Dean Phillips ended his campaign the same day.
On May 30, Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. Specifically, regarding “hush money” payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump became the first former U.S president to be convicted of felonies, according to AP News.
Biden’s performance in a debate with Trump on June 27 raised concerns about the president’s age and cognitive abilities.
The beginning of July saw the Supreme Court’s decision to grant absolute immunity to former presidents for “official acts.”
Trump received minor injuries after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally on July 13. Two attendees were injured and one was killed. The suspect was fatally wounded by the Secret Service.
Two days later, Trump chose Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate.
On July 21, Biden withdrew his candidacy for a second-term as President of the United States and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
In August, Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was officially nominated by the Democratic Party to be the party’s candidates for President and Vice President of the U.S.
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdrew from his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump on Aug. 23.
Presidential nominees Harris and Trump participated in the first — likely only — debate between the two candidates on Sept. 10.
A second assassination attempt on Trump took place at Trump International Golf Club on Sept. 15. The suspect was caught lying in nearby bushes by the Secret Service before any shots were fired.
On Oct. 1, vice-presidential nominees Walz and Vance participated in a debate in New York City.
The 2024 election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will come to a close on Nov. 5; however, early voting is underway in many states, including Alaska.
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