On Nov. 6, the Associated Press and additional news outlets called the 2024 presidential race over, naming Donald Trump — the Republican candidate — as the election winner. He will be the 47th US President with JD Vance as his vice president, and he will begin his second four year-long term in January of 2025.
Trump is the only other president in American history to successfully be reelected after a previous defeat besides Grover Cleveland in 1892.
He won by gaining the electoral votes of almost all crucial swing states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina. All of these states — except for North Carolina — flipped from their previous Democratic positions in the 2020 election between Trump and Joe Biden. Although Illinois and Kane County remained blue, these swing states, along with others, allowed him to surpass 270 votes in the Electoral College.
This election also marks a contrast to the 2016 Presidential Election when Trump won overall, but Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton beat him in the popular vote.
“Winning the popular vote was very nice,” said Trump in his victory speech Wednesday morning. “… We’re going to make you very proud of your vote. … I hope that you’re going to be looking back someday and say, ‘that was one of the truly important moments of my life, when I voted for this group of people, beyond the president, this group of great people.’”
Alongside the presidential win, Republicans have also gained control of the Senate, while the House of Representatives still awaits key results that will indicate which party possesses majority. Votes currently indicate a lean right.
This Trump-Vance victory marks the loss of the Democratic nominees Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. If elected, Harris would have been the first female and Asian American president in US history. Harris conceded the race to Trump on Wednesday.
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign; the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people,” said Harris in her concession speech. “Do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.”
Harris also ensured that the Biden-Harris administration would engage in a peaceful transfer of power come January.
“We must accept the results of this election. Earlier today, I spoke with president-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power,” said Harris in her speech.
With his win, Trump is the very first convicted felon elected into presidential office. The president-elect is set to be sentenced Nov. 26, though a request for the case’s indefinite delay is expected. If this request is granted by the judge, Trump may never face punishment for his 34 felony counts.
Despite winning the popular vote, certain demographics also express possible worry over his conservative beliefs. According to the Trevor Project — a nonprofit that provides crisis intervention to LGBTQ+ youth — conversations including the key terms “election” and “rights” increased 200%, and 90% of LGBTQ+ youth experienced harm to their well-being from recent politics.
Another point of contention with some Americans is Trump’s suspected affiliation with The 2025 Presidential Transition Project’s “Mandate For Leadership: The Conservative Promise,” a playbook of policies overseen by the Heritage Foundation and collaborated on by over 100 conservative organizations to advise future conservative presidents. The project has raised concerns among some Americans over fears of extreme policies.
The organization’s website specifies the agenda is “prepared by and for conservatives who will be ready on Day One of the next Administration to save our country,” and “serves as a policy resource for future conservative presidents.” The project also clarifies that it “is not partisan, nor is it secret. Project 2025 does not speak for any candidate or campaign, in any capacity.” The Trump campaign has been distancing itself from the project on the campaign trail this year.
“I know nothing about Project 2025,” said Trump in a Truth Social post on July 5. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”
While Trump battles fear and criticisms from some Americans, his victory speech outlined his goals of uniting the American people and bettering the country.
“It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us. It’s time to unite,” said Trump in his speech. “I want to just tell you what a great honor this is, I want to thank you, I will not let you down. America’s future will be bigger, better, bolder, richer, safer and stronger than it has ever been before.”
