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Evan Vucci/AP Photo (Trump); Mario Tama/Getty Images (Biden)
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Meet the Candidates
Who will be our next president? Voters will soon decide.
As You Read: Underline at least one way that candidates for president try to win the support of voters.
Did you know a big event is coming soon to our country?
On November 3, people in the U.S. will choose the next president. The president is the nation’s top leader. Donald Trump and Joe Biden are the two main candidates for the job.
Each man represents one of America’s two biggest political parties. A political party is a group of people who have many of the same ideas about how the country should be run.
Hello, Mr. Trump
Trump is the candidate of the Republican Party. He won the election in 2016 and is finishing a term as president. One term lasts four years. In the U.S., people can be president for up to two terms.
Before becoming president, Trump was a businessman and TV show host. He owns companies that build hotels and golf courses around the world.
As president, he has signed hundreds of laws made by the U.S. Congress. He also created the Space Force, a new branch of our country’s military.
Trump is the candidate of the Republican Party. He won the election in 2016. Now he is finishing a term as president. One term lasts four years. In the U.S., people can be president for up to two terms.
Before becoming president, Trump was a businessman and TV show host. He owns companies that build hotels and golf courses.
As president, he has signed hundreds of laws made by the U.S. Congress. He also created the Space Force. It’s a new branch of our country’s military.
Hello, Mr. Biden
Biden is the Democratic Party’s candidate. He was vice president under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Before that, he was a U.S. senator for 36 years. He represented the state of Delaware and helped make laws for our country.
Other names will also be on the ballot for president. They’re called third-party candidates. They belong to the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and other political parties.
Biden is the Democratic Party’s candidate. He was vice president under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Before that, he was a U.S. senator for 36 years. He represented the state of Delaware. He helped make laws for our country.
Other names will also be on the ballot for president. They’re called third-party candidates. They belong to the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and other parties.
Rally for Votes
Shutterstock.com
To get support, Biden and Trump are holding rallies to talk to voters. Usually these rallies would take place in arenas filled with crowds. Candidates would normally meet with voters there and shake their hands. But because of Covid-19, they are switching to virtual events. Rallies will be held online.
Biden and Trump will also face each other in debates. People will watch them answer questions about big issues, like making sure everyone can get a good education. Their answers will help voters decide who to choose as our next leader.
Biden and Trump want to get support. They are holding rallies to talk to voters. Usually these rallies would have big crowds. Candidates would meet with voters and shake their hands. But because of Covid-19, they are switching to virtual events. The rallies will be held online.
Biden and Trump will also face each other in debates. People will watch them answer questions about big issues, like education. Their answers will help voters decide who to choose as our next leader.
Here’s what one day might look like if you were running for president.
7:00 A.M. - Wake Up to Your Favorite Song
“America the Beautiful” is a great way to start the day!
8:00 A.M. - Pancakes—Yum!
You eat with your campaign manager. She helps you practice a big speech.
11:00 A.M. - Time to Hit the Road
You have your own bus to use on your campaign. You ride to another state to connect with voters at a small lunch.
4:00 P.M. - Hooray, Volunteers!
You thank the many people who work for your campaign for free. Some are too young to vote, but they help by asking adults to vote.
7:00 P.M. - Let's Rally
You hold a rally online. Thousands of people watch your speech.
9:00 P.M. - Sleep Tight
Running for president means a lot of time away from home. You call your family to say good night from your hotel room. Tomorrow will be another busy day!
Cast your vote at: scholastic.com/election
1. What is the main purpose of the article?
2. How are this year’s rallies different from those of the past?
3. How does the sidebar “A Day in the Life of a Candidate” connect to the article?