On Nov. 5, after the polls closed, Americans anxiously awaited the results of the 2024 presidential election. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, if elected, would make history as the first female president, the first Black female president, and the first Asian president. Republican candidate Donald Trump would make history as the first convicted felon and the first president in over 100 years to serve two non-consecutive terms. Each candidate faced intense support and backlash, highlighting the division that has become commonplace in American politics.
In Pennsylvania, the polls closed at 8 p.m. and counting ballots cast in-person began shortly after. At 2:24 a.m. the Associated Press reported that Trump won Pennsylvania and at 5:30 a.m. the national race was called for Trump.
Pennsylvania was a key swing state in this election with 19 electoral votes. This is the most of any swing state, which includes states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina.
The importance of Pennsylvania was recognized by both candidates throughout their campaigns with both Harris and Trump both visiting Pennsylvania, in the final days of the election. These campaign stops included a visit from Trump to State College on Oct. 26.
The candidates ran on drastically different campaigns, with Harris running on protecting women’s and civil rights, strengthening the economy, ensuring safety and justice and keeping America prosperous on the world stage. Trump’s campaign priorities included securing the border, fighting drug cartels and violence, strengthening the energy sector and ending foreign wars.
Both candidates engaged in intense rhetoric aimed at gaining voters throughout their campaigns. Harris focused on promoting unity and protecting democracy, while Trump took a different approach, often leveraging personality and policy attacks towards his opponent.
In the end, Trump came out on top of the polls, with percentage gains among many demographic groups that voted for Biden in 2020. He ultimately won 312 electoral college votes to Harris’s 226.
Additionally, Trump led the popular vote 76,581,025 (50%) to 73,972,100 (48.3%) as of Nov. 19, marking the first time a Republican candidate has won the popular vote in 20 years.
Harris conceded the election about around 4:30 p.m. in a speech at Howard University. She said, “While I concede this election. I do not concede the fight that fueled this election.”
She remained hopeful for the future stating, “Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win.”
