Honestly, the 2024 election felt like a fever dream for most of us. One minute we were looking at a 2020 rematch, and the next, the entire board had been flipped upside down. Most people can name the two heavy hitters at the top of the ticket, but if you look at the actual ballots cast across the country, the list of who are the candidates for president 2024 usa is actually much longer and weirder than the nightly news usually suggests.
It wasn't just a two-person race. Far from it.
While Donald Trump and Kamala Harris grabbed 98% of the spotlight (and the votes), there were dozens of other names on ballots from Maine to California. Some were serious activists, some were protest candidates, and one was a guy named Vermin Supreme who wears a boot on his head.
The Heavyweights: Trump and Harris
Let's get the obvious out of the way first.
Donald Trump, representing the Republican Party, pulled off what many thought was impossible. He became the first president since Grover Cleveland in the late 1800s to lose an election and then come back to win a non-consecutive second term. He ran with JD Vance, a Senator from Ohio who basically became the face of the "New Right." They locked in 312 electoral votes, sweeping every single one of the seven key swing states. It was a massive showing.
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On the other side, you had Kamala Harris.
She didn't even start the race as the nominee. Remember? Joe Biden was the guy until that June debate changed everything. Harris stepped in late, tapped Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her wingman, and tried to sprint to the finish line in just about 100 days. She ended up with 226 electoral votes. It was a historic run—the first time a woman of color led a major party ticket—but she couldn't quite close the gap in the Rust Belt.
The "Third Party" Factor
This is where things get interesting. A lot of voters were frustrated with the "Big Two" and went looking for a different door.
Jill Stein was back again for the Green Party. She’s a physician who has become a staple of the anti-establishment left. She pulled in about 861,000 votes nationally. Her platform was focused heavily on climate change and, more specifically in 2024, a very vocal opposition to the war in Gaza, which earned her some traction with younger voters who felt abandoned by the Democrats.
Then there was Chase Oliver.
He’s a Libertarian from Georgia who describes himself as "armed and gay." He was actually the only third-party candidate to make it onto the ballot in all 50 states (plus D.C.). While he didn't win any states, he managed to snag about 0.4% of the popular vote. In a race this tight, those numbers actually matter.
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The RFK Jr. Rollercoaster
You can't talk about who are the candidates for president 2024 usa without mentioning Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His campaign was a wild ride. He started as a Democrat, went Independent, and at one point was polling in the double digits. People were obsessed with his stance on vaccines and his famous last name.
But then, in a move that shocked his own supporters, he suspended his campaign in August and threw his weight behind Trump. Even though he "quit," his name stayed on the ballot in many states. He still got over 750,000 votes from people who either didn't get the memo or didn't care that he’d dropped out.
The Names You Probably Didn't See
Unless you live in a specific state or really enjoy reading the fine print on your ballot, you probably missed these:
- Cornel West: The famous philosopher and academic ran as an Independent. He’s been a critic of both parties for decades. He ended up with about 81,000 votes.
- Claudia De la Cruz: Running for the Party for Socialism and Liberation, she actually had the best showing for a socialist candidate in decades, getting over 167,000 votes.
- Peter Sonski: He ran for the American Solidarity Party, which is basically a "Pro-Life Whig" party—socially conservative but economically left-leaning.
- Randall Terry: The founder of Operation Rescue ran on the Constitution Party line, focused almost entirely on a single-issue anti-abortion platform.
Why Does the Full List Matter?
Most people think third-party candidates are just "spoilers."
Maybe they are. But they also act as a pressure valve. When the two main parties move too far away from what a segment of the population wants, these candidates soak up those "protest votes."
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In 2024, the "Other" category accounted for nearly 3 million votes. In states like Pennsylvania or Michigan, where the margin between Trump and Harris was thin, the presence of Jill Stein or Chase Oliver changed the math of the entire election.
What Happens Now?
The 2024 election is in the books, but the candidate list tells us a lot about where the country is headed.
We're seeing a breakdown of the traditional two-party lock. More people are identifying as Independent than ever before. If you want to stay ahead of the next cycle, here are a few things you can do to stay informed:
1. Check your state's minor party status.
Parties like the Libertarians or Greens only stay on the ballot if they hit a certain percentage of the vote. Many of them hit those marks in 2024, meaning they’ll be back in 2028.
2. Follow the "Refugees."
Keep an eye on where candidates like RFK Jr. or Nikki Haley end up. Many of the 2024 candidates are already positioning themselves for roles in the new administration or for the next primary.
3. Look at the "None of the Above" data.
In Nevada, "None of these candidates" actually received nearly 20,000 votes. It’s a fascinating metric of voter dissatisfaction that usually signals a big shift is coming in the next election cycle.
The 2024 race was a lot more than just a red vs. blue map. It was a messy, multi-layered snapshot of an America that's trying to figure out what comes next.