Larry Elder presidential campaign, 2024

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Larry Elder ended his presidential campaign on October 26, 2023.


“

America is in decline, but this decline is not inevitable. It is a choice made by detached and cynical politicians. As a California resident, I’ve seen firsthand how decades of Democrat rule have turned the Golden State, for many, into an unaffordable dystopia. I won’t let them do the same to America. We can enter a new American Golden Age, but we must choose a leader who can bring us there. That’s why I’m running for President.[1]

”
—Larry Elder (April 2023)[2]


Larry Elder (R) was a talk radio host and 2021 California gubernatorial recall election candidate. He officially announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election on April 20, 2023.[3] Elder suspended his campaign on October 26, 2023.[4]

In his campaign announcement, Elder highlighted his support for law enforcement, increasing security at the U.S.-Mexico border, and producing more energy in America. He also said he believed "the absolutely disgraceful lie that the Democrats put on everything, which is that America is systemically racist," had negative impacts on police efficacy, and said he opposed government welfare programs because he believed they resulted in increased numbers of single-parent households.[5]

Biography

Elder was born in Los Angeles, California in 1952, and grew up in the Pico-Union and South Central neighborhoods.[6] He graduated from Crenshaw High School in 1970.[7][8] Elder received a bachelor's degree in political science from Brown University and a law degree from the University of Michigan School of Law.[9]

Elder began his career working as a lawyer in private practice. He worked at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey in Cleveland, Ohio following his graduation from law school. In 1980, he founded Laurence A. Elder and Associates, which he owned until 1995.[8]

In 1988, he began working as a news media host. Over the course of the next 20 years, he would work for a variety of television companies, including PBS, KCAL-TV, and Warner Brothers Television, among others. For a special he created for KCAL-TV, titled "Making Waves - LAUSD," he won a Los Angeles area Emmy Award.[10][11] From 1994 to 2008 and 2010 to 2014, he hosted a talk radio show for Los Angeles' KABC. In 2015, he began hosting The Larry Elder Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio program. He hosted the show through April 4, 2022.[10]

Elder was one of twenty-four Republicans to run in the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election. Incumbent Gavin Newsom (D) was retained by a vote of 62% to 38%. Elder received the highest vote share among candidates listed as possible replacements had Newsom not been retained. Elder received 48% of the vote, with no other candidate receiving more than 10%.

Campaign finance

See also: Presidential election campaign finance, 2024

The following chart displays noteworthy Republican primary candidates' overall fundraising through the October 2023 quarterly campaign finance reports. Note that the chart displays fundraising figures for candidates who had declared before the most recent reporting deadline. It only displays data for principal campaign committees, not candidate-affiliated PACs. The charts below include campaign finance reports beginning at the point the FEC starts classifying the committee as a presidential candidate's principal campaign finance committee.

Receipts is a broad term referring to all money that goes into a campaign account, including contributions by individuals, dividends or interest on loans or investments made by the campaign, transfers of money from other political committees, and offsets to a campaign's expenditures in the form of rebates or refunds. Contributions reflect individual donations to a campaign. Disbursements is a term for campaign spending.

Primary debate participation

See also: Republican presidential primary debates, 2024

Elder did not participate in any Republican presidential primary debates.

Campaign advertisements

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements supporting this candidate and up to three campaign advertisements opposing this candidate, as well as links to other ads. If you know of additional links that should be included, please email us.

Support

Campaign themes

Website

Elder listed the following policy positions on his campaign website as of August 8, 2023.

“

CRIME
Soft-on-crime approaches have been a disaster. We’ve all seen shocking videos from Democrat-run cities of criminals casually looting stores, harassing residents, and assaulting passersby on the streets and in train stations.

We will not sacrifice public safety just to appease a naive and corrupt minority who falsely accuses police officers of “systemic racism.” We will not surrender the safety of the streets to the insanity of “no cash bail.”

The message from the White House to all law enforcement officials and district attorneys should be: “Hold criminals accountable for their acts, allow law-abiding citizens to go about their lives in peace and safety, and you will have our full support.”

