Following a historic and closely watched election, the U.S. is seeing shifts in leadership, voter demographics, and state policies that could shape its future. This election so far has ushered in historic milestones in diversity, with significant wins for Latino and minority leaders nationwide. Here are the 6 key takeaways post-Election Day:
Donald Trump Declared 47th President of the United States
Donald J. Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 Presidential Election as of 8 a.m. ET. Media outlets, including the Associated Press, are reporting that Trump has secured his victory with 277 electoral college votes, effectively making a political comeback after his 2020 defeat to Joseph R. Biden Jr. Trump’s projected win was finalized early Wednesday morning when he won Wisconsin, a crucial battleground state, pushing him past the necessary 270 electoral votes. Harris has conceded the election in a call with Trump as reported by BBC, and she plans to address the nation later in the day.
Kamala Harris’s run for the presidency as the Democratic nominee has historical significance. The first Black and South Asian woman to serve as Vice President, Harris now becomes the second woman in eight years to receive the Democratic Party’s nomination and be defeated. Harris maintained a strong lead among Black voters, both men and women, and received the majority support of Latina women. However, her campaign was impacted by significant inroads Trump made with Latino voters. Harris’s campaign team has announced that she will address the nation to reflect on the results and the future of the Democratic Party.
Republican Control of the Senate
The Republican Party regained control of the Senate with key victories in Ohio, West Virginia, and Nebraska. These races were decided by candidates Bernie Moreno in Ohio, Jim Justice in West Virginia, and incumbent Deb Fischer in Nebraska, all of whom secured their seats in highly competitive races. The GOP’s control of the Senate solidifies their legislative power, enabling them to have a more significant influence on national policy and judicial appointments.
Latino Voters: A Pivotal Shift
A notable outcome of this election is the swing among Latino voters toward Trump. Latino men, in particular, shifted in Trump’s favor for the first time, contributing to his broader support base. In 2020, Biden had won Latino men by a margin of 23 points, but this year, Trump won this demographic, indicating a major change. Overall, Trump received 45% of the Latino vote nationwide, while Harris garnered 53%. This result is a marked improvement from 2020 when Trump lost the Latino vote by 33 points (32% to Biden’s 65%). The shift is one of the strongest GOP performances among Latinos since George W. Bush in 2004, who won 44% of Latino votes.
Latina women still leaned toward Harris but did so by smaller margins than they did for Clinton or Biden. The results signal challenges for the Democratic Party, which has traditionally relied on strong Latino support. The substantial swing among Latino voters—especially Latino men—may lead Democrats to reassess their strategies and policies concerning this key demographic.
State-Level Abortion Rights Decisions
Abortion rights were a major issue on ballots across several states, with voters in 10 states deciding on amendments related to reproductive rights. Here’s a summary of key decisions:
- Maryland: Voters approved an amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, ensuring long-term protection for reproductive freedom. Maryland’s Question 1, backed by a Democrat-controlled legislature, establishes a broad right to abortion and related healthcare services.
- New York: The state passed an Equal Rights Amendment that not only protects abortion rights but also prevents discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, and pregnancy. Proposition 1 reinforces New York’s commitment to reproductive rights.
- Michigan: Michigan voters expanded the pro-abortion rights majority on the state Supreme Court, a move that further strengthens the protections for reproductive rights in the state.
- Colorado: Colorado voters approved Amendment 79, which repeals the ban on public funding for abortions, allowing state employees and Medicaid recipients to access abortion services under state insurance. This amendment required a 55% supermajority to pass.
- Missouri: Missouri voters approved Amendment 3, which restores access to abortion up to fetal viability, reversing the state’s total abortion ban. The amendment also protects other aspects of reproductive healthcare, including contraception and miscarriage care.
- Arizona: Proposition 139 was passed, ending Arizona’s 15-week abortion ban and protecting the right to abortion up to fetal viability. This decision came after organizers submitted over 820,000 signatures for a constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion rights in Arizona.
State-Level Abortion Rights Decisions: Rejected
Three states, however, rejected proposed amendments to protect or expand abortion rights:
- Florida: Voters turned down Amendment 4, which aimed to guarantee a right to abortion up to fetal viability. The measure needed a 60% supermajority to pass but came close at 57%, signaling a majority support for the measure, but not enough to get past the required supermajority threshold. Governor Ron DeSantis opposed the amendment, and his administration actively campaigned against it.
- South Dakota: Voters rejected Constitutional Amendment G, which would have guaranteed abortion rights in the first trimester and allowed regulations in the second trimester related to physical health. Some reproductive rights advocates argued the measure was too restrictive.
- Nebraska: Nebraska voters rejected Initiative 439, which would have established a constitutional right to abortion up to fetal viability. Instead, they passed Initiative 434, a more restrictive measure that bans most abortions after 12 weeks, with exceptions for cases of sexual assault, incest, and medical emergencies.
Across the board, abortion rights amendments passed in seven out of the ten states, signaling a strong push in several regions to protect reproductive rights at the state level.
Historical Wins in Representation
The election also saw historic wins for diverse representation:
- Cindy Nava became the first former DACA recipient elected to the New Mexico Legislature.
- Gabby Salinas became the first Latina LGBTQ woman to serve in Tennessee’s House of Representatives.
- Luz Rivas became the first Latina to represent California’s 29th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Lisa Blunt Rochester made history in Delaware as the first Black person and the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from her state.
- Ruben Gallego is leading in Arizona in a contentious U.S. Senate race. With only 60% of the vote tallied, it’s too soon to call.
These achievements reflect a broadening of diversity in elected positions, showing progress in both racial and LGBTQ+ representation across various states.
Notable Latino Victories in Local and State Elections
The Georgia House of Representatives on Wikimedia Commons
Latino candidates saw significant success at various levels of government:
- Analise Ortiz won a seat in Arizona’s State Senate, representing LD-24.
- Delia Ramirez was elected to the U.S. House for Illinois’s 3rd District.
- Darren Soto and Greg Casar both secured re-elections for the U.S. House in Florida and Texas, respectively.
- Carlos Guillermo Smith won a seat in Florida’s State Senate, SD-17.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won another term representing New York’s 14th Congressional District.
- Mary Ann Santos was elected to the Georgia State House, representing HD-117.
- Saira Draper won a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, representing HD-90.
- Jackie Espinosa was elected as Mayor of Kissimmee, Florida.
- Gabriella Romero won a seat in the New York State Assembly, representing Assembly District 109 (AD-109).
- Kristen Gonzalez was re-elected to the New York State Senate, representing Senate District 59 (SD-59).
- Jessica González-Rojas was re-elected to the New York State Assembly, representing Assembly District 34 (AD-34).
- Celia Israel was elected as Travis County Tax Assessor and Collector in Texas.
- Carlos Guillermo Smith won a seat in the Florida State Senate, representing Senate District 17 (SD-17).
- Adriano Espaillat was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York's 13th District (NY-13).
- Jonathan Rivera was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing Assembly District 149 (AD-149).
- Manny De Los Santos won a seat in the New York State Assembly, representing Assembly District 72 (AD-72).
- Emily Randall, an openly LGBTQ+ Latina is leading the race for Washington's 6th Congressional District.
These victories highlight the growing political influence of the Latino community and represent a significant step toward more diverse and representative governance at all levels.
The combination of Trump’s re-election, shifts in Latino voter alignment, state-level abortion rights amendments, and historic wins for diverse representation collectively illustrate a transformative election year that will likely shape the U.S. political landscape for years to come.