Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images (Harris); Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images (Trump); dog illustration by Dave Perillo; Shutterstock.com (confetti, banner)

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Who Will Win?

Election Day is almost here. Meet the two main people hoping to become America’s next leader.

October 28, 2024
By the Editors of Scholastic News

As You Read: How might people running for president try to win support from voters? 

The United States has chosen a president every four years since the late 1780s. But this year’s election is shaping up to be unlike any other. 

Election Day is November 5. The two main candidates are Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. 

Harris has been the country’s vice president since 2021. Before that, she was a member of Congress. She represented California in the U.S. Senate. She helped write the nation’s laws.

Trump served as the 45th U.S. president from 2017 to 2021. Before that, he was a businessman. His companies have built apartment buildings, hotels, and golf courses around the world. 

The United States chooses a president every four years. This has been true since the late 1780s. But this year’s election is unlike others. 

Election Day is November 5. The two main candidates are Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. 

Harris is the U.S. vice president. She’s had the job since 2021. Before that, she represented California in the U.S. Senate. She helped write the nation’s laws.

Trump was the 45th U.S. president from 2017 to 2021. Before that, he was a businessman. His companies have built hotels and golf courses around the world. 

Kamala Harris

Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images

Born: October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California

Where She Lives: Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, California

Family: Harris is married to Doug Emhoff. She is the stepmother of Emhoff’s two children, Cole and Ella.

Born: October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California

Where She Lives: Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, California

Family: Harris is married to Doug Emhoff. She is the stepmother of Emhoff’s two children, Cole and Ella.

Donald Trump

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images 

Born: June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York

Where He Lives: Palm Beach, Florida

Family: Trump is married to Melania Trump. He has five children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, and Barron. He also has 10 grandchildren.

Born: June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York

Where He Lives: Palm Beach, Florida

Family: Trump is married to Melania Trump. He has five children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, and Barron. He also has 10 grandchildren.

Each candidate represents one of the two biggest political parties in the U.S. Harris is a member of the Democratic Party. Trump is a Republican.

Both candidates have a chance to make history. If Trump wins, he’ll be the first president since 1892 to be elected twice but not in back-to-back elections. If Harris wins, she’ll be the first woman to hold the nation’s top job. She’s already the first Black woman and first Asian American to be chosen by a major party to run for president.

Each candidate represents one of the country’s two biggest political parties. Harris is a member of the Democratic Party. Trump is a Republican.  

Both candidates could make history. If Trump wins, he’ll be elected twice but not in back-to-back elections. That hasn’t happened since 1892. If Harris wins, she’ll be the first woman to hold the nation’s top job. She’s already the first Black woman and first Asian American chosen by a major party to run for president.    

Other Big Races

The presidential race isn’t the only one to watch. Here are some other positions up for grabs.

The presidential race isn’t the only one to watch. Here are some other positions up for grabs.

LOCAL: Many Americans will vote for a mayor. That’s the person in charge of a city or town. Mayors help make sure our local communities run smoothly.

LOCAL: Many Americans will vote for a mayor. That’s the person in charge of a city or town. Mayors help make sure our local communities run smoothly.

STATE: In 2024, people in 11 states will elect a governor. That’s the head of each state’s government. Governors make decisions about things like what can be taught in public schools.

STATE: In 2024, people in 11 states will elect a governor. That’s the head of each state’s government. Governors make decisions about things like what can be taught in public schools.

Illustration by Dave Perillo

NATIONAL: Most members of Congress are running too. Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of Congress write the nation’s laws.

Learn more about the elections at scholastic.com/election.

NATIONAL: Most members of Congress are running too. Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of Congress write the nation’s laws.

Learn more about the elections at scholastic.com/election.

Facing Off  

Harris and Trump took part in a debate on September 10. More than 67 million people watched on TV and online. 

The candidates were each asked to explain how they’d deal with the biggest problems facing the nation. Those issues include helping Americans find jobs and protecting the environment. Voters got the chance to compare the candidates’ different ideas. 

Harris and Trump held a debate on September 10. More than 67 million people watched on TV and online. 

The candidates explained how they’d deal with problems facing the country. For example, they talked about helping Americans find jobs. Voters had a chance to compare the candidates’ ideas. 

Pause and Think

What might it be like to run for president?

What might it be like to run for president?

The Road Ahead  

Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux

Trump with his pick for vice president, J.D. Vance

To be elected president, a candidate will need tens of millions of votes. Harris and Trump will continue to campaign around the clock. They will try to gain as much support from voters as possible. 

The candidates will travel the country day after day. They’ll hold rallies and give speeches. Both will also use social media to try to connect with voters. 

To be elected president, a candidate will need millions of votes. Harris and Trump will continue to campaign nonstop. They will try to win as many votes as possible.

The candidates will travel across the country. They’ll give speeches at rallies. Both will use social media to connect with voters.   

Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images

Harris with her pick for vice president, Tim Walz

Americans can expect to see plenty of ads for Harris and Trump on TV and online. Spreading their messages will be expensive. Democrats and Republicans have both spent hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising.

Which candidate will convince more voters that they deserve the nation’s top job? We’ll find out soon!

Voters will see a lot of ads for Harris and Trump on TV and online. Spreading their messages will be expensive. Democrats and Republicans have both spent many millions of dollars on ads.

Who will convince more voters that they should be president? We’ll find out soon!

Every Vote Counts!

Shutterstock.com

Our nation’s leaders have important jobs to do. But voters do too! It’s their responsibility to learn about the candidates and decide who to support. 

Our nation’s leaders have important jobs to do. But voters do too! It’s their responsibility to learn about the candidates and decide who to support. 

Who is allowed to vote in the U.S.?

Shutterstock.com

Almost all U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old can vote for president. Today that’s about 240 million Americans. But not everyone uses this important right. On average, only about 6 in 10 people who are allowed to vote actually do so. 

Almost all U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old can vote for president. Today that’s about 240 million Americans. But not everyone uses this important right. On average, only about 6 in 10 people who are allowed to vote actually do so. 

Why is voting so important?

Shutterstock.com

Voting gives people a say in how their country is run. The U.S. elected its first president in 1789—George Washington. Back then, few Americans were allowed to vote. They were mostly White men who owned land. Over time, women, Black people, and other groups fought for and won the right to vote too. 

Voting gives people a say in how their country is run. The U.S. elected its first president in 1789—George Washington. Back then, few Americans were allowed to vote. They were mostly White men who owned land. Over time, women, Black people, and other groups fought for and won the right to vote too. 

How do people actually vote?

Shutterstock.com

Most people will vote at their local polling place. That could be a school or firehouse. Some Americans will fill out a paper ballot. That’s a form that lists all the candidates people can vote for. Others will vote using a ballot on a computer. 

Many people will vote by mail. Voters will receive paper ballots a few weeks before Election Day. The ballots must be completed and returned on or before November 5.

Most people will vote at their local polling place. That could be a school or firehouse. Some Americans will fill out a paper ballot. That’s a form that lists all the candidates people can vote for. Others will vote using a ballot on a computer. 

Many people will vote by mail. Voters will receive paper ballots a few weeks before Election Day. The ballots must be completed and returned on or before November 5.

1. Why does the article say that both main candidates for president “have a chance to make history”?

2. Based on the article, what are some ways that candidates for president try to convince people to vote for them?

3. Share three facts you can learn from the sidebar “Every Vote Counts!”

1. Why does the article say that both main candidates for president “have a chance to make history”?

2. Based on the article, what are some ways that candidates for president try to convince people to vote for them?

3. Share three facts you can learn from the sidebar “Every Vote Counts!”

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