2024 Republican presidential candidates: Who is challenging Donald Trump?
Iowa Republican Caucus 2024: Who are the main candidates?
(17 days later)
Donald Trump is the front-runner - but for how long?
After months of campaigning, the list of Republican candidates for president has been whittled down to just five competitors.
Candidates for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination are making their final pitches to voters as election season heats up.
But with one candidate, Donald Trump, completely dominating the field, does anyone else stand a chance?
A crowded field including several big-name and dark-horse contenders is now beginning to thin out.
The eventual winner will challenge the presumptive Democratic nominee, President Joe Biden, in November's general election.
All are seeking to unseat front-runner Donald Trump, as the former president continues to dominate in national opinion polls.
Let's look at the main candidates, what they stand for and what they are doing ahead of the Iowa caucuses taking place on 15 January.
The eventual winner will challenge the presumptive Democratic nominee, President Joe Biden, in the general election of November next year.
Donald Trump
A very quick guide to US Republican primaries
Donald Trump is sitting in the driver's seat for the final stretch before the caucuses - exactly where he has spent most of the past year.
Despite a turbulent four years in the White House, the 77-year-old has an iron-clad grip of much of the party base as well as a commanding lead in national polls. His closest challenger, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, trails by more than 30 points in recent polls.
If he can translate that lead into success in Iowa, he will be well-positioned to deliver an early knock-out blow to the rest of the field.
Mr Trump has vowed to finish what he started if he is returned to the White House, including undoing the Affordable Care Act and expanding his southern border wall.
But his rhetoric has frequently caused concern on the campaign trail. He has also consistently repeated false claims that he won the 2020 election and accused Mr Biden of leading a "witch hunt" against him.
Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was once viewed as the candidate most capable of defeating Mr Trump in a head-to-head race, but he has since faded.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was once viewed as the candidate most capable of defeating Mr Trump, but he has since faded.
Serving two terms as a little-known member of the House of Representatives, the former naval officer was boosted to the governorship by Mr Trump's endorsement in 2018.
Serving two terms as a little-known member of the House of Representatives, the former naval officer was boosted to the governorship by Mr Trump's endorsement in 2018. There, he has backed a range of conservative legislation that has included restricting abortions and loosening gun laws.
After romping to re-election in last year's midterms by more than 1.5 million votes, the largest margin in the state in more than four decades, he was touted as the man to carry his fellow Floridian's "America First" movement forward.
After romping to re-election last year by more than 1.5 million votes, the largest margin in the state in more than 40 years, he was touted as the man to carry forward Mr Trump's "America First" movement.
At 44 years old, the Harvard and Yale-educated lawyer is still a relative newcomer in US politics.
But he has seen his star rise considerably since becoming governor, a role in which he has positioned himself as an enthusiastic culture warrior.
Six ways it's harder for Trump this time
Six ways it's harder for Trump this time
WATCH: Five things to know about Ron DeSantis
WATCH: Five things to know about Ron DeSantis
He has backed legislation to defund diversity and inclusion programmes, ban teaching on gender identity in public schools, ban drag shows and gender-affirming care for minors, restrict abortions and loosen gun laws.
But an awkward personal brand, campaign trail flubs, financial woes and an onslaught from the Trump camp have hurt his once-promising bid.
Under his tenure, Republican voters outnumber Democrats in the state for the first time.
Now Mr DeSantis is staking his entire political fortune on Iowa. He has invested heavily in grassroots organising and nabbed endorsements from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats. Without a strong second-place showing, at least, his campaign may totally collapse.
The governor has touted his record as a "blueprint" for conservative leadership, and supporters have presented him as a drama-free alternative to re-nominating the former president.
But an awkward personal brand, campaign trail flubs, financial troubles and an onslaught from the Trump camp have taken the wind out of the sails of a once-promising bid.
Now Mr DeSantis is focusing much of his energy on beating Mr Trump in Iowa, the first state in which Republicans cast their primary ballots, even as polls suggest his campaign has lost its momentum. National polls show him sitting in a distant second place.
