Democratic candidate Kamala Harris (left); Republican candidate Donald Trump (right)

Shutterstock.com (confetti, banner); KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images (Kamala Harris); © Gage Skidmore/ZUMA Press Wire/Alamy Stock Photo (Donald Trump)

Who Will Win?

The countdown to Election Day has begun. Meet the two main candidates competing to become the next U.S. president.

As You Read, Think About: What is unique about this year’s presidential election?

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

Election Day is November 5. The two main candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, both have a chance to make history. If Harris wins, she’ll be the first woman to hold the nation’s top job. Trump could become the first president since 1892 to be elected to nonconsecutive terms (meaning not back-to-back).

But the historic race isn’t what most Americans were expecting even a few months ago. 

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

Election Day is November 5. The two main candidates are Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Both could make history. If Harris wins, she’ll be the first woman to hold the country’s top job. Trump could become the first president since 1892 to be elected to two terms that are not back-to-back. 

This historic race is different from what most Americans were expecting a few months ago.

Change of Plans

Each candidate represents one of the two biggest political parties in the United States. Harris is the Democratic Party’s nominee, and Trump is the choice of the Republican Party. 

Trump launched his campaign to win back his old job almost two years ago. For months, it appeared that he would face President Joe Biden in a rematch of the 2020 presidential election. 

But Biden performed poorly in a debate against Trump in June. That led many Democrats to question whether the 81-year-old Biden was the right candidate. He decided to drop out of the race on July 21. Biden gave his full support to his vice president, Harris, to run instead. 

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

Trump started his campaign to win back his old job almost two years ago. For months, it looked like he would run against President Joe Biden. The race would have been a rematch of the 2020 presidential election. 

But Biden did badly in a debate against Trump in June. Many Democrats then wondered if the 81-year-old Biden was the right candidate. He decided to leave the race on July 21. Biden gave his support to his vice president, Harris, to run instead.

Making It Official

By then, the Republicans had held their national convention. At that big gathering, they nominated, or officially chose, Trump to be their candidate for president. 

Harris officially became the Democrats’ nominee at their convention in August. She is the first Black woman and first Asian American to be chosen by a major party to run for president. 

Harris and Trump faced off in a debate on September 10. It was the first time voters got to see the two candidates together. More than 67 million people watched on TV and online. Harris and Trump were each asked to explain how they’d deal with the biggest issues facing the nation. Their answers gave voters a chance to compare the candidates’ very different ideas. 

By then, the Republicans had held their national convention. At that big meeting, they officially chose Trump to be their candidate.

The Democrats held their convention in August. They officially picked Harris as their candidate for president. She is the first Black woman and first Asian American to be chosen by a major party to run for president. 

Harris and Trump met in a debate on September 10. It was the first time voters got to see the two candidates together. More than 67 million people watched on TV and online. The candidates explained how they would deal with the biggest issues facing the country. Voters had a chance to compare their plans. 

Kamala Harris

MATTHEW HATCHER/AFP via Getty Images

Harris with her running mate for vice president, Tim Walz

Born: October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California 

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

Family: Harris has been married to Doug Emhoff since 2014. She is the stepmother to Emhoff’s two children from a previous marriage, Cole and Ella.

Career: Harris has served as U.S. vice president since 2021. She began her career as a lawyer, and from 2011 to 2017, she was California’s attorney general. In that role, she was the state’s top lawyer and was responsible for enforcing state laws. Beginning in 2017, she represented California in the U.S. Senate for four years.

Born: October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California 

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

Family: Harris has been married to Doug Emhoff since 2014. She is the stepmother to Emhoff’s two children from a previous marriage, Cole and Ella.

Career: Harris has served as U.S. vice president since 2021. She began her career as a lawyer, and from 2011 to 2017, she was California’s attorney general. In that role, she was the state’s top lawyer and was responsible for enforcing state laws. Beginning in 2017, she represented California in the U.S. Senate for four years.

Nearing the Finish Line

A candidate will need tens of millions of votes to be elected president. In the final days of the race for the White House, Harris and Trump will campaign around the clock to gain as many votes as possible. 

They’ll continue to travel around the country to give speeches. Both candidates will use social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to try to connect with voters. 

We can also expect to see a lot of ads for Harris and Trump on TV and online. Spreading their messages will be expensive. In the first month after Harris joined the race, Democrats and Republicans spent a total of more than $400 million on advertising.

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

A candidate will need millions of votes to win the election. In the final days of the race, Harris and Trump will campaign nonstop. They will try to win the support of as many voters as they can. 

They’ll keep giving speeches around the country. Both candidates will use social media to try to connect with voters. They’ll post photos and videos on apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Many will also see a lot of ads for Harris and Trump on TV and online. Spreading their messages will be expensive. In the first month after Harris joined the race, Democrats and Republicans spent a total of more than $400 million on ads.

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

Donald Trump

DOUG MILLS/The New York Times/Redux 

Trump with his running mate for vice president, J.D. Vance

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

Where He Lives: Palm Beach, Florida

Family: Trump has been married to Melania Trump since 2005. They have an 18-year-old son, Barron. Trump also has four grown children from previous marriages—Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany—and 10 grandchildren.

Career: Trump served as the 45th U.S. president from 2017 to 2021. Before that, he was a businessman who made his fortune in real estate. His companies have built luxury apartment buildings, hotels, and golf courses around the world. 

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

Where He Lives: Palm Beach, Florida

Family: Trump has been married to Melania Trump since 2005. They have an 18-year-old son, Barron. Trump also has four grown children from previous marriages—Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany—and 10 grandchildren.

Career: Trump served as the 45th U.S. president from 2017 to 2021. Before that, he was a businessman who made his fortune in real estate. His companies have built luxury apartment buildings, hotels, and golf courses around the world. 

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

2. Summarize the section “Making It Official.”

3. How does the article support the idea that the candidates will “campaign around the clock” in the days leading up to Election Day?

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

2. Summarize the section “Making It Official.”

3. How does the article support the idea that the candidates will “campaign around the clock” in the days leading up to Election Day?

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