SCHOOL CHOICE
Imagine a world where parents have the freedom to choose the school that best meets their child’s educational needs, regardless of their zip code or income. That’s the essence of school choice, and I wholeheartedly support it.

School choice, which includes charter schools, vouchers, and tax-credit scholarships, levels the playing field for families from all socioeconomic backgrounds. By giving parents the right to vote with their feet, we send a clear message to underperforming schools: shape up or risk losing students. It’s time to break the monopoly of the public school system and embrace a future where every child has access to the quality education they deserve.

RACIAL HARMONY
The Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) cults are increasing – not decreasing – racial tensions in America. CRT and DEI spread the lie that racism is ingrained in every aspect of American society and that our institutions and millions of Americans are inherently racist. This divisive theory undermines our shared belief in the American Dream, as it shifts the focus from personal responsibility and individual merit to racial identity and collective guilt. CRT and DEI do not belong in any government institution, least of all the United States Armed Forces. And they do not belong in any corporation that receives large government contracts.

CRUSH INFLATION
Inflation is a hidden tax that erodes the purchasing power of Americans. Joe Biden and the Democrats’ reckless spending and money printing have put us on a dangerous path, with rising prices and economic uncertainty threatening the prosperity of millions. A threat to the dollar is a threat to America. Historically, inflation is one of the surest signs of a collapsing civilization. Does this not bother the Democratic Party?

ECONOMIC GROWTH
Economic growth is the engine that makes anything possible in America. A growing economy drives prosperity, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for all Americans. I believe in the power of unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit and fostering an environment where small businesses can thrive and innovate. By prioritizing the freedom of every American to realize their economic potential, we will improve America’s educational system, infrastructure, social security, and so much more. When Americans are left alone to pursue a better life, anything is possible.

RESTORE AMERICA'S CITIES
America’s great cities have seen better days. Office buildings are half-empty, streets are littered with garbage, hundreds of thousands of individuals suffering from mental illness and drug addiction are dying on the streets. This is unacceptable. We must address the root causes of urban decay. And we must first acknowledge that nearly every major city has had one-party Democrat rule for decades.

Our cities can rise again, but it will take enormous political will to invest in law enforcement, shelter and treat the homeless, arrest and prosecute violent criminals, and incentivize business development. America’s cities were once the envy of the world. They can be again.

CONTAIN CHINA
America’s status as the world’s sole superpower is essential not only for our own security and prosperity but also for maintaining the liberties of hundreds of millions of freedom-loving people around the world. With the aggressive rise of Communist China, strengthening America’s role as the sole superpower is critical. This includes investing in our military’s readiness while keeping the Pentagon focused on national defense, not left-wing social experimentation; asserting American dominance in the South China Sea and reassuring our Pacific allies; minimizing our reliance on Chinese manufacturing; and punishing China when it unleashes a pandemic on the world (intentionally or not) and floods America’s streets with drugs.

SECURE THE BORDER
Securing America’s southern border is not only a basic matter of national sovereignty but also a critical component of national security. The constant flow of illegal migration, drugs, and cartel activity across the border poses significant threats to our communities and our people. Washington must take decisive action to strengthen border security, enforce our immigration laws, and address the root causes of this crisis. We must invest in physical barriers (walls work!), bolster the resources available to our border patrol agents, and restore the rule of law to our border with Mexico.[12][1]

”

Campaign logo and slogan

See also: Presidential campaign logos and slogans, 2024

The table below displays this candidate's campaign logo and slogan. Click here to view more campaign logos and slogans in the 2024 presidential race.