Nikki Haley
Nikki Haley
Nikki Haley was the first major Republican candidate to launch a campaign against Mr Trump, jumping into the race in mid-February.
Nikki Haley was the first major Republican candidate to launch a campaign against Mr Trump, jumping in last February.
Born in South Carolina to Punjabi Sikh immigrants, Ms Haley, 51, became the youngest governor in the country in 2009.
Born in South Carolina to Punjabi Sikh immigrants, Ms Haley, 51, became the youngest governor in the country in 2009. She earned national attention by calling for the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina capitol.
She earned national attention after calling for the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Capitol.
Despite saying she was "not a fan" of Mr Trump in 2016, she later accepted his nomination to be US ambassador to the United Nations, a tenure marked by her dramatic exit from a security council meeting while a Palestinian envoy spoke.
Despite saying she was "not a fan" of Mr Trump in 2016, she later accepted his nomination to be the US ambassador to the United Nations, a tenure marked by her dramatic exit from a UN Security Council meeting as a Palestinian envoy was speaking.
Meet the trailblazer who's challenging Trump in 2024
Meet the trailblazer who's challenging Trump in 2024
Her campaign, which includes a call for mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old, has stressed the need for "a new generation" of leaders.
At events and debates, the race's lone woman has sought to find middle ground on hot-button issues and demonstrate her foreign policy expertise. She has also called for a "new generation" of leaders and for mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old,
At campaign events and debates, the lone woman in the race has sought to find middle ground on hot-button issues like abortion, and demonstrated her foreign policy expertise.
Her performance, along with an endorsement from conservative powerhouse Charles Koch, has pushed her poll numbers up since the first debate in August. She is now closing the gap with Mr DeSantis in Iowa.
As a result, Ms Haley has seen her poll numbers rise since the first debate in August. Her campaign is hoping a strong performance in the first three nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire and her native South Carolina can position her as the chief alternative to Mr Trump.
Her path to winning the nomination relies on being competitive in Iowa and then pulling off a surprise in New Hampshire, where independents can vote in the Republican primary.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Vivek Ramaswamy
Vivek Ramaswamy, 37, launched a dark-horse bid for the White House during a late February appearance on the Fox News channel.
Vivek Ramaswamy, 37, launched his dark-horse bid during a late February appearance on the Fox News channel.
An Indian-American biotech entrepreneur with no previous political experience, he was a regular fixture on Fox host Tucker Carlson's daily programme, formerly the most-watched cable news show in the US.
An Indian-American biotech entrepreneur with no previous political experience, he was a regular fixture on Fox host Tucker Carlson's daily programme.
The Harvard and Yale graduate ran a pharmaceutical company from 2014 to 2021, then co-founded Strive Asset Management.
Mr Ramaswamy argues the country is in the midst of an identity crisis driven by declines in faith, patriotism and meritocracy. He recently drew controversy by plunging into a host of conspiracy theories during the final Republican debate.
He is also the author of Woke, Inc: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam.
Mr Ramaswamy argues the country is in the midst of a national identity crisis driven by a decline in faith, patriotism and meritocracy. He frequently touts "10 truths" on God, gender and other ideas.
Eight things presidential candidate Ramaswamy believes
Eight things presidential candidate Ramaswamy believes
The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president
The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president
He has also positioned himself as the most fervent defender of Mr Trump in the Republican field, even going so far as to vow that - if elected president - he would pardon the ex-president of any crimes.
He has also positioned himself as a fervent defender of Mr Trump, even vowing that, if elected, he would pardon the ex-president of any crimes.
The political newcomer enjoyed a brief polling bump after a show-stealing performance at the first Republican debate, but rivals have ridiculed his lack of experience.
Mr Ramaswamy was the summer's pop hit with both the media and conservatives, but his star has since faded. He'll need better than a fourth-place showing in Iowa to prove he is not a one-hit wonder.
Mr Ramaswamy also recently drew controversy over remarks he made about the 9/11 terror attacks.
"I think it is legitimate to say 'How many police, how many federal agents were on the planes that hit the twin towers?'" he said in an interview with the Atlantic.
