Larry Elder, a host of a conservative radio talk show and a former candidate for governor of California, has entered the campaign for the White House, joining a burgeoning group of competitors going up against former President Donald Trump in the fight for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

In an interview with Fox News's "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on Thursday, Elder declared his campaign for president, according to Fox News.

"America is in decline, but this decline is not inevitable. 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," Elder wrote in an accompanying statement.

Elder’s Political Past

Elder, a longstanding conservative pundit and well-liked nationally syndicated radio presenter, passed on taking on the opposition of the current governor in the September 2021 recall election for governor of California, which Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom narrowly avoided.

When Newsom comfortably gained reelection as governor in the predominantly blue state last year, Elder decided against taking him on again.

For months, the former lawyer and author had hinted that he may run, claiming multiple times quite literally that he was "very likely going to run for president," with an announcement coming in the early spring.

America is in decline, but this decline is not inevitable. 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.#WeveGotACountryToSave https://t.co/jOqOBPpre2 pic.twitter.com/MTyibgbKyK

— Larry Elder (@larryelder) April 21, 2023

Elder’s Campaign

Elder visited Iowa and New Hampshire, the two states that kick off the Republican presidential nomination calendar, to meet with funders and conservative leaders and activists in the states with early voting.

Inflation, energy, and border security would likely be among the most important concerns in the 2024 race, according to the conservative host.

However, Elder has made clear that he wants to draw attention to the predicament of children in America born to unmarried parents and to what he calls "this lie about systemic racism."

Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison, in a statement, argued that "when Larry Elder isn’t busy cozying up to Donald Trump or parroting conspiracy theories, he’s laying out an extreme agenda that doubles down on abortion bans. Elder is so extreme he even suggested abolishing Medicare entirely."

Other Candidates

Elder joins a burgeoning 2024 field that already features Trump, who declared his third run for the White House in November and is still in the lead in the most recent GOP presidential nomination surveys.

Nikki Haley, a former two-term South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, and Vivek Ramaswamy, a multimillionaire businessman, best-selling author, and conservative commentator, both started their presidential campaigns in February.

Ron DeSantis, a two-term Republican governor of Florida, is not yet running for reelection in 2024 but is anticipated to do so after the Florida legislature session ends in a month. According to Mike Pence, the former vice president, a 2024 announcement will be made in the upcoming weeks.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina recently established an exploratory committee for the presidency.