The 2024 election has been noted as one of the closest races in U.S. history with candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump fighting for the 47th spot in the Oval Office. After a neck-and-neck campaign season and election night, the winner was declared to be Republican Donald Trump — marking his second term in office.
This race has been close from the beginning of polling, with outlets referring to it as “impossibly tight” in comparison to the 2020 election when President Joe Biden won 306 of the 270 electoral votes.
This election cycle was much closer, with early voting polls showing Harris leading by 1% nationally, and Trump winning by 1% in many southern states. As of 5:36 a.m. on Nov. 6, Trump won 277 electoral votes, while Harris won 224.
Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Michigan and Nevada have yet to be called.
Both candidates have had clear platforms from the beginning of their campaigns. Trump’s platform centered on an America-first approach, with a focus on tax cuts, strict immigration enforcement and economic nationalism — including reduced overseas military engagement and tariffs to protect U.S. industries. He opposed expansive government healthcare, advocated for increased domestic fossil fuel production and supported conservative social policies.
Harris, in contrast, promoted progressive policies aimed at reducing income inequality and expanding government programs, including tax reforms for the wealthy, healthcare expansion, and humane immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. Harris has also backed multilateral foreign policy, prioritized climate action with renewable energy investments and supported social justice initiatives such as criminal justice reform and LGBTQ+ communities rights protections.
Political science professor Dillan Bono-Lunn said she expects “direct action” from the Democratic Party.
“That might be in people protesting, that might be through various court cases challenging what is statistically small amounts of votes,” Bono-Lunn said.
Bono-Lunn said she wouldn’t be surprised if the Democratic Party responds by challenging the results.
“I would not be surprised if there were Democratic court challenges,” Bono-Lunn said. “Given the stakes that both sides see in the election, I would expect to see some challenges within some state-level courts about how the elections were run.”
Junior Tess Trayner said they are upset with the outcome of this race and they shared their opinion online and on campus.
“I’m feeling pretty devastated about the future of our country,” Trayner said. “Particularly, I’m thinking about my rights as a queer and trans person with female reproductive organs. Will he pass a national ban on abortion, gay marriage or hormones?”
Trayner also said they plan to continue to organize and support issues they’re passionate about beyond the election.
“I’m scared for areas that are most affected by climate change, especially the Appalachians who would be worse for wear under a government that doesn’t acknowledge climate change,” Trayner said. “I would want to organize with fellow progressives to ease some of these issues.”
With the winner announced, the peaceful transfer of power between Biden and Trump will begin — officially ending on Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2025, when Trump will be sworn into office.