Charlie Kephart
Official portrait of President Donald J. Trump. Craighead, Shealah, photographer
Former President Donald J. Trump has once again been elected as the President of the United States, and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance has become the Vice Presidential elect, defeating Vice President Kamala D. Harris, and running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, thus making him both the 45th and 47th President. Prior to Trump’s victory, only one president, Grover Cleveland, did not win two consecutive terms.
At 5:40 a.m. Trump crossed the 270 electoral vote threshold, with his victory in Wisconsin. Despite not officially winning until gaining WI’s 10 electoral votes, he declared victory in the early hours of Nov. 6 in West Palm Beach, Florida. This win marks the first time Trump has won both the popular vote and Electoral College- in 2016 he won the electoral college, but not the popular vote, and in 2020 he lost both.
Trump received 51% of votes and Harris received 48% (as of 5:45 a.m. Nov. 6) , giving him all of Pennsylvania’s highly sought after 19 Electoral College votes. Winning Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the other battleground states of Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Georgia and Arizona, greatly contributed to his victory.
Throughout the campaign season, the polls were unbelievably close. Only in the past two or so weeks did Trump begin to have a slim lead in the mainstream polls.
Trump’s win is partnered with Republicans winning control of the Senate, as well as his new found Presidential-immunity. As of 5:50 a.m. on Nov. 6, the House race has not been called, but Republicans are in the lead 197-179.
Harris is yet to call her Republican rival to concede, and has not released any plans to speak publicly. President Joe Biden has not yet commented on Trump’s win.
Students around the school have also reacted to the news of Trump’s victory,
“What is our country going to do now?” junior Grace Long said. “He’s so hateful, and I am worried for the future of our country now that he’ll be in office again.”
Other opinions exist as well regarding Trump’s incoming Presidency,
“I am happy because I feel like our country is in a very bad and dark place currently, and even though I don’t agree with Trump on everything, I put my trust in him that he will fix the country,” senior Brandon Lyle said.
Trump, alongside his then Vice President, Governor Michael Pence, ascended to the Oval Office in the 2016 Electoral College defeat of former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In 2020 he had an unsuccessful run for the office against President Joe Biden. He is set to be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.