The 2024 US presidential primary is underway, but does it really matter in determining the next president? The primary elections play a crucial role in deciding which candidate each party will nominate at their summer conventions. State parties send delegates to the convention, who are typically bound through the primary results to support a particular candidate. However, this year, both parties seem to have clear front-runners in the form of incumbent president Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump.

In the Democratic primary, notable senators and state governors have avoided running against Biden due to the poor odds of success. Trump, on the other hand, faces legal challenges rather than political ones in the Republican primaries. Two states are even trying to exclude him from their primaries, arguing that he encouraged an insurrection during the 2020 election verification process.

Despite these familiar faces leading the primaries, polls show that clear majorities of the US public oppose both Biden and Trump as presidential candidates. Many prefer younger candidates rather than the 80-year-old Biden and 76-year-old Trump. Additionally, the main issue for voters is the economy, with Trump currently leading on this front. The housing market and inflation have become concerns for the public, potentially influencing their opinion of Biden.

While the primary elections may not seem as suspenseful this year, they still serve as a critical step in the presidential election process. The selected candidates will campaign until the general election in December, making the primaries an important factor in the ultimate outcome.