Donald Trump was declared the 47th President of the United States as of midnight Wednesday, Nov. 6. He clinched 295 electoral votes, putting him over the key 270 needed to take office.
The race was predicted to be neck-and-neck, with many voters and citizens expecting results to be announced on Saturday night, much like in 2020. However, after winning the battleground state of Wisconsin, Trump had a definite win over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were key factors in the presidential election because they have the potential to turn red or blue during the race. Despite this, Trump had a swing state sweep, winning all seven states by the end of the night.
Republicans also nailed down a win on majority control of the Senate early Wednesday. The House is still split red and blue with a lot of races up in the air.
As most of the polls are counted and numbers come back, many are drawing similarities to the 2016 election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
However, Cameron Dexter Torti, AP Government teacher at Sage Creek, points out a surprising difference in the 2024 race compared to past elections.
“One big difference between this and prior elections was the fact that, unlike 2016, the Republican party is projected to carry the popular vote,” said Dexter Torti. “The Republican party has not had the majority of the popular vote since 2004, and before then, it had been since 1988.”
Dexter Torti sees the loss of Senate control and the popular vote as a sign that Democrats should reflect on their current attention.
“Losing the popular vote – and the election – in addition to being projected to lose control in the Senate may signal the Democratic party to shift their attention and messaging,” said Dexter Torti, “since it does not necessarily appear to represent the majority of people as it has for most of the last four decades.”
Addie Rudy, a Senior at Carlsbad High School and Republican, is excited about what’s to come from the second-term President.
“I hope to see that Trump will bring security to our nation,” said Rudy. “I’m also hoping to see a decrease and for things to become more affordable.”
On the other side, Kaden Riley, Junior at Sage Creek and Democrat is disappointed with the results, but doesn’t see the loss as the end of the line.
“It’s the second time a woman has run for President and the first time a woman of color has run for President. This fact by itself just shows how much we have progressed as a country throughout the years and the potential the country holds for the future,” said Riley.
