Tensions are high as presidential campaigns are in full swing with Republican and Democratic candidates actively participating in debates, rallies, and campaign advertisements. Early voting has started, mail-in-ballots have been signed, sealed, and delivered. Other voters are preparing to cast their ballots.
The national election day is tomorrow. On the ballot in Florida, there are 16 candidate races and 7 ballot measures. Here’s a quick rundown of the Presidential election:
The two main candidates are Republican Donald Trump, with VP pick JD Vance, and Democrat Kamala Harris with Tim Walz as VP.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE: DONALD TRUMP and JD VANCE
Donald Trump has called himself America’s “most pro-life president” since he appointed 3 of the 6 Supreme Court Justices that helped overturn Roe v. Wade. Most recently, however, Trump posted on his social media website that he would veto a federal abortion ban. He advocates for states to have the right to choose.
As for immigration policy, Trump wants to end illegal immigration by directing “the largest ever deportation operation [of undocumented migrants] in American history.” Trump has vowed to seal the border by completing the wall and increasing enforcement.
He is the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges, including 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and 57 felonies where he was accused of mishandling classified documents and illegally overturning the results of the 2020 election.
Trump also attacks the institutions that allowed the 2020 election to be “stolen,” and he promises to dismantle the “deep state” that indicted him, warning of the danger of “enemies from within.”
A summary of his other policy stances are as follows:
Gun Control – Trump’s campaign released a statement promising that Trump will “stand up for our constitutionally enshrined right to bear arms.” In a rally, Trump promised that “no one will lay a finger on your firearms” if he wins the election.
Israel-Hamas War – Trump has said he will stand with Israel in its war against Hamas and support Israel’s efforts to “destroy” the militant group. He’s condemned both pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian supporters on US college campuses. More recently, he has urged Israel to “get [the war] over with.”
Economic Policy – Trump has proposed up to 20% tariffs on most foreign goods and a 60% tariff on imports from China. Furthermore, Trump declares that his vision “for America’s economic revival is lower taxes, bigger paychecks, and more jobs for American workers.”
Transgender Rights – Trump plans to ask Congress to pass a bill establishing that the United States will recognize “the only two genders,” as determined at birth. The bill will also prohibit hormonal or surgical intervention for transgender minors. In 2022, Trump told a crowd in Texas he would ban transgender individuals from competing in women’s sports, along with other intentions to restrict transgender rights.
Healthcare – Trump has advocated to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which provides health insurance to all taxpayers through the government, arguing it is too expensive and imposes excessive regulations on businesses.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE: KAMALA HARRIS and TIM WALZ
During the Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris promised to back any legislation to restore federal protections for abortion rights. Harris has continued this as a staple of her campaign focuses, and has said that “she will never allow a national abortion ban to become law” if she is sworn in as president.
Harris and Walz have advocated for stronger protections at the border, and supported a bi- partisan bill to secure the border as Vice President. She believes that the government should reform the immigration system, and has said that as president she will revive the bi-partisan bill after Trump shut it down.
Harris was the San Francisco District Attorney and then the attorney general of California. To capitalize on Trump’s felony convictions, she has used her prosecutor background to frame this upcoming election as the “prosecutor versus the felon”,
She has criticized Trump’s attempts to illegally overturn the election, and also stated that she has a team prepared to respond if Trump tries to claim he won the election before the votes are finalized.
A summary of her other policy stances are as follows:
Gun Control – Harris has asserted that she does not want to completely ban guns, and in fact owns one herself. During her time as vice president, she has overseen the White House Office of Gun Violence and Prevention. Additionally, she has proposed stricter gun control laws such as “ban[ning] assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, requir[ing] universal background checks, and support[ing] red flag laws that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people” throughout the campaign.
Israel-Hamas War – Harris has affirmed that she will stand by Israel and “its right to defend itself” but also acknowledges the “humanitarian issues” in Gaza. This is a departure from the Biden administration’s firm stance backing Israel.
Economic Policy – Harris has laid out her vision for America as an “opportunity economy”, proposing to “build up” the middle class. She also plans to implement tax cuts for over 100 million middle class people while also decreasing costs of day to day necessities.
Transgender and Queer Rights – Harris has made LGBTQIA+ rights a very important part of her campaign. She defends the “freedom to love who you love openly and with pride”. She has also said she will back the Equality Act which will create “anti-discrimination” policies for LGBTQIA+ Americans, including protections for health care.
Healthcare – Harris has proposed strengthening Social Security and medicare by increasing taxes on millionaires and billionaires. She has also promised to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, put a $35 maximum on the cost of insulin, and ensuring seniors don’t have to pay more than $2,000 out of pocket.
Other Candidates
Peter Sonski from the American Solidarity Party
Randall Terry for the Constitution Party
Jill Stein for the Green Party
Chase Oliver for the Libertarian Party
Claudia de la Cruz for the Party for Socialism and Liberation
Other Races
At the federal level, Florida voters are choosing Florida’s Senators and the House Representatives for District 27.
At the state level, the Florida House of Representatives for District 115 are up for election.
For more information on what’s on your ballot, visit ballotpedia.org.
