The 2024 presidential election represents a pivotal moment in American history, the first in nearly half a century where the names Bush, Clinton, or Biden are absent from the ticket. For 48 long years, these dynastic families have exerted a powerful grip on our nation’s highest office. This dominance isn’t by chance; it reveals a troubling truth about our democracy—a system that has gradually stripped away the genuine choices available to the American people.
Let’s break this down: the Reagan-Bush ticket won in both 1980 and 1984, followed by the Bush-Quayle victories in 1988 and 1992. Then came the Clinton-Gore era, with victories in 1992 and 1996. Al Gore, running in 2000, lost to the Bush-Cheney ticket, which secured another term in 2004. The baton was then passed to Obama-Biden, who won in 2008 and 2012. In 2016, there was yet another push for a Bush on the ticket with Jeb Bush’s candidacy, but it ultimately failed, leaving the eventual nominee, Mr. Trump, to face off with a Clinton-Kaine ticket, which lost the electoral college. Finally, in 2020, Biden-Harris claimed victory.
Think about that for a moment. For nearly half a century, a Bush, Clinton, or Biden has been on a major party ticket. For 20% of the entire history of the American presidency, one of these three names has sought power.
When we examine the rise of these families, it’s clear that their ascendancy wasn’t purely due to their individual talents or visions for America. No, their success was bolstered by the vast political machinery behind them—networks of influence, wealth, and power that have propelled them to the top of the ticket repeatedly. But what does this say about the state of our democracy? It suggests that the system is rigged, favoring those who are well-connected, while the average American is left with little influence over who leads our nation.
This isn’t just a lack of free choice; it’s a systemic problem that stifles the voices of everyday Americans. The political system, as it stands, favors established names and deep pockets, perpetuating the status quo and discouraging fresh ideas. The result? A political environment where true change is nearly impossible, where the aspirations and concerns of ordinary citizens are drowned out by the entrenched power of political elites.
The absence of a Bush, Clinton, or Biden in 2024 might seem like a breath of fresh air, a break from the old guard. But can we honestly say that 2024 represents progress when one of the nominees, Vice President Kamala Harris, wasn’t even selected by primary voters? Harris never ran in the primaries, never received a single vote, unlike Congressman Dean Phillips, who, despite being the party’s runner-up, didn’t get a single delegate vote at the DNC in Chicago.
The names of the old regime may be gone, but are we really seeing a new beginning? Or are we simply witnessing the rise of a new generation of political elites, ready to govern just as their predecessors did?
The answers to these questions lie in our hands. We must demand more from our political system, push for reforms that level the playing field, and allow new voices to emerge. Only then can we truly break free from the chains of political dynasties and restore genuine democracy to our nation. The 2024 election is more than just a choice for who will occupy the Oval Office; it’s a turning point for the future of American democracy itself.
– Christopher Jensen