President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations to seal the first White House election rematch in almost 70 years.
Both candidates dominated Tuesday’s primaries in swing-state Georgia, deep-red Mississippi and Democratic-leaning Washington
The results mean the first carbon-copy contest between two previous candidates since 1956, and the first election since 1912 where a sitting president battles a former commander in chief.
History will also be made with the two oldest candidates by some margin on the ballot paper, including one who could potentially be in jail by November.
Polls show most Americans are unhappy with the choice on offer.
It will see the bizarre spectacle of Trump - selected as Republican nominee for a third time - fighting myriad criminal court cases while on the campaign trail.
His lawyers have been working overtime to delay various proceedings until after the election, and he denies all the charges.
The outcome of Tuesday’s state contests was not in doubt with neither Biden, 81, nor Trump, 77, facing major opposition, following the withdrawal of the last serious Republican challenger, Nikki Haley.
This episode of The Standard podcast examines the issues framing this blockbuster race for the White House, including the economy, mass migrant crossings over the Mexico border and Biden’s support for Israel.
Much like in Britain, the US economy is slowly recovering from the pandemic but inflation and interest rates remain relatively high.
Election insight with Evening Standard deputy political editor Jitendra Joshi.
Listen above, or wherever you find your podcasts.