2024 Republican presidential candidate logos
Candidate Logo Slogan
Larry Elder
Elder24logo.jpeg
  • We've Got A Country To Save

Campaign staff

See also: Larry Elder presidential campaign staff, 2024, Presidential election key staffers, 2024, and Presidential election campaign managers, 2024

The table below shows a partial list of national campaign staff members, including the campaign manager, senior advisors, political directors, communications directors, field directors, and the national press secretary. They are presented alongside their positions in the campaign, their most recent positions prior to the campaign, and their Twitter handles. To recommend additions, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

See also: Presidential election campaign managers and key staffers, 2024
Larry Elder presidential campaign national staff, 2024
Staff Position Prior experience Twitter handle
Matt Ciepielowski[13] Campaign manager Campaign manager, Lanhee Chen 2022 California Comptroller campaign @MattCip


Social media and campaign website

Campaign website

Social media accounts

Timeline of campaign activity

See also: Editorial approach to story selection for presidential election news events

The following section provides a timeline of Elder's campaign activity from April to October 2023. The entries are sorted by month in reverse chronological order.


2023


  • October 26, 2023: Elder suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed Donald Trump (R). In a statement, Elder said, "Throughout my campaign, I have been steadfast in my belief that the biggest issues facing our nation are the crisis of fatherlessness, the dangerous lie that America is systemically racist, the need for an amendment to the constitution to set federal spending to a fixed percentage of the GDP -- otherwise government gets bigger whether Republicans or Democrats are in charge, and the need to remove the Soros-backed DAs across the country who refuse to enforce the law. [...] I hope that my campaign has helped shine a light on the these critical issues and sparked important conversations about how we can solve them."[14]
  • October 15, 2023: The October quarterly Federal Election Commission campaign finance reporting deadline passed. Elder raised $970,414 and spent $1 million, with $244,501 in cash on hand as of September 30.[15]


  • August 24, 2023: Elder spoke at a Martial Arts History Museum event in Glendale, California.[22]
  • August 23, 2023: Elder wrote an op-ed for The Washington Times titled "A rigged RNC is unfit to lead the GOP. That’s why I’m fighting back." Elder wrote, "Due to the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) rigged rules on debate participation, the RNC has essentially taken it upon itself to take power out of Republican voters’ hands and seize it for themselves, deciding unilaterally which candidates deserve to be on the stage or not. From the beginning, I have argued that the RNC’s artificial, arbitrary limits on free speech—imposed by establishment Republicans in the Washington swamp—are bad for the party and bad for American voters."[23]
  • August 22, 2023: The Republican National Committee said Elder had not met the criteria to qualify for the first Republican primary debate. Elder said he planned to sue the committee and, "I said from the beginning that it appeared the rules of the game were rigged, little did we know just how rigged it is. For some reason, the establishment leaders at the RNC are afraid of having my voice on the debate stage."[24]
  • August 21, 2023: Elder said he had met the polling and fundraising thresholds necessary to participate in the first Republican primary debate.[25]
  • August 15, 2023:
    • Elder attended the New Hampshire Republican Party's annual golf tournament in Rye, New Hampshire.[26]
    • Elder commented on the Georgia grand jury indictment of Donald Trump (R). Elder said, "It's another example of a two-tiered system of justice. Incredibly unfair. All Donald Trump did is to suggest that maybe about 11,700 votes might be out there that weren’t counted."[27]
  • August 13, 2023: Elder spoke at the Cheshire County Republican Committee's Victory Day picnic in Keene, New Hampshire.[28]
  • August 11, 2023: Elder spoke at the Des Moines Register's Political Soapbox event at the Iowa State Fair. Click here to view his remarks.[29]
  • August 10, 2023: Elder participated in Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' (R) Fair-Side Chats event. Click here to view a video of the discussion.[30]
  • August 6, 2023: Elder spoke at Rep. Ashley Hinson's (R-Iowa) BBQ Bash event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[31]
  • August 4, 2023: Elder commented on the federal indictment of Donald Trump (R) related to interference in the certification of the 2020 presidential election. Elder said, "I believe it is persecution. I believe it is unfair. I believe that there's a two-tier judicial system. [...] There isn't even a special counsel that the Department of Justice has appointed in order to investigate the allegations against Joe Biden and his son Hunter and his brother and other family members."[32]
  • August 1, 2023: Elder wrote an op-ed for the Daily Independent titled "Elder: Ethanol is solution to transportation problems." Elder wrote, "If the goal is cleaner transportation solutions, let’s be honest and let’s ensure that biofuels, like ethanol, aren’t discounted in this pursuit."[33]

