Whether you like it or not, it is that time of year, election season. Over the last eight years, there has been a clear front-runner in the Republican Party, Donald J. Trump. His no-nonsense approach and ability to change laws and make policies opened up a new “Red Wave”, which caused people to finally see problems within the U.S. Government. His tenure was filled with backlash and critics, but he still stuck to his beliefs. As the 2020 election hit, no other candidates could stand a chance against his following. This year, however, there are a lot of new faces in the running. The first Republican Debate, on August 23, kicked off the campaign for the GOP. This debate would be without Trump, however. Instead he went on an interview with Tucker Carlson during the event. These die-hard Trump supporters who watched probably were confused on who some of these people even are. These candidates all have different ideas and policies caused a lot of disagreements on the floor. We (as students) should be more informed on our future leaders in order to create a better future for us and generations to come.
Starting with a familiar face, Mike Pence, former Vice President for Trump and former Indiana Governor, has decided to run on his own. After his tenure as VP, Pence announced Trump “demanded he choose between him or the constitution” and he (Pence) would be running on his own, as he said in an interview with The Guardian. Pence’s quote did not help his case, his non-support of Trump has shown a decline in interest as a nominee. Knowing this, Pence stated he plans to bring back traditional economic and foreign policies and mix these with accomplishments from the Trump-Pence tenure, as reported by Politico.
Another familiar face is Chris Christie, who ran in 2016. His campaign fell short as his support dwindled during the primaries. In 2023, he announced he wanted to take on Trump head on, and was not afraid to admit it. This opinion led to him being booed as soon as he hit the stage at the debate. Christie sets him apart from the rest of the party with his views on abortion, as he does not believe in a federal ban, but claims he is “pro-life”, as reported by MSNBC. His “follow the crowd” approach shows he can have some flaws, if elected.
The most supported at this debate was Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis. When Ron took over Florida, he boosted the economy, increased water quality, and took control of the education system in order to make sure students have options, per Tampa Bay Times. This success and likable persona have made him the person to beat. For most Republicans, he is the safest option as his views on abortion, education, and border control match the policies the Trump-Pence tenure preached.
The last candidates or “the fillers” did not have a great showing in the debate. Out of the gate, Former U.N Ambassador, Nikki Haley, criticized the Republicans spending of government funding. She commented, “Our kids are never going to forgive us for this”, and singled out Pence, Scott and DeSantis. She also took shots at Trump for adding to the National Debt. Haley also claimed the Republican party asked for 7.4 billion dollars in COVID Relief, per CBS News. Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson was booed last night after claiming he would not support Trump, if convicted. South Carolina Senator, Tim Scott, was the most mature but his ability to be above the mess led to him being less aired. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum showed a strong performance, but his stance on the national abortion ban will not gain much support in the voters.
The last, but not least candidate, made a show out of the debaters. The Ohio born entrepreneur by the name of Vivek Ramaswamy, broke the debaters with his modern approach to government. When introduced to the stage, Vivek made it known he was a self-made person who did not take handouts, unlike some of his competitors. Vivek battled against the experienced politicians like he has done it time and time again. With controversial comments like, “the climate change agenda is a hoax,” and even said, “Do you want incremental change, or do you want a revolution?” These sort of statements caused some disruption, with Pence even quoting him as a “rookie”. Vivek stayed on topic though, having responses for everything thrown his way, with Christie even claiming, “I’ve had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT.” His major support of Trump has caused his ratings to skyrocket next to DeSantis, per Wall Street Journal. His non-political background will be best for the U.S. as a whole.
No matter who you agree with, being knowledgeable in politics will help society in many ways. Improving our future starts with the right leaders. In order to have the right leaders for our country, it starts with you. Most of our student body cannot vote, yet you can help spread who you believe in and influence other people to be aware. It is your right.