The 2024 U.S. presidential election has always been a pivotal moment in the country’s history with millions of Americans casting their votes. Many debates, campaigns, and promotions of Vice President Harris and former President Trump set the stage for the 2024 presidential election.
The two major candidates were Republican nominee Donald J. Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Harris replaced President Joe Biden on the voting ballot after he announced his withdrawal from the presidential race. Both candidates ran strong campaigns with Harris focusing on protecting democracy, addressing climate change, and expanding social programs. Trump focused on restoring the economy, achieving energy independence, and establishing a strong border policy.
Kamala Harris chose Tim Walz as her running mate, while Donald Trump selected Ohio Senator J.D. Vance. Born in West Point, Walz served 24 years in the Army National Guard before becoming Minnesota’s governor in 2019. Born in Middletown, Ohio, Vance served in the Marines before becoming Ohio’s junior senator.
One of the most significant challenges voters faced in this election was balancing character and capability. Bryce Haniff, a Woodbridge High School student part of the AP U.S. Government & Politics class, noted, “Many swing voters ended up voting for Trump because the economy was good when he was in office.” These single-issue voters decided that his ability to get things done and get their financial stability back on track was the right choice over someone who may be more emotionally capable.”
A critical factor in the election was social media. Both campaigns leaned heavily on platforms like TikTok and X to connect with younger voters. However, misinformation also spread widely. “The misinformation, and at times disinformation, spread during this year’s electoral season created a false sense of panic and urgency among voters, causing them to feel pressured to vote,” stated Jacqueline Furtak, another WHS student part of the AP U.S. Government & Politics class.
As election day passed, projected demographics had Donald Trump as the projected election winner. Key battleground states had flipped to Republican as Donald Trump took a commanding lead. As key states were called, former President Trump secured enough votes to be projected as the next U.S. President. As the final votes came in, Donald Trump secured the popular and electoral votes, becoming the 47th President of the United States.