  • July 28, 2023:
  • July 27, 2023: Elder attended a Dallas County Republican Party meeting in Iowa.[36]
  • July 24, 2023: Elder spoke at a Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys event in Washington, D.C..[37]
  • July 15, 2023: The July quarterly Federal Election Commission campaign finance reporting deadline passed. Elder raised $467,531 and spent $142,914 with $324,617 million in cash on hand as of June 30.[38]
  • July 12, 2023: Elder wrote an op-ed for The Hill titled "RNC debate limits are bad for the party and the American people." Elder wrote, "Let’s place no artificial and arbitrary limits on the Republican Party, or the conservative ideas that can help the American people. Come the 23rd of August, Republicans need more debate, not less."[39]
  • July 11, 2023: Elder held a town hall in Windham, New Hampshire.[40]
  • July 6, 2023: Elder campaigned in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.[41]
  • July 4, 2023: Elder participated in an Independence Day parade in Clear Lake, Iowa.[42]

  • June 30, 2023: Elder campaigned in Steamboat Rock, Iowa.[43]
  • June 29, 2023: Elder wrote an op-ed for the Daily Caller titled "Good Riddance To America's Affirmative Action Era." Elder wrote, "As for students who have difficulty getting into more competitive schools, a more viable policy fix than affirmative action is to actually solve the K-12 education problem. Too many of America’s government schools are failing their students, especially blacks and Hispanics who can’t escape the teachers union monopoly in urban areas. The same Left now bemoaning this recent Supreme Court decision also happens to oppose school choice, despite the fact that it offers parents and students with real options to escape government schools, improve test scores, and increase high school graduation rates."[44]
  • June 25, 2023: Elder spoke at a New York Young Republicans Independence Day event in New York City.[45]
  • June 23, 2023: Elder campaigned in Manchester and Lancaster, New Hampshire.[46][47]
  • June 17, 2023: Elder campaigned in Johnston City, Iowa.[48]
  • June 15, 2023: Elder campaigned in Des Moines, Iowa.[49]
  • June 13, 2023: Elder said if he is elected president, he would very likely pardon Trump.[50]
  • June 10, 2023: Elder spoke at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver, Colorado.[51]
  • June 3, 2023: Elder attended an event organized by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in Des Moines, Iowa.[52]

  • May 22, 2023: Elder wrote an op-ed for The Washington Times titled "President Biden at Howard University: The great White savior." Elder wrote, "Mr. Biden panders and lies to manipulate Blacks into seeing themselves as victims, so they vote for the party of 'social justice' and 'equity.' Never mind the real issues facing the Black community — fatherlessness, Black-on-Black urban crime in Democratic-run cities, and Democratic-run government schools that produce students who can neither read nor do math at grade level."[53]

  • April 22, 2023: Elder spoke at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition conference in Clive, Iowa.[54]
  • April 20, 2023: Elder announced his candidacy in a Fox News interview with Tucker Carlson.[55]


