Who are the Winners?
Donald Trump (2024 President-Elect)
(R)
Kamala Harris
(D)
Print Story by: Brianna Brown
The 2024 election concluded with Donald Trump winning a decisive 312 electoral votes out of 538, solidifying his return to the White House.
Trump's win in both the electoral and popular votes marked a surprising outcome, as pre-election polls and analysts anticipated a tightly contested race.
Trump's ability to secure both the electoral and popular votes underscores the political shift across the nation, as traditionally blue regions pivoted in favor of the Republican candidate. Analysts suggest that economic concerns, inflation, and energy costs significantly influenced Trump's support.
A Controversial Candidate
Trump's victory in 2024 sparked strong reactions across the political spectrum, as both supporters and critics discussed his controversial legacy. His tenure has been marked by significant events, including two impeachments, the January 6 Capitol riot, and numerous legal battles leading to 34 felony convictions.
Despite these factors, Trump’s success in securing both the electoral and popular votes suggests that a considerable portion of the party resonates with his platform and leadership style.
Many political analysts and media outlets had predicted a closer race or even a narrow win for Harris, considering Trump’s legal history and polarizing reputation. This outcome has fueled discussions on the future of the Republican Party.
Kamala Harris accumulated 226 electoral votes, falling short despite significant Democratic support in key states.
Many had predicted Harris would either win or lose by a narrow margin, especially given Trump's legacy and challenges surrounding his candidacy.
Graphic by: Mya Taylor
Voter Turnout
PKG by: Emma McBride
This election also saw an unprecedented level of engagement, with voters turning out in record numbers nationwide. States such as Georgia and Michigan, which had been battlegrounds in recent cycles, saw even higher voter participation than in 2020.
First-time Georgia voter, Greg Mortarman, shared his thoughts on voting in this year’s presidential election. “This year was my first year ever voting, and I just felt like I needed to come out and vote because a lot of things are changing around the world and in the community, and every vote counts,” he said.
Republicans Take the Majority
Graphic by: Mya Taylor
Republicans take the majorityThe Republican Party captured majorities in 31 states, strengthening their dominance in states that have historically leaned red. Trump’s most significant victories were seen in Wyoming (72.3%), West Virginia (70.1%), North Dakota (67.5%), Idaho (66.8%), and Oklahoma (66.1%), demonstrating a sweeping approval of his platform in these regions.
Many of these states represent rural areas where economic concerns like inflation and energy costs are especially pressing, making Trump’s promises on these issues resonate with many voters.
Swing states were crucial in this election, with Trump securing all seven of the contested battlegrounds: North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada. This is a notable shift from the 2020 election, where six of these states had leaned Democratic.
North Carolina remained red, showcasing a strong Republican foundation. The political flip in these critical states highlights a national shift in voter sentiment, with more individuals gravitating toward Trump's message on economic stability, domestic policies, and energy independence.
Senate Race Results
House Race Results
Graphic by: Mya Taylor
The republican party wins 218 seats in the 2024 house race, giving Donald Trump and the party control of the house. In the 2020 house race, the democratic part retained control of the house.
In the 2020 house race Democrats won 222 seats, gained 3 seats, and lost 14 seats. Republicans won 213 seats, gained 15 seats, and lost 3 seats.
Graphic by: Mya Taylor
The republican party wins 52 seats in the 2024 senate race, giving the party control of the senate. These results show a turn around from the 2020 senate race, where the democratic party won control of the senate.
However, there is still one uncalled race in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey is currently running against Republican Dave McCormick.
McCormick is currently in the lead with 48.9% of the vote. Casey is following close behind with 48.5% of the vote.
A Divided Nation
VSV by: Emma McBride
Podcast by: Abby Miller
As news of Trump’s win spread, the nation witnessed a range of public reactions, from celebrations in conservative-leaning states to protests in more liberal regions. Supporters gathered in key Republican strongholds to celebrate, while protests took place in several Democratic cities where voters voiced concerns about the direction of the country, especially regarding the topic of abortions.
Social media was filled with mixed reactions, as individuals from both sides of the aisle expressed either joy or frustration over the election outcome. Within the Republican and Democratic parties, reactions reflected the deep divisions that have defined American politics in recent years.
Republican leaders were quick to celebrate Trump’s return, viewing his victory as a mandate to continue their platform on economic growth, border security, and conservative values. Democratic leaders, meanwhile, expressed disappointment and signaled their commitment to refining their strategy and addressing the issues that resonate most with voters in preparation for future elections.
The Economy
Trump’s economic promises took a different direction compared to his running mate, Kamala Harris, with pledges to "end inflation and make America affordable again." He advocated for increased drilling for oil to reduce energy costs and proposed deporting undocumented immigrants to ease housing market pressures.
Georgia voter, Cayman Grimes, reflected on his decision to vote for Donald Trump. “The economy was a lot better when he was around, there were tax cuts when he was in office for people like me and my mother,” he said. “My mother is on fixed income, and I just saw the way she benefited a lot more during his presidency, and she hurt a lot more not under his presidency.”
Trump also vowed to extend his 2017 tax cuts and impose higher tariffs on imports, arguing that these moves would stimulate domestic industry. However, economists have raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of his plans, cautioning that tariffs could increase consumer prices.
The Media's Coverage
The media played a crucial role in shaping the narrative of the 2024 election, especially given the high-stakes issues surrounding each candidate. From the start of campaign season, news outlets, social media platforms, and cable networks were quick to amplify key moments: Trump's rallies and policy announcements were widely broadcast, and Harris’s campaign messages were dissected in-depth following Biden’s exit from the race.
Despite only having two debates, the media still managed to highlight the distinct policy contrasts between Harris and Trump, relying heavily on campaign speeches and conventions.
Political Science professor, Patrick Novotny, shared his thoughts on media coverage during this election season. “The one disappointment was not having enough focus from the media on having debates,” he said. “Having another debate or two could have had a major impact on this election, although the other two were still very impactful.”