The Basic Facts:
The President of the United States is the head of state, in charge of the executive branch, and makes decisions on all branches of the military. They must enforce laws and recommend legislation to the Congress. They also choose the members of the Cabinet, the ambassadors of the U.N. (United Nations), and the Supreme Court Justices. The President may only serve a maximum of 2 total terms, meaning that if elected, Donald Trump may not re-run for president in the 2028 election.
REPUBLICAN PARTY: DONALD TRUMP
– 78 years old
– Previous experience: President, 2017-2021; businessman (founded Miss Universe, founder of Trump University and the Trump organization, chair of Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts); talk show host for “The Celebrity Apprentice”
– Is running for president with V.P. candidate J.D. Vance, who is the current junior Ohio United States Senator (since 2023) and a Marine veteran.
– Planned Tax Policy Changes: Reduce top corporate rate from 21 percent to 15-20 percent and extend the TCJA (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017) tax rates (this would mean tax cuts for most of the population)
– Trade Policies: Protectionist views, but wants to put a 60 percent tariff on ALL goods from China
– What this means: Trump wants to promote U.S. made products and goods from other countries besides China.
– Work Regulations: In support of deregulation
– Healthcare: Wants to reduce drug prices, reduce Medicaid spending, and reduce payments to hospitals for outpatient care
– Women’s Reproductive Health: Plans to “leave it up to the states” on the topic of abortion. Right now, Connecticut protects a woman’s right to abortion until 24 weeks of pregnancy.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY: KAMALA HARRIS
– Previous experience: Vice President, 2021-2025; Senator of California, 2017-2021; California Attorney General, 2011-2016
– Is running for president with V.P. candidate Tim Walz, who is the current governor of Minnesota (since 2019) and a retired history teacher/U.S. Army non-commissioned officer.
– Planned Tax Policy Changes: Raise top corporate rate from 21 percent to 28 percent and raise income tax rate for people earning more than $400,000
– Trade Policies: Protectionist views, but wants to put tariffs on specifically rivals in the industrial and geopolitical areas, which includes Chinese technology products
– What this means: Harris wants to promote U.S. made products, but instead of only focusing on products made in China, she would like to focus on rivals in all countries.
– Work Regulations: Wants to raise federal minimum wage to $15 (this will not affect CT residents since the CT minimum wage is currently $15.69/hour)
– Healthcare: Wants to reduce drug prices and extend Medicare inflation cap
– Women’s Reproductive Health: Plans to make abortion a national right for women
