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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSource: NBC News<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After four years out of office, Trump is set to be inaugurated on January 20. His win marks a new direction in U.S. history. Trump asserted in his victory speech<\/a> that he intends to catalyze \u201ca golden age\u201d for the country, naming his campaign an unprecedented political feat. Trump\u2019s address spoke to his movement\u2019s strength and magnitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He remarked, \u201cThis is a movement like nobody’s ever seen before and, frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There’s never been anything like this in this country, and now it’s going to reach a new level of importance because we’re going to help our country heal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Harris\u2019s concession speech drew on her priorities for a peaceful transfer of power, directly contrasting Trump\u2019s 2020 election statements in which he claimed voter fraud. \u201cA fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results,\u201d she said. \u201cThat principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny. And anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Trump, the road back to the presidency was riddled with bumps and challenges. At the dawn of a Biden-Trump rematch, the President-elect was hopeful about his chances. Biden\u2019s age and subpar debate night performance on June 27 drew questions about his ability to lead the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As debate night criticism swelled, Biden prioritized the Democratic party\u2019s odds of beating Trump. After several weeks of reflection, Biden ended his reelection campaign. He then endorsed Harris, leaving her with just three months to convince Americans to vote for her. Harris\u2019s campaign became a sprint from behind.<\/p>\n\n\n Source: Vox<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Harris\u2019s election bid was initially invigorating. She ran an optimistic campaign and saw a lot of early momentum. Then, an unthinkable act of political violence occurred. At a rally in Pennsylvania, a gunman fired at Trump, grazing his ear with a bullet. In the aftermath, both campaigns issued vehement condemnations of political violence. Images of Trump with a defiant fist raised to the sky circulated, and the subsequent Republican National Convention became a resounding affirmation of the MAGA movement. Together, these events defined a poignant political moment.<\/p>\n\n\n Source: Vox<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The campaign trail reflected Trump and Harris\u2019s contrasting visions on domestic and foreign policy, especially on issues like immigration, economic policy and reproductive rights. Trump emphasized a return to strict immigration controls, advocating for mass deportation and increased border security. He also pursued protectionist economic policies, such as increasing tariffs in an attempt to bolster American industry. Leading up to the election, the economy ranked as the most important issue for voters across the country; 90% <\/a>of voters classified candidates\u2019 positions as \u201cextremely\u201d or \u201cvery\u201d important to their vote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Immigration also drastically increased in importance among voters. 82% of Trump supporters say<\/a> it was very important to their vote, up 21% from 2020<\/a>. Polls <\/a>consistently demonstrated that voters trusted Trump more on these two issues. On the highly contested issue of abortion, Trump said he would not sign a national ban, even saying <\/a>he would veto it.<\/a> This deviation from the standard pro-life platform of the Republican Party allowed Trump to gain support among women despite the fact that 60% of voters<\/a> believe abortion should be fully legal. Abortion also ranked lower among the issues of importance, with fewer voters saying it would be a \u201cmajor factor\u201d in their vote than the economy or immigration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n President Biden\u2019s low approval ratings, which hovered around 40%<\/a> throughout the election cycle due to inflation and perceived inaction on the border crisis, also cast a shadow over Harris\u2019s campaign as she struggled to distance herself from Biden\u2019s policies. Divisions within the Democratic Party, particularly between progressives and centrists, made it challenging for Harris to take firm stances that resonated with the broader populace. An August poll showed that only 64% of registered voters<\/a> knew what Harris stood for, compared to 86% for Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump made notable inroads across various minority groups. Despite the importance of reproductive rights to this election, only 53% of women <\/a>voted for Harris, compared to 55% for Biden<\/a> in 2020. Trump also increased his share of the Black and Hispanic vote, especially among men. About one-in-five Black men voted for Trump, while Latino men leaned to Trump for the first time, shifting by 14 points from 2020<\/a>. Harris also had the lowest support <\/a>among voters aged 18-29 in this century. These statistics indicate that Democrats may no longer be able to rely on the so-called \u201cObama coalition,\u201d comprising racial minorities, women and young voters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The results highlight a shift in the political landscape, where voters were more responsive to Trump\u2019s policies on the economy and immigration reform over Harris\u2019s identity-centered appeals. Perhaps the most shocking statistic of the election was that among voters who believed that democracy in the United States was under threat, a common anti-Trump talking point, 58% voted for Trump, <\/a>compared to only 40% for Harris<\/a>. This was likely due to voters\u2019 dissatisfaction with the method by which Harris won the nomination after Biden\u2019s withdrawal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The results highlight a shift in the political landscape, where voters were more responsive to Trump\u2019s policies on the economy and immigration reform over Harris\u2019s identity-centered appeals. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Trump\u2019s success extended to Republicans competing in tightly and consequential congressional races. Republicans reclaimed the majority in the Senate, flipping key seats <\/a>in West Virginia and Ohio.<\/a> Democrats barely held onto seats in the \u201cblue wall\u201d of Michigan and Wisconsin. In Arizona, one Senate seat remains to be called. If the seat goes blue, as the current tally suggests,<\/a> Republicans will enter the new year with a 53-seat majority. The House majority still hangs in the air. Republicans currently hold 212 seats to the Democrats\u2019 203, with 20 races remaining uncalled. A majority requires 218 seats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump will likely enter the White House with control of the White House, Congress and Supreme Court. With a congressional and judicial majority behind him, the Trump presidency could bring numerous changes, including<\/a> tax reduction, mass deportations, removal of climate policies and imposition of massive tariffs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n With a congressional and judicial majority behind him, the Trump presidency could bring numerous changes, including<\/a> tax reduction, mass deportations, removal of climate policies and imposition of massive tariffs.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) already leans to the conservative majority with six justices to three, mainly because of Trump\u2019s first presidency, in which he appointed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett \u2013 three conservative justices \u2013 to the bench. SCOTUS\u2019s conservative core sent shockwaves through America with controversial decisions such as the overturn of Roe v. Wade and the outlawing of Affirmative Action. If Trump has the opportunity to appoint yet another justice in his next four years, SCOTUS will further solidify its majority.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Screenshot-2024-11-16-at-8.40.59-PM.png\")
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