Following the 2024 presidential election, President-elect of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump made history by being the first candidate in a century to be re-elected to the office of President non-consecutively.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, millions of Americans casted their ballots to elect a president every four years. As results came in, President-elect Trump won. Trump won all seven battleground states, as well as the popular vote making him the first Republican candidate to do so since George W. Bush back in 2004.
Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the race the following day as the winner was announced. In her concession speech, she encouraged young Americans to continue fighting for the key components of her campaign. She claimed that even though she had lost the election, the fight for their values and ideas was not over. Both the Trump and Harris campaign had outlined their plans for America with voters. Harris will serve out the remainder of her term as vice president until JD Vance, a U.S. Senator from Ohio succeeds her on Jan. 20, when he is sworn in.
This election cycle, many Americans chose not to vote for either candidate, with there being significantly less turnout in the 2024 election when compared to the 2020 election. Millions of Americans stayed home this election cycle that voted in the 2020 election cycle. Many Republican states and Democrat states saw a drop off in voter turnout contributing to Trump’s win of the popular vote and Harris’s defeat.
President Joe Biden, who stepped aside from the race as the initial nominee back in July, stated in a press conference that he had invited President-elect Trump to meet with him at the White House. Both men discussed a smooth transfer of power towards the new administration. President Biden encouraged Americans to come together following the election and reminded them that regardless of political party, that we are all Americans and should not treat each other differently due to political beliefs.
President-elect Trump is also building his cabinet and deciding who will take on key roles in advising the President for the next 4 years. Some key picks would be Florida Senator Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem for Secretary of Homeland Security, Representative Lori Chavez-Deremer for Labor Secretary, and Hedge fund manager Scott Bessent for Secretary of the Treasury. His cabinet will be key in overseeing federal departments and making sure that they run smoothly.
In his victory speech, Trump discussed his willingness to lead all Americans throughout his 4 years in the White House and congratulated down-ballot Republicans on their house and Senate races. Trump is expected to take the oath of office on Jan. 20, officially making him the next President.
Trump is the first President since Grover Cleveland back in 1888 to win an election having held the office of president prior, marking the historical significance of this election. Trump won the most electoral votes of any Republican candidate since 1988 when George H.W. Bush won taking 426 electoral votes.
Congressional Republicans also saw major wins, with the Republicans gaining 4 senate seats winning them control of the Senate, bringing the chamber to have 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. In the House of Representatives, Republicans also won control giving them 221 seats to the Democrats 214 seats. These wins determine how much the President-elect will be able to get done in his administration legislatively.
The 2024 elections were historic regardless of the outcome, with the Republicans gaining control of the White House, the Senate, and retaining the House of Representatives. Following the election, the nation is now facing calls for unity and patriotism from both sides, allowing America’s democratic institutions to continue onward.
