Perhaps the most notable event of the year, the 2024 election saw former president Donald Trump reelected. The recent election cycle was as contentious as ever, as could be expected in an era of political polarization in office and the media. Focusing on topics such as the economy, immigration policy and reproductive healthcare access, liberals and conservatives saw drastic stances taken by nominees.
With the announcement of President Joe Biden dropping out of the race in late July, Vice President Kamala Harris was left with relatively little time to form her campaign and gather support. However, considering the circumstances, the Democratic nominee polled remarkably well. Earning 226 electoral votes in just 107 days, compared to former president Trump who has been ramping up his campaign since his last term ended in 2020.
The election was called by the Associated Press (AP) late in the night on Nov. 5, predicting Trump as the winner of the election with 312 electoral votes. Winning all seven of the most influential swing states, the Trump campaign saw its victory in the 2024 election.
“I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it,” Harris said in her concession speech on Nov. 6 at Howard University. “Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intentional about building community and building coalitions, bringing people together from every walk of life and background.”
As the Biden administration sees out the end of its term, Trump has made several announcements regarding his cabinet picks: Marco Rubio has been nominated as his Secretary of State, Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary, Pam Bondi as Attorney General, Doug Burgum as head of the Department of Interior, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, Chris Wright as head of the Department of Energy, Doug Collins as head of the Department of Veteran Affairs and Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump’s cabinet picks have caused an uproar in the media, but each must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming their respective positions. The Senate will play a crucial role in the confirmation of Trump’s new cabinet, but Democratic and Republican senators have expressed concerns in regards to the nominations.
“Most people would be less than honest if they said anything other than ‘Matt Gaetz is problematic,’” South Dakota Republican senator Kevin Cramer told the Washington Post. “But he still has been nominated by the president, and, so, you do your due diligence.”
With a campaign trail that focused heavily on the economy, immigration and abortion rights, Americans will be keeping an eye out for whether or not Project 2025 policies will be brought before Congress during the second Trump administration.
Many Democratic senators and governors have made statements and policies regarding abortion and reproductive healthcare access on the state level in response to the Trump campaign win. It can be expected that these hot topic issues continue to take up space in local, state and federal government proceedings.
