The presidential race is when two people compete to become the next President of the United States. They each try to win the most votes across the US through contests in individual states. Each state has a certain number of so-called electoral college votes, partly based on population. The person who gets 270 or more electoral votes wins the election. Candidates from the two main political parties the Democrats and Republicans start campaigning, go to rallies and debate each other in televised events.
Kamala Harris, a California senator and former prosecutor, was the Democratic candidate. She drew enthusiastic support from liberal voters, who saw her as a young, female, black and Jewish heir to traditional Democratic party values. But some voters felt she did not have a clear plan for the country’s future, and they worried about her plans to tackle climate change or end the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Billionaire businessman Donald Trump was the Republican candidate. He flirted with a presidential run for decades and attracted millions of dollars in donations from big and small donors. He often sparked controversy with his remarks and actions.
After the primaries and caucuses, the final presidential nominee for each party is chosen at national conventions by state delegates. The candidates also select a vice presidential running mate. They then spend the rest of the campaign fighting to win over people in every part of the country. On election day, the voters choose their preferred President and Vice President.