On November 5, 2024, America saw one of its most significant Election Days. Former President Donald Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris, reclaiming the White House in a second nonconsecutive term. 

A Campaign of Twists

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, America witnessed the Election Day that will reshape American politics, and introduce a new dynamic to the international political scene. 

Former President Donald Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris in a race marked by dramatic twists and contrasting visions for the future of the nation. Trump’s victory, which returned him to the White House for a second nonconsecutive term, came after a tumultuous campaign season that included two assassination attempts and a last-minute entry by Harris following President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the race in July.

The first news about the victory of the Republicans was published by Fox News, almost five hours before media outlets around the world reported on this. According to the Associated Press, Trump’s victory became certain only when his victory in Wisconsin was announced, which moved the number of electoral votes over 270.

Trump’s victory marks him as only the second U.S. president in history, following Grover Cleveland in 1892, to return to the presidency after a gap in service. 

Trump’s victory speech at his Palm Beach headquarters was a celebration of what he described as an “incredible movement” dedicated to making America “strong, safe, and prosperous” again. Surrounded by family and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, Trump vowed to tirelessly “fight for America” and “fix everything” he believes the country needs.

When the polls opened yesterday morning, the atmosphere among the voters was tense, and both parties tirelessly urged their voters throughout the election day not to give up because of the long lines that formed in front of the polling stations.

Both candidates held final conventions the evening before the election in the swing states. Trump rallied supporters in Michigan, a state he considered key to his victory, while Harris closed her campaign in Pennsylvania by calling for unity and promising to “turn the page” and end divisive politics. In contrast, Trump presented his campaign as a battle not only against Harris, but also against what he called the “evil Democrat system”.

On election night, the messages and atmosphere changed. As Trump addressed his supporters in Palm Beach, thanking primarily God for sparing his life in two assassination attempts earlier this year, Democrats faced a somber gathering at Howard University. As the media reported, the co-chairman of the Democratic headquarters, Cedric Richmond, briefly informed supporters and the crowd that the vice president would postpone her speech on Wednesday. Earlier in the evening, as the vote in favor of Trump increased, The Mirror reported that supporters began to leave headquarters, and Democratic representatives kept repeating that they would fight to make “every vote count.”

At Trump’s campaign headquarters, they celebrated not only his victory but also the Republican takeover of the Senate, crediting it with significant wins in states like Montana, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Addressing his supporters, Trump highlighted the contribution of his MAGA movement in securing these hard-fought victories in the Senate, emphasizing the power of a well-organized campaign.

A Divided Congress and Shifts in Power

The stakes were incredibly high, with the control of Congress and several key state measures also on the ballot. In addition to the presidency, voters in five states—Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota—cast votes on constitutional amendments to potentially roll back abortion bans, a major issue for many, particularly Gen Z voters. 

This election saw record turnout among young voters, a demographic with over 40 million eligible participants and eight million new voters, whose political interests have been shaped by issues such as climate change, reproductive rights. Gen Z advocacy on platforms like TikTok played a substantial role, creating a peer-to-peer information model that influenced voter support and mobilized the youth vote.

The Republican wave also extended to Congress, after the GOP took control of the Senate after securing at least 51 seats. The victory puts Republicans in a unique position to influence major decisions, including cabinet appointments and Supreme Court justice selections.

The power of the Senate, which will now be dominated by Republicans, came after victories in the states of Montana, Ohio and West Virginia, where Democrats had a special task of defending their seats.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives switched from Republican to Democratic control, creating a unique separation of powers between the two houses of Congress. This split control — the first in more than 230 years where both houses have switched sides — sets up a new, complex power dynamic in Washington.

Moving Forward: Governing a Deeply Divided Nation

As Trump prepares to take office on January 20, 2025, he enters a divisive political landscape. Although the Republican-controlled Senate will ease Trump’s path to confirmation, CNN analysts warn that the incoming president faces a term that will bear no resemblance to his first term.

Trump’s return to office came as a result of a heated campaign that focused heavily on challenges facing the Biden-Harris administration, particularly inflation and border security. His campaign was built on a platform of economic stability and security, and a promise that he would “Make America Great Again.”

The road to nomination was fast, despite the initially large number of candidates for the post, and his popularity skyrocketed after he survived two assassination attempts.

Trump’s victory speech also included thanking famous people who supported him, especially Elon Musk and Dana White, who made an immeasurable contribution to the end of the campaign. As reported by Reuters, the shares of Musk’s companies jumped on all stock exchanges as soon as the preliminary results were announced. Trump’s promises to address border issues and restore economic strength resonated with voters who celebrated what Trump called “the most incredible political achievement” America has ever seen.

Fox News contributor Juan Williams underscored the visible disappointment among Democrats, pointing to internal party frustrations and questions about Biden’s decision to withdraw, as well as speculation about whether another candidate might have fared better. He noted that Trump’s victory — this time over an African-American opponent — raises new questions among Democrats when it comes to opposing Republicans.

CNN analysts agreed in the assessment that the Democratic Party made an error and did not consider Trump a serious threat, because after the victory of Biden, the opinion prevailed that the people support the policies of the Democrats. What was not taken into account was the fact that the elections at the time were marked by the corona virus pandemic, which encouraged many people to vote for change, rather than for a particular political idea.

While Republicans are celebrating a victory that puts them back in the lead in American politics, Democrats are preparing for a period of introspection and preparing a new strategy in the coming days. Harris is expected to address her supporters and discuss the outcome of election on Wednesday.

Featured Image Source: Evan Vucci/AP