Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump have widely differing positions on many policy issues. (Douglas Rissing/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — As the final day of voting in the presidential contest approaches, voters who want more insight on where the candidates stand on major policy issues can get up to speed through a States Newsroom Washington Bureau series.
In these 10 articles, States Newsroom reported on the policy positions taken by Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, including education, taxes, Social Security and Medicare.
They are:
Immigration
One policy issue that Trump has made central to his campaign is immigration. At his campaign rallies across the country he’s promised mass deportations of millions of immigrants living in the country without authorization.
Harris has mainly stated that she would revive a bipartisan congressional agreement when it comes to addressing U.S. immigration policy.
The story is here.
Abortion access
After the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 struck down the constitutional right to abortion, Democrats made restoring access to reproductive care a core campaign issue.
The story is here.
Taxes
A 2017 tax law crafted under the Trump administration is set to expire next year, meaning whichever candidate wins the White House will either overhaul the previous law or extend it.
The story is here.
Climate and energy
As several states like North Carolina and Tennessee recover from Category 4 Hurricane Helene, climate change has taken up little attention in the 2024 presidential race, despite its wide-ranging effects.
The story is here.
Housing
While housing is typically handled at the local level, both presidential candidates want to tackle the housing crisis at the federal level.
The story is here.
Education
On the campaign trail, education policies have rarely been in the spotlight, though the candidates’ policies on K-12 and higher education widely differ.
The story is here.
Guns
Both candidates agree that gun violence is a problem, but that’s the end of where Harris and Trump are in concurrence.
The story is here.
Social Security and Medicare
Addressing the Social Security and Medicare trust funds will become an increasingly important job for the incoming president and Congress for the next decade.
The story is here.
Foreign policy
Regardless of who wins the White House, the next president will have several international crises to address. That includes the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to retreat from Ukraine and U.S-China trade relations.
The story is here.
U.S. Supreme Court changes
The U.S. Supreme Court has been mired in controversy, from several ethics scandals to calls from Democrats to expand the number of justices on the court.
The story is here.