As Mike Pence, Chris Christie and Doug Burgum enter the race, here are the Republicans running for president in 2024

By Victor Reklaitis

Democrats largely close ranks behind President Joe Biden, but Marianne Williamson and RFK Jr. are challenging him

The contest to become the Republican Party's 2024 presidential nominee is heating up further, with former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum all throwing their hats in the ring this week.

Pence filed paperwork for his White House bid on Monday and then formally launched his campaign on Wednesday.

Christie, who ran for president unsuccessfully in 2016, filed paperwork Tuesday and then officially announced his candidacy on Tuesday evening.

Burgum released a campaign video on Monday and then held a kickoff event on Wednesday in Fargo. He's known in part for selling a software company to Microsoft (MSFT) for $1 billion more than two decades ago.

Their entries come after two launches in late May, when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina both formally began their presidential campaigns.

Another South Carolina politician, Nikki Haley, an ex-governor and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, announced her 2024 run in February.

The other Republicans already in the race include former President Donald Trump, who is leading in polls, as well as former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

From MarketWatch's archives (September 2022): In a conversation with MarketWatch, Vivek Ramaswamy says companies should 'leave politics to the politicians'

And see:As DeSantis officially launches his presidential campaign, Trump has a big lead in the polls

The first official debate of the GOP presidential primary is slated to be held in Milwaukee in Aug. 23. The Republican National Committee said there will be a second debate on Aug. 24 if "enough candidates qualify to make it necessary."

On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden officially launched his re-election campaign in April, with the move coming even as most Americans don't approve of his performance. The president is talking up the strong job market and his legislative record.

Below is MarketWatch's list of potential Republican presidential contenders and the status of their candidacies.

Name             Title                                                                     Reports or statements on candidacy 
Greg Abbott      Texas governor                                                            Abbott strategist said governor "will take a look at the situation" after state's legislative session ends in late May, but Abbott has passed on speaking in Iowa, a key state 
John Bolton      Former national-security adviser, former ambassador to United Nations     He said last week that he hasn't ruled out running for president in 2024 
Doug Burgum      North Dakota governor                                                     He released a campaign video Monday and announced his White House bid Wednesday 
Liz Cheney       Former Wyoming congresswoman                                              She has said she hasn't made a decision about a 2024 run, but has run a TV ad in New Hampshire, a key state 
Chris Christie   Former New Jersey governor                                                He's announced his candidacy Tuesday 
Ron DeSantis     Florida governor                                                          He entered the race in late May with a glitch-filled kickoff event on Twitter 
Larry Elder      Conservative radio host                                                   He announced his run in April 
Nikki Haley      Former ambassador to United Nations, former South Carolina governor       She announced her run in February 
Asa Hutchinson   Former Arkansas governor                                                  He said in April that he's running 
Kristi Noem      South Dakota governor                                                     She has said she hasn't ruled out a presidential run 
Mike Pence       Former vice president                                                     He filed paperwork for his bid Monday, ahead of his official launch Wednesday 
Vivek Ramaswamy  Entrepreneur and author known for criticizing ESG investing as "wokeism"  He announced his candidacy in February 
Mike Rogers      Former Michigan congressman                                               He suggested an announcement on a run may come in "late spring, early summer" 
Tim Scott        U.S. senator for South Carolina                                           He held a kickoff event for his presidential campaign in late May 
Francis Suarez   Mayor of Miami                                                            He tweeted in May that "big decisions" are ahead for him about a possible run 
Donald Trump     Former president                                                          He announced in November that he's running 
Glenn Youngkin   Virginia governor                                                         He said he won't campaign to be president this year, but reportedly hasn't made a decision on a run 

The list above features relatively high-profile names, but there are lesser-known GOP presidential hopefuls as well, such as Aaron Day, who is known in part for his 2016 run against former New Hampshire GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte; Perry Johnson, a former gubernatorial candidate in Michigan; Steve Laffey, a former Cranston, R.I., mayor; and former Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton.

Among the prominent Republicans who have said they're not seeking their party's presidential nomination in 2024 are Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.

Democrats are closing ranks behind Biden, although author and activist Marianne Williamson said she's seeking the party's nomination again and vigorously defended her decision to challenge the president in an extensive question-and-answer session with MarketWatch. Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also is mounting a longshot challenge to Biden, having held a kickoff event for his campaign in April.

Among third-party candidacies, Cornel West, a former Ivy League professor now at Union Theological Seminary, said Monday that he's a presidential candidate for the People's Party.

Now read:Nikki Haley says 'no Republican president will have the ability to ban abortion nationwide'

Also:Biden criticizes DeSantis over his Medicaid stance while in Florida

Plus:Billionaire investor Bill Ackman says JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon should run for president

MarketWatch's Robert Schroeder contributed to this article.

-Victor Reklaitis

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-07-23 1610ET

Copyright (c) 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.