On Nov. 5 Americans watched with anticipation as the polls closed across the United States for the 2024 Presidential Election. Presidential candidates Republican former president Donald Trump and Democrat current vice president Kamala Harris led the race to the White House with millions of votes being counted. As each party waited for the live results to tell who would be the next president, the votes kept rolling in.
The first candidate to reach the golden number of 270 electoral college votes was Trump, who set a red wave across America before all of the states even finished closing, due to a recount of ballots in three states. Trump won states such as Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, while Harris won California, New York, Vermont, and Illinois.
“Both sides fought hard and in the end Trump won. I feel like this election will bring factors to the table that we haven’t thought of in recent years,” sophomore Bethany Park said. “I am thankful with how this election turned out. People are looking for change and this is something that is thought to be the opening of a new door.”
The voting of 277 electoral votes to 226 on Nov. 6 the next morning solidified Trump’s spot as the 47th president of the United States. Trump is the second president who served in office for a term, took a term off, and then came back, the other being Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th U.S. president.
“ I feel pretty bummed about the election, just knowing that someone so negative is in our executive office is worrisome,” junior Emily Hoenig said. “It’s hard to say what could actually happen, but his policies and plans definitely make me nervous not only for myself but my loved ones as well. I will admit I’m very shocked, in the days prior to the election I was confident in the ‘silent majority’ and Kamala winning, but Trump surreptitiously won.”
Harris, who fought hard, conceded later the evening of Nov. 6. Although there were still states that had not cast their electoral vote, they would not have given Harris enough votes to beat Trump, who was winning in those states.
“I am not surprised at the turnout as I was following the news towards the buildup of the election,” sophomore Liv Grieger said. “I hope that all parties can get along for the benefit of our future. I am nervous that this will make many people mad.”
In the end, Trump won with a total of 312 votes, leaving Harris with 226 electoral votes. In the months upcoming to the inauguration, Americans will definitely begin to see a change as we witness a shift in power.
“I feel that both candidates are equally qualified and prepared for the role of president,” Grieger said. “Stay positive and keep looking forward.”
