Where the race for president, control of Congress, and various statewide contests stand the morning after Election Day.
President Joe Biden standing atop the center rug in the Oval Office which bears the Great Seal of the United States.
Image Courtesy of The White House
As of publication, here is what is known of the results of the nearly two-year long contest to be the 47th president of the United States:
Former president Donald J. Trump, the Republican nominee, defeated his Democratic rival, incumbent Vice President Kamala D. Harris, with an approximate electoral vote count of 300, making history as only the second president to be elected to two non-consecutive terms in office after Grover Cleveland did so in the nineteenth century.
His agenda will depend in large part on control of Congress. The Republicans met expectations heading in and have regained control of the Senate, with victories in key matchups in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas pushing them over a majority in the chamber. Republicans also lead slightly in the US House, however, the result is dependent on the outcomes of several races in competitive districts throughout the country that remain outstanding.
In Florida, incumbent Republican senator Rick Scott defeated his Democratic opponent, former US representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, with approximately 55% to her 42%. The results of two of the six ballot referenda were also closely watched.
A majority of Floridians voted for Amendment 3, which would have legalized recreational marijuana in the state, but it will not pass as it did not reach the 60% threshold necessary. Similarly, Amendment 4, a measure that would have limited the state of Florida’s ability to restrict abortion, received over 50% support but will not become a constitutional amendment due to not surpassing 60% in favor.
After one of the most contentious campaigns in recent memory, compared with those of 2016 and 2020, Americans seem to agree on little more than knowing the results of this election sooner after the polls closed than last cycle. With two assassination attempts, criminal indictments, and a felony conviction behind him, President-Elect Trump will likely seek immediate action upon assuming office towards quelling concerns of a porous Southern border and combating rises in the cost of living in numerous states. And with projections having him winning the national popular vote, he claimed an “unprecedented mandate” to do so.
Keen political eyes will now turn to how the Democratic Party responds to this defeat. With Harris ascending to the top of the ticket after President Biden’s widely criticized June debate performance, she tacked to the center in rhetoric but was unable to shed previously held progressive positions and a sour approval rating of the incumbent administration.
Time will tell if 2024 truly is one of the most important elections in US history, as is often invoked by candidates, but it almost certainly can be characterized as a crossroads for the country. America’s 250th anniversary of independence arrives in two years and the world will be watching how its citizens move forward from here.
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