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  2. ↑ Larry Elder's campaign website, "Home," accessed April 28, 2023
  3. ↑ Associated Press, "Larry Elder announces bid for 2024 Republican presidential nomination," April 20, 2023
  4. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on October 26, 2023," accessed October 27, 2023
  5. ↑ YouTube, "Larry Elder joins the growing 2024 field," April 21, 2023
  6. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Larry Knows Best," May 31, 1998
  7. ↑ Twitter, "Larry Elder on July 20, 2021," accessed April 28, 2023
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Encyclopedia.com, "Elder, Larry 1952–," accessed April 28, 2023
  9. ↑ Larry Elder's 2021 campaign website, "Bio," accessed August 5, 2021
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Los Angeles Times, "Larry Elder," accessed April 24, 2023
  11. ↑ Variety, "The Larry Elder Show," September 19, 2004
  12. ↑ Larry Elder's campaign website, "My Priorities," accessed April 28, 2023
  13. ↑ Politico, "An insider’s guide to who’s wired — and who’s not — in Iowa," July 24, 2023
  14. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on October 26, 2023," accessed October 27, 2023
  15. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed October 17, 2023
  16. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on September 24, 2023," accessed September 25, 2023
  17. ↑ YouTube, "LIVE: DeSantis, Ramaswamy, and Other Candidates Speak at Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Town Hall," September 16, 2023
  18. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on September 16, 2023," accessed September 18, 2023
  19. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on September 9, 2023," accessed September 11, 2023
  20. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on September 8, 2023," accessed September 11, 2023
  21. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on September 5, 2023," accessed September 6, 2023
  22. ↑ NewMediaWire, "Larry Elder Speaks at Asian Cultural Event in Glendale," August 24, 2023
  23. ↑ The Washington Times, "A rigged RNC is unfit to lead the GOP. That’s why I’m fighting back," August 23, 2023
  24. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on August 22, 2023," accessed August 22, 2023
  25. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on August 21, 2023," accessed August 22, 2023
  26. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on August 16, 2023," accessed August 16, 2023
  27. ↑ Twitter, "Paul Steinhauser on August 15, 2023," accessed August 15, 2023
  28. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on August 13, 2023," accessed August 14, 2023
  29. ↑ Iowa Starting Line, "Where To Find GOP Candidates At The Iowa State Fair," August 8, 2023
  30. ↑ YouTube, "Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Participates In A Fair-Side Chat With Larry Elder," August 10, 2023
  31. ↑ The Gazette, "Republican presidential candidates roast Biden at Hinson BBQ Bash," August 6, 2023
  32. ↑ YouTube, "Charges against Trump are ‘completely unfair,’ Republican Presidential candidate Larry Elder," August 4, 2023
  33. ↑ Daily Independent, "Elder: Ethanol is solution to transportation problems," August 1, 2023
  34. ↑ C-SPAN, "Republican Presidential Candidates Campaign at Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner," July 28, 2023
  35. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on July 19, 2023," accessed July 31, 2023
  36. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on July 28, 2023," accessed July 28, 2023
  37. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on July 25, 2023," accessed July 26, 2023
  38. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "July Quarterly," accessed July 16, 2023
  39. ↑ The Hill, ""RNC debate limits are bad for the party and the American people," July 12, 2023
  40. ↑ WMUR, "Republican presidential candidate Larry Elder discusses societal issues at town hall in Windham," July 11, 2023
  41. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on July 7, 2023," accessed July 7, 2023
  42. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on July 4, 2023," accessed July 5, 2023
  43. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on June 30, 2023," accessed July 3, 2023
  44. ↑ Daily Caller, "Good Riddance To America's Affirmative Action Era," June 29, 2023
  45. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on June 25, 2023," accessed June 26, 2023
  46. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on June 23, 2023," accessed June 23, 2023
  47. ↑ Twitter, "Elder on June 24, 2023," accessed June 26, 2023
  48. ↑ Twitter, "Larry Elder on June 17, 2023," accessed June 19, 2023
  49. ↑ Twitter, "Larry Elder," June 15, 2023
  50. ↑ 23 ABS Bakersfield, "2024 GOP candidate Larry Elder sides with calls to pardon Trump," June 13, 2023
  51. ↑ Twitter, "Larry Elder on June 10, 2023," accessed June 12, 2023
  52. ↑ AP, "DeSantis signs Bible, Pence hops on a motorcycle at ‘Roast and Ride’ event in Iowa," June 4, 2023
  53. ↑ The Washington Times, "President Biden at Howard University: The great White savior," May 22, 2023
  54. ↑ Associated Press, "Fighter or optimist? Iowa Republicans eye Trump alternatives," April 25, 2023
  55. ↑ YouTube, "Larry Elder joins the growing 2024 field," April 21, 2023
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