Who Are All Of The Presidential Candidates: The Names You Saw On The Ballot (And Why)

Politics in the U.S. has felt like a fever dream lately. Honestly, if you felt like you couldn't keep track of who was actually running in the last cycle, you're not alone. Between the historical dropouts and the third-party names that popped up on your social feed, the list of presidential candidates was way longer than just the two names that took up all the TV airtime.

It’s easy to forget that while the news focused on a massive rematch, there were dozens of other people legally vying for the most powerful office in the world. Some were veterans of the game, while others were basically activists trying to move the needle on specific issues like climate change or labor rights.

The Heavy Hitters: The Major Party Nominees

You already know the big names, but the path they took to the final ballot was anything but normal.

Donald Trump, representing the Republican Party, pulled off what many analysts are calling one of the most significant political comebacks in American history. He wasn't just a former president; he was the first convicted felon to win the office, according to Britannica. He swept all seven key swing states, including a surprising win in Nevada—a state that hadn't gone red since 2004. His campaign focused heavily on "America First" policies, mass deportations, and aggressive tariffs.

On the other side, the Democratic ticket saw a mid-season swap that would have sounded like a movie plot four years ago. Kamala Harris took the mantle after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July 2024. She chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Even though she didn't go through a traditional primary, she secured the nomination and pulled in over 75 million popular votes.

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It's sorta wild when you look at the final numbers. Trump hit 312 electoral votes, while Harris ended with 226.

The Third-Party Contenders and "The Spoilers"

The "other" column on the ballot usually gets ignored, but in 2024, these candidates actually mattered. A lot. People were frustrated with the status quo, and these names offered an escape valve.

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Independent): He was the wildcard. Coming from a political dynasty, he initially ran as a Democrat before going independent. Even though he eventually suspended his campaign and backed Trump, his name stayed on many ballots. He still grabbed about 0.5% of the popular vote—over 750,000 people.
• Jill Stein (Green Party): A familiar face for anyone who follows third-party politics. She's been the Green Party's nominee multiple times. Her platform was built on the "Green New Deal" and ending foreign military aid. She finished with roughly 860,000 votes.
• Chase Oliver (Libertarian Party): Representing the "stay out of my life" crowd. He’s a younger, more "online" candidate who focused on individual liberty and ending the war on drugs. He pulled in about 650,000 votes.
• Cornel West (Independent): A philosopher and activist who spoke a lot about "truth and justice." He didn't have the same ballot access as Stein or Oliver, but he still saw about 81,000 votes across the states where he was listed.

The Names You Probably Missed

Beyond the top five or six names, the FEC (Federal Election Commission) actually has hundreds of people registered to run for president. Most don't get past the filing paperwork. But some actually made it onto ballots in specific states.

Claudia De la Cruz ran for the Party for Socialism and Liberation. She managed to get over 165,000 votes, which is surprisingly high for a fringe party. Then there was Peter Sonski for the American Solidarity Party, which is a group that tries to combine social conservatism with more "left-leaning" economic views.

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You also had Randall Terry from the Constitution Party and Shiva Ayyadurai, an independent who is famous for his claims about inventing email. These candidates usually only appear in a handful of states because the rules to get on the ballot are incredibly strict. You usually need tens of thousands of signatures just to be an option.

Those Who Dropped Out Early

The 2024 race was littered with the "what ifs." The Republican primary was especially crowded before Trump cleared the field.

Nikki Haley was the last one standing against him, hanging on until March 2024. She actually won Vermont and D.C., which isn't nothing. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Governor, was once seen as the frontrunner but dropped out just after Iowa. You also had Vivek Ramaswamy, who brought a lot of energy but ultimately endorsed Trump early on.

On the Democratic side, it was much quieter until the big Biden announcement. Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson tried to challenge Biden in the primaries, but they never really gained enough traction to threaten his lead.

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Why Ballot Access Matters

If you're wondering why you didn't see some of these people on your specific ballot, it’s because the U.S. doesn't have one single "ballot." Every state has its own rules.

In some states, it's easy. In others, like New York or California, you need a literal army of volunteers to gather enough signatures to get a third-party name listed. This is why the Libertarian and Green parties are usually the only ones with a significant presence—they've spent years building the legal infrastructure to get on the map.

What This Means for 2026 and Beyond

Looking at the list of presidential candidates from 2024 tells us a lot about where we are heading. The 2026 midterms are already on the horizon, and the "discontent" vote that went to Stein or Kennedy is what both major parties are now fighting over.

Public approval for the current administration has been a bit of a roller coaster. According to recent 2026 polling data from groups like Gallup and AP-NORC, economic discontent is still the driving factor for most voters. While Trump won on the promise of fixing the economy, voters in 2025 and early 2026 have shown they are willing to shift their support if prices don't stay down.

Actionable Steps for the Next Cycle:

1. Check Your Registration: Politics moves fast. Even if you voted in 2024, states often purge voter rolls. Head to Vote.gov to make sure you're still active for the 2026 midterms.
2. Look Past the Top Two: If you're tired of the major parties, start looking at local third-party chapters now. That's where ballot access actually starts.
3. Monitor the FEC Filings: You can actually see who is filing for 2028 right now on the FEC website. It's the best way to see the "long shots" before they ever hit a debate stage.
4. Understand Local Primaries: The 2026 midterms will determine who controls Congress. These candidates often matter more for your daily life than the person in the White House.

The list of names on a ballot is a snapshot of what a country is thinking. Whether it's a former president, a sitting vice president, or a philosopher from Harvard, every candidate represents a slice of the American identity. Keeping track of them is the only way to really understand the direction the country is moving.