US Elections 2024: A Pivotal Turning Point

“Not my President,” echoed through the streets of California, New York, and other Democratic strongholds on election day in 2016, a repudiation of the results that saw Donald Trump secure victory despite losing the popular vote by millions. Eight years later, Trump finds himself declared the victor once again, but this time, the protests have turned to parties. The stigma surrounding “publicly” supporting Trump has dissipated, making him the first Republican to win the popular vote in over 20 years. His rise in mainstream popularity disrupted polling predictions, which had forecasted a cutthroat race to the finish line.

Trump’s first term in office came with its share of controversies, with his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic seemingly sealing his fate as a one-term president. However, his political revival has been shaped by lessons from past mistakes. His 2024 campaign strategy was notably tailored, nuanced, and robust. For a time, the Trump campaign seemed to be running a tight ship—until the shock announcement of Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee threw a spanner in the works.

An aged and fatigued Joe Biden was replaced by Harris, bringing a burst of much needed youthfulness to the Democratic ticket. Annoyed at the prospect of having to recalibrate his campaign, Trump cried foul, calling for Harris’s campaign to be invalidated before it even began. Meanwhile, Democrats, trailing in the polls, found themselves reinvigorated. Harris’s announcement sparked record donations, with $540 million accumulated during the Democratic National Convention.

Her choice for Vice President, Tim Walz, initially appeared strategic. His background as a war veteran, American football coach, and Christian resonated with core American values. He started strong, targeting his Republican counterpart JD Vance, and employing smear tactics that momentarily destabilised the Trump campaign. Labelling Vance as “weird” gained traction in the media, creating challenges for Trump’s team. However, Walz’s momentum faltered when his embellished military record and other missteps came to light. His inability to counter sustained attacks from the media and his lacklustre showing in the vice-presidential debate against the legally adept JD Vance diminished his credibility. As Vance grew into his role as a prosecutor of media narratives, Walz’s airtime diminished, and he became a liability for the Democrats.

The Democrats’ greatest misstep, however, was straying too far from their long-standing ideologies. Crowning Harris as the nominee without a presidential primary proved catastrophic. She became the first major-party candidate since 1932 to fail to turn a single county across the country. Her selection bypassed the autonomy of Democratic voters, projecting authoritarian undertones that alienated the base and contributed to lower voter turnout compared to previous elections.

Harris struggled to connect with voters. Her campaign, largely recycled from Hillary Clinton’s, focused on admonishing Trump, echoing warnings about the threat he posed to democracy. However, Americans, having already seen Trump in power for four years, were less receptive to these arguments. The overreliance on attacking Trump left little room for Harris to present her vision for the nation’s future. When asked what she would do differently from the Biden administration amidst rising inflation and illegal immigration, Harris’s response “Nothing” further reinforced her image as an extension of Biden rather than an independent candidate.

The next four years will provide ample time for the Democrats to regroup and reassess their approach to politics. A reluctance to accept the changing status quo will leave them at risk of complete alienation. Given that the Republicans won a clean sweep of the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the people’s mandate, they will be looking to implement major reform as soon as possible.