By: Stephanie Kalota
Founder, Veteran Legislative Voice & AHG Correspondent
Now that both primary political parties have completed their conventions, what is next for American politics? For our presidential candidates, it’s campaigning and debates. For our incumbent politicians and other political candidates, it’s also campaigning until the general election. However, incumbent politicians (who also may be campaigning) have 125 days left until the end of the Congressional term.
For the presidential candidates, campaigning in battleground states is very important. The battleground states are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. They are the battleground states because they could swing to either political candidate. All of these states were won by less than three points in the 2020 presidential election. To finish out August, both former President Trump and Vice President Harris have rallied in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. There have been talks of VP Harris going to Florida for a fundraiser, and more talks about how that state may be the 8th sleeper battleground state. So, there is a possibility of more events in the Sunshine State. Political pundits are thinking that Florida may be in play to flip from red to blue because there are a few Democrat-supported bills on the ballot like reproductive health protections and recreational marijuana. Florida’s Senator Rick Scott also has a challenger, former House Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is within the margin of error in the post-primary polls.
The next big event that many voters are looking forward to is the presidential debate on September 10th. When Vice President Kamala Harris took over the Democratic ticket, there was uncertainty about whether former President Donald Trump would adhere to the agreements made with President Biden. But he did post on his social media that he would hold to his agreement, but he would stick with the muted mike rules. For those who aren’t aware, former President Trump had agreed to mute the microphones while the other debater was speaking. This was something that the Biden camp negotiated, which was in response to the 2020 debate where former President Trump didn’t allow current President Biden to speak without interruptions. There are speculations that the Harris team wants the mic rule to be voided so that former President Trump could show his negative side, and possibly provide more viral moments for Vice President Harris.
Without a doubt, there are likely viral moments to come.
