On Tuesday, November 5th, the nation and the world’s eyes were on the United States Presidential Election for one of the most anticipated political battles.
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris competed to be the 47th President of the United States of America. In a dramatic turn of events, Donald Trump won the race for the U.S. presidency, marking a historic achievement by securing a second term.
Trump is now the second President in history to have two nonconsecutive terms in office, the only other President who was able to achieve this feat was President Grover Cleveland. Trump crossed the critical threshold of 270 electoral votes, driven by key wins in every battleground states. His victory was solidified with a win in Wisconsin and additional victories in states such as Nevada, Michigan, North Carolina, and Georgia. A crucial win in Pennsylvania, long considered a Democratic stronghold, was particularly significant, showing shifting dynamics in swing state support.
The election map this year revealed a reshaping of political loyalties, as several states that went Democratic in 2020 in support of President Joe Biden flipped to support Trump in 2024. In Pennsylvania, Trump’s success was marked by gaining ground in counties like Erie, which has voted for the winning party in every presidential election since 2008.
Despite strong Democratic support in urban areas like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton, the rural vote leaned heavily toward Trump, helping him reclaim the state’s 19 electoral votes.
Student’s input their opinion on the matter, Ralph G stated, “I think that the cultural difference of living in a city versus the country was not taken into consideration, Harris won in the urban environments but she did not represent small-town America, and it turns out that small town America is not that small”.
This is a sentiment, not just shared by college students, but also by elected officials. Senator Bernie Sanders, who famously ran in 2016 before dropping out for Hillary Clinton, released a shocking statement in which he criticized the Democratic Party for failing to connect with working class Americans, specifically, he stated, “It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party, which has abandoned working class people, would find that the working class has abandoned them,”. With Trump winning not just the electoral college but also the popular vote, Sanders has some merit to his claims.
The election was not just about the White House; the Senate and House of Representatives also had tremendous changes from this election. The Republican party, boosted by a strong showing in Senate races, is projected to gain control of the Senate, securing three seats previously held by Democrats in West Virginia, Montana, and Ohio. With a majority in both the Senate and House, Trump will likely have an increased advantage in his legislative agenda, with JD Vance, the new vice president-elect, presiding over the Senate.
Andrew N, a SUNY Cortland student, stated “I think that it is a little scary for a President to have that much power, there are supposed to be a series of checks and balances but now Republicans may hold a majority in all three branches of the government”.
The exit polls reflect a switching demographic with Donald Trump gaining support in populations that are usually democratic. Notably among male Latino voters, who showed an 18-point increase from the previous election. Trump also continued to perform well among white voters, while Harris led among Black voters and younger demographics, though not with a margin substantial enough to overturn Trump’s gains. The overall vote breakdown highlighted the diversity of Trump’s support, showing that small but widespread gains contributed to his decisive victory.
While Trump’s campaign message resonated with diverse voters, questions remain on how his renewed administration will address ongoing issues, the most pressing being the economy. Trump was able to run his campaign on his conviction of making America more affordable for the working class. His second term could bring significant shifts in both domestic and foreign policies and could lead to nationwide changes, it is up in the air whether these changes will be positive or negative.
In the aftermath of a divisive election, the challenge for America will be finding common ground. With the world closely watching, it is crucial that the nation strives for unity and reconciliation. Both Trump and Harris have expressed a desire to bridge the divides that have deepened over the past eight years. The hope is that, despite the uncertainty and polarization, Americans can remember that, at the core, the goals of both sides are not so different in preserving the prosperity and well-being of the country.