The Race of 2024: Voter Voices & Political Shifts 

Romita Roy

This year, the U.S. presidential election was the most highly anticipated and closely watched event, drawing intense public interest throughout the country. This election put the pressure on the people, creating a significant divide and engagement that had never been seen before at this scale. 

This year’s election was originally set to be a sequel to the 2020 election, where presidential candidates Joe Biden (representing the Democratic Party) and Donald Trump (representing the Republican Party), would duel it out for a chance to run for what would be both of their second terms. But plans changed when President Biden announced he was dropping out of this race. 

Eyes shifted to Vice President Kamala Harris, the new Democratic candidate. With about 3 months left to form a campaign, Harris rose to the challenge and entered the race against Donald Trump. If Harris were to win, she would make history as the first female president of the United States. If Trump were to win, he would make history as only the second American president to be in office for 2 non-consecutive terms. 

With this election preceding major events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and a vast range of key issues were what truly shaped voters' opinions. 

For Donald Trump, his campaign emphasized a return to conservative principles in several areas. He promised to boost economic growth by lowering corporate taxes 15% - 20%, and promised to preserve the individual tax cuts from his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He said he would aim to reduce federal regulations on business to promote economic freedom and job creation. His campaign was also centered around immigration regulations and border patrol, similar to his campaign in 2016. He plans for a large domestic deportation operation and increased immigration enforcement. Additionally, Trump aimed to eliminate birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and proposed ideological screenings to limit immigration from certain countries deemed high-risk​. 

Conversely, Kamala Harris’ campaign focused on progressive policies. She planned to secure union support and advocate for workers rights by strengthening labor protections, increasing minimum wage, and supporting collective bargaining. She aimed to expand the Affordable Care Act which strives to make health care affordable by capping prescription costs and reducing medical debt. Her campaign was also leveraged by her promise to reinstate Roe v.s. Wade and assure federal protection on abortion rights. Furthermore, she expressed her policies regarding stricter gun control measures, such as banning assault weapons and expanding background checks.  She also championed climate friendly policies and supported legislation to curb pollution. 

Both candidates worked hard to sway the swing states and gain enough electoral votes to reach the magic number of 270. Voters crowded ballot booths on November 5th, and the next day the Associated Press declared Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States. Trump secured a massive advantage by swaying major swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia. 

Kamala Harris conceded to Donald Trump on November 6th by thanking her supporters and encouraging them to not lose hope. Harris congratulated Trump on his win and promised to assist his team with the transition. 

In the wake of this historic election, America reflects on their choices and looks towards the path moving forward. This election revealed deep national divides and brought core issues to the forefront, shaping the political landscape for years to come. This election has proved American democracy to be dynamic and ever evolving for years to come.