Who is running for US president in 2024? Nikki Haley backs out of Republican race

Nikki Haley has exited the Republican presidential race. The Former Governor of South Carolina suspended her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, saying it was “now up to Donald Trump” to earn the vote.She said: “The time has now come to suspend my campaign. I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets."

“I have always been a conservative Republican and always supported the Republican nominee, but on this question, as she did on so many others, Margaret Thatcher provided some good advice when she said, ‘Never just follow the crowd. Always make up your own mind’.”

“It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the vote – those in our party and beyond it, who did not support him. And I hope he does that”.

Former US president Mr Trump won the Iowa caucuses on January 15, making him the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. Sources familiar with Ms Haley’s plans told CNN prior to her speech that her approach appears to leave room for her to endorse Trump ahead of the general election.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida governor Ron DeSantis have dropped out of the race and are now backing Mr Trump.

The US will go to the polls for the country's presidential election on Tuesday, 5 November 2024, with the winner taking office in January 2025 for a four-year term.

With the election fast approaching, who’s left in the race?

Democrats

Joe Biden

The incumbent is likely to secure the Democratic Party nomination to run for a second term. He announced his candidacy with the tweet: “Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours.

“That’s why I’m running for re-election as President of the United States. Join us. Let’s finish the job.”

Marianne Williamson

Self-help author Marianne Williamson has also submitted a statement of candidature to the Federal Election Commission to stand for the Democratic Party.

As well as writing 14 bestselling books, she also founded Project Angel Food. This is a volunteer food-delivery programme that supports housebound people with HIV/Aids and life-threatening illnesses. She is also the co-founder of the Peace Alliance, a non-profit education and advocacy organisation.

Dean Phillips

US Representative Dean Phillips is attempting a longshot bid for the Democratic nomination.

On Saturday he called Joe Biden "unelectable and weak" as he tried to take advantage of the president's absence from New Hampshire's primary.

"Sadly it's going to demonstrate that our incumbent president is unelectable and weak and I think it's going to show this country that there's a candidate here who can actually do here what has been promised for generations," Phillips told reporters after addressing dozens of people at a senior citizen activity center.

Republicans

Donald Trump

The 2016 winner Trump is looking to return to the White House amid various legal battles. However, donations soared to his campaign after he appeared in court to deny wrongdoing over the Stormy Daniels affair.

He said: “The decline of America is being forced upon us by Biden and the radical left… this is not a decline we must accept.”

Mr Trump described Mr DeSantis as "a really terrific person" upon his withdrawal from the race.

Elise Stefanik is said to be Mr Trump's choice of vice president, should he be elected.

Independents

Robert F Kennedy Jr

The Democratic nomination is the nephew of John F Kennedy, an environmental lawyer who is often labelled an anti-vaccine activist.

Long before the Covid-19 pandemic, he was active in the movement, and public health professionals and members of his own family criticised his beliefs.

Cornel West

The 70-year-old has written books about race and gender. He has been married five times and also released hip-hop albums.

Jill Stein

The former Green Party presidential candidate is in the 2024 race, and has called the two-party political system “broken”.

“The two Wall Street parties are bought and paid for. Over 60 per cent of us now say the bipartisan establishment has failed us and we need a party that serves the people,” Ms Stein said.