A presidential race is a contest to determine who will become the president of the United States. Candidates from the two major political parties — Democratic and Republican — start campaigning early to win the support of voters across the country. They visit states and attend televised debates where they answer questions from moderators and other opponents. The candidates must win enough votes to get on the ballot in all 50 states. States with a winner-takes-all rule award all their electoral votes to the winning candidate (except Maine and Nebraska). So candidates must focus more time on about seven states that are competitive between them, or “swing states.”
In this election, Kamala Harris, a former California senator, and Donald Trump, a real estate developer and television host, competed in several national and state primaries and caucuses. Each party has a process by which its members choose delegates to its conventions, where they officially select the final presidential candidate. The delegates then vote on the election’s outcome at the Electoral College, which is held in December of the election year.
The winner of the presidency is determined by a majority of 538 electoral votes, which are awarded to each state according to its population. A candidate needs to earn 270 electoral votes to win the presidency, and 266 to become vice president.
Although much attention is focused on the presidential race, voters also elect members of Congress — the House of Representatives and the Senate. The two chambers pass laws and can serve as a check on the president’s plans.