A Kid’s Guide to the Presidential Conventions

Hi everyone!

A lot of chatter has been flying around about this year’s election to replace President Barack Obama. I’m sure you’ve heard your parents and teachers talking about it. Or maybe you’ve seen stories on the news. Every presidential election is a big deal since it decides who will lead our country for the next four years. This year’s election is especially big with lots of dramatics surrounding the nominees.

I feel like we should talk about it.

Democrats and Republicans are the two major political parties that control the United States government. Both parties have different ideas, and, for the most part, our government is balanced – some Democrats control powerful positions and Republicans control other powerful positions. But the President can only be from one party.

The past few weeks have been very busy. The Republicans had a national convention in Cleveland, Ohio to nominate their candidate for president and discuss their party’s vision for the country during the week of July 18. The Democrats had their convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the week of July 25.

At the Republican convention, the party chose Donald J. Trump as their presidential nominee. Trump is a businessman, TV personality, and author. He has built a multi-billion dollar business with lots of real estate properties, clothing lines and television shows.

Trump accepted the Republican nomination saying, “Together, we will lead our party back to the White House, and we will lead our country back to safety, prosperity, and peace. We will be a country of generosity and warmth. But we will also be a country of law and order.” Additionally, Trump promises that the American people will come first once again. He stated that his law and order plan will make safer neighborhoods. He promises to build a wall on the border between Mexico and the United States.

For their presidential nominee, the Democrats chose Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clinton is married to former president Bill Clinton. When Hillary was First Lady, she worked for equal rights for women and improving the health care system. She served as President Obama’s Secretary of State where she worked with leaders around the world on global issues like climate change, terrorism and the empowerment of women and girls.

Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination saying, “And so my friends, it is with humility, determination and boundless confidence in America’s promise that I accept your nomination for President of the United States.” Clinton promises to help create good-paying jobs, achieve equal rights for women and build an economy that works for everyone, not just the very wealthy. By accepting the nomination, Clinton made history by becoming the first female presidential nominee for a major political party.

Both candidates took time in their acceptance speeches to point out reasons why the other shouldn’t be president.

What does all of this mean for us? Over the next few months, Clinton and Trump will campaign and debate to try to win the votes of the adults. Whoever wins will direct the path America moves towards over the next several years. And just because we aren’t 18 yet, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t matter to us.

The future that they are talking about for America? That’s ours.

What do you think about the election for president?