On January 6th, exactly four years after the infamous riot at the U.S. Capitol, former President Donald Trump was confirmed to be the victor in the 2024 Presidential Election against Vice President Kamala Harris. With Harris claiming 226 electoral votes, Trump held the other 312. This election was a devastating blow for the Democrats after many predicted a close race, generally in favor of the Democrats.
The Democratic response to this shocking loss varied between disappointment, introspection, and frustration. Many Democratic voters expressed deep dismay, particularly those inspired by the historic prospect of electing Kamala Harris as the first female president of the United States. Sydney, a 40-year-old teacher from New York, echoed this sentiment, stating that the election “felt like a chance for real change,” and that she felt inspired by the thought of having a female president. However, she also acknowledged that Trump’s victory was not completely surprising, crediting it to widespread voter focus on economic issues. For many Democrats, the loss by a landslide was surprising, considering the tight polls suggested a narrow margin between the vote divided among the two parties due to Harris’ seemingly strong appeal amongst the women and younger voters.
Becky Boudreau-Schultz from Michigan pointed to the Democrats’ underestimation of the influence of social media platforms such as X and YouTube, where Trump and his allies grew their campaign through fear-based narratives around immigration, independence, and cultural values. “Kamala ran on civility,” Boudreau-Schultz explained, stating that “America’s mood” was not based around that. She criticized the significant presence of social media, which she felt was used as a legitimate news source, which amplified Trump’s messaging while bypassing the criticism of mainstream media.
For older voters like Pat, an 81-year-old retired journalist from Colorado, Trump’s victory raised fears about the rollback of progressive policies, particularly regarding climate change, abortion rights, immigration, and federal governance. “I’m appalled,” Pat said, referring to concerns about Trump’s potential to fire experienced federal workers, deport immigrants, and jeopardize pregnant women’s health. Despite crediting Harris’s strong campaign, she observed that many voters believed they were economically better off during Trump’s first term. This argument resonated in an election that was focused on the economy.
While Kamala Harris’ candidacy instilled hope and represented progress in the United States for many, her defeat against President-Elect Donald Trump leaves Democrats facing the challenge of addressing their disconnect with key voter groups while reassessing their approach to campaigning in a deeply divided political environment.
Works Cited
Chowdhury, Maureen, et al. “January 6, 2025 – Presidential Transition News | CNN Politics.” CNN, Cable News Network, 7 Jan. 2025, www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-certification-trump-01-06-25/index.html.
Otte, Jedidajah, and Caroline Bannock. “‘Democrats Presented No Alternative’: US Voters on Trump’s Win and Where Harris Went Wrong.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 12 Nov. 2024, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/12/voter-reaction-trump-win.