As the nation held its collective breath, Americans faced the most unpredictable and fiercely contested election in recent memory. Months of anticipation and intense campaigning culminated in Election Night 2024, with voters glued to their screens, anxiously awaiting the results. The stakes felt higher than ever in a race that featured dramatic twists, shocking departures, and impassioned rallies. And after the assassination attempts, health scares, and fierce debates, it was finally time to see who the country would choose: former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris.
Early Results and Familiar Rituals on Election Night
The tension was palpable as networks across the political spectrum acknowledged the gravity of the election. “It’s election night in America, in one of the closest and most consequential presidential races ever,” CNN announced. Fox News echoed the sentiment: “This is it, America! It’s time for you to decide the most unprecedented election of our times.” And so began the familiar Election Night ritual of analyzing early results as states closed their polls.
Indiana and Kentucky, predictably Republican, were among the first states to close their polls, delivering expected wins for Trump. By 7 p.m. EST, the temperature began to rise, with six more states finishing their voting — including Georgia, the first of the critical battlegrounds to wrap up. In Georgia, record-high voter turnout and early exit polls signaled a close race, with Harris doing well among Black and young voters while Trump made notable gains among independents. This shift among independent voters was particularly significant, with 54% favoring Trump compared to 30% for Harris, a stark contrast to Biden’s 9-point lead in 2020.
Battlegrounds and Surprises in North Carolina
North Carolina proved to be another pivotal battleground. A state that has gone Democratic only twice since 1976, it was fiercely contested by both Trump and Harris. North Carolina became the first contested swing state called for Trump, marking an early win for the former president as counting continued in other battleground states.
Meanwhile, in the governor’s race, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein defeated Republican Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. Robinson’s campaign had been marred by controversy, with accusations about comments he allegedly made on an online forum casting a shadow on his run. Robinson denied the allegations, but the fallout may have impacted Republican support down-ballot.
Exit Polls Point to Shifting Latino and Independent Support
Florida was another closely watched state, and it leaned heavily toward Trump in this election. Once considered a swing state, Florida’s 30 electoral votes appeared to shift effortlessly to Trump, with Miami and Cuban American voters strongly favoring him. This trend continued into other key battlegrounds, with Pennsylvania and Michigan showing increased support for Trump among Hispanic voters, despite a controversy over comments by one of Trump’s surrogates.
Exit polls across various battlegrounds painted a complex picture. For Harris, issues like democracy and abortion were key concerns, with 35% of voters listing democracy as their top priority and 14% ranking abortion as crucial. For Trump, economic concerns were central; an overwhelming number of voters voiced frustration with inflation and the current economic situation. Asked if they felt better or worse off than four years ago, 45% said worse, compared to just 24% who felt they were better off.
Election Integrity and Potential Legal Challenges
As the night wore on, Trump continued his familiar rhetoric around election integrity, warning of “massive CHEATING in Philadelphia” on Truth Social. Philadelphia election official Seth Bluestein quickly countered, dismissing the allegation as false. Despite assurances, the comment echoed Trump’s controversial claims from 2020, stirring fears of possible legal challenges ahead. Both parties had teams of lawyers on standby, anticipating potential litigation over close results or alleged irregularities.
The Future Awaits: High Stakes and Historic Firsts
The stakes in this election were historic, with each candidate offering a unique vision for America. Harris stood poised to potentially become the first woman and person of color in the Oval Office, while Trump, at 78, would be the oldest president to take office and the first former president to reclaim the White House in more than a century — despite his recent legal troubles.
While democracy, economic concerns, and social issues dominated voters’ minds, the gender gap proved notable. Harris held a 12-point lead among women, while Trump led among men by 9 points. With women typically voting in higher numbers, Harris’s campaign took encouragement from this trend, though the final impact remained to be seen.
A Long Night with No Clear Answers
As Election Night drew into the early hours, no definitive results emerged. Both Trump and Harris remained hopeful as the counting continued, each campaign holding out for a favorable outcome. It was an evening that underscored the depth of America’s political divide, as voters across the nation waited anxiously for clarity on the country’s future path. Regardless of the final outcome, this election seemed destined to be remembered as one of the most momentous and unpredictable in American history.
