:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/O5PL64NF74AJTYLNT4VI2GMBEU.jpg "The race for the White House begins: candidates and everything you need to know about the 2024 primaries in the United States")
The race to the White House is set to begin with the first contest of the Republican presidential nomination process in the United States: the Iowa caucuses. Caucuses can take place in meeting places such as school gymnasiums, community centers, or churches, where Republicans will give speeches in favor of their preferred candidates. Participants will address partisan issues and express their preference for a presidential candidate to represent the party in the November elections.
Both Republicans and Democrats will hold caucuses in Iowa this Monday, January 15. However, only the Republican caucus will have an immediate and binding impact on the presidential race. The Democratic preference for the presidential candidate will be expressed through a mail-in voting process, the results of which will be known in March.
Following the Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada will hold their primary elections in the weeks to come, marking the start of a long and contentious primary season.
In the Republican party, the 2024 caucuses in Iowa will set the stage for a heated race, with six candidates vying for the party’s nomination for the 2024 general election. Former President Donald Trump leads the pack with 61% support in recent polls, facing competition from candidates such as Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy.
For the Democrats, President Joe Biden is seeking to secure the party’s nomination to run for a second term. He faces token opposition from Minnesota Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips and progressive writer Marianne Williamson. However, the Democratic National Committee faced criticism for reorganizing the primary calendar, with Iowa losing its traditional first spot.
The 2024 caucuses in Iowa will also be of particular significance for Republicans, given the looming legal challenges facing Donald Trump. The United States Supreme Court will weigh in on whether Trump can be excluded from the election ballot due to his actions preceding the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which will undoubtedly impact the course of the campaign.
Overall, the Iowa caucuses have played a significant role in American politics for more than 50 years, offering a key platform for presidential candidates to gain visibility and credibility in the United States presidential elections. The results of the upcoming caucuses will set the tone for an eventful and closely-watched presidential race in 2024.