After he claimed to have been misquoted, something he has often said, the magazine released audio of the exchange proving it was an accurate quote.
Chris Christie
Chris Christie
Chris Christie announced his candidacy in June at a town hall event in New Hampshire - which traditionally holds one of the earliest contests in the primary race.
Chris Christie announced his candidacy in June at a town hall event in New Hampshire - which traditionally holds one of the earliest contests in the primary race.
Mr Christie, 60, served two terms as New Jersey governor from 2010-18. Though massively popular in his first term, his second was overshadowed by a political scandal involving bridge lane closures - part of an alleged political vendetta against a Democratic mayor - and another involving beach closures.
Mr Christie, 60, served two terms as New Jersey governor from 2010-18. Though massively popular in his first term, his second was overshadowed by political scandals involving bridge lane closures and beach closures. He left office with an approval rating of 14%, the lowest in state history.
He left office with a job approval rating of 14%, the lowest in state history.
After his 2016 presidential bid flamed out, Mr Christie allied himself with Mr Trump, leading the incoming president's transition team and preparing him for debates against Mr Biden in 2020.
Before being elected governor, he had served as New Jersey's top prosecutor under President George W Bush from 2002-08, and famously sent Charles Kushner - the father of Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared - to prison.
He has become a vociferous critic of Mr Trump since the US Capitol riots. But his campaign's lack of traction suggests Republican voters have little appetite for an acerbic Trump critic.
After a 2016 presidential bid with some notable moments flamed out, Mr Christie allied himself with Mr Trump, leading the incoming president's transition team and preparing him for debates against Mr Biden in 2020.
But he has become a vociferous critic of Mr Trump since the US Capitol riots.
Chris Christie's long-shot mission to torpedo Trump
Chris Christie's long-shot mission to torpedo Trump
The sharp-tongued politician has said Mr Trump is "a TV star, nothing more, nothing less. Let me suggest to you that in putting him back in the White House, the re-runs will be worse than the original show".
Beyond taking on Mr Trump, Mr Christie has focused on domestic issues such as the opioid crisis and inflation.
But his campaign's lack of traction suggests that Republican voters have little appetite for an acerbic Trump critic.
He has largely avoided investing time or money on trying to win over Iowa's Trump-friendly electorate. Instead, he is betting on New Hampshire, where he will need Ms Haley to stumble.
Asa Hutchinson
Former two-term Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced his bid in an April interview with ABC News, just days after Mr Trump was indicted on criminal charges in New York.
Mr Hutchinson, 72, has said Mr Trump's legal problems are "a sideshow and distraction" that should prompt him to withdraw from the race.
The former attorney and businessman was the youngest federal prosecutor in the nation under the Ronald Reagan administration.
He also served two terms in the US House of Representatives, including as a prosecutor in Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, and was George W Bush's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief.
Presenting himself as a "non-Trump" candidate with experience and a record of leadership across multiple roles, he has vowed to lean into "common sense, consistent conservatism".
But after barely qualifying for the first Republican debate, he has been unable to make the stage the next two times.
Who has dropped out?
After a nearly five-month campaign, former vice-president Mike Pence called it quits.
Mr Pence had languished in recent polls and had struggled to gain the support of Republican voters.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott suspended his campaign in mid-November, saying voters had signalled it was not his time to run. He has not endorsed any of his rivals.
North Dakota governor and wealthy former software executive Doug Burgum pulled out in early December, complaining that the Republican National Committee's debate requirements unfairly bolster candidates from coastal states.
Miami's 45-year-old Cuban-born mayor, Francis Suarez, was the only Hispanic candidate in the race. He was the first to drop out.
Former Texas congressman Will Hurd announced he was suspending the race and backing Nikki Haley.
The conservative talk radio host and ex-candidate for California governor, Larry Elder, dropped out after accusing the Republican party of having "rigged the rules of the game" to keep him out of the debates.
Perry Johnson, a 75-year-old businessman touting a plan to shave 2% in federal spending every year, dropped out of the race in late October.
