Donald J. Trump secured a decidive victory in Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state that was among the seven key swing states that ultimately determined the outcome of the 2024 presidential race. This win, combined with previous successes in Georgia and North Carolina, significantly bolstered Trump’s path to a return to the White House, effectively overturning the 2020 election result. The victory also shattered Kamala Harris’s so-called “blue wall” in the Great Lakes region, diminishing her hopes of becoming the first female U.S. president.
In a bold move, Trump declared himself the victor before final results were announced, addressing his supporters from Palm Beach, where he presented himself as the “elected president.” Accompanied by his wife Melania, their son Barron, and daughters from previous marriages, Trump entered the stage with an air of triumph. In his speech, he promised to end wars rather than start new ones and thanked his supporters for their role in making the campaign historic.
Meanwhile, Republicans gained further ground in the Senate, with key wins like Bernie Moreno’s defeat of Senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio and the replacement of independent Senator Joe Manchin by Republican Governor Jim Justice in West Virginia. These victories strengthened the GOP’s control, signaling a shift in the nation’s political landscape. However, the election was not without incident, as bomb threats targeted several polling stations in Democratic-leaning areas in Georgia, Arizona, and Michigan. Though no injuries occurred, some polling stations extended their hours to accommodate voters.
In New York, which represents 28 electoral votes, Democrats claimed victory with around 55% of the vote. Despite setbacks in the Senate, the Democratic Party celebrated significant milestones, including the election of two African American women, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angela Alsobrooks, to the Senate. Additionally, Sarah McBride made history as the first transgender person elected to the House of Representatives, marking a moment of progress for the party.
