Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris and returning to the White House for the second time following his unexpected victory in 2016.
Defying both the odds and the polls, Trump, 78, garnered a remarkable victory and was on course for an Electoral College landslide to capture the White House again. He was also winning the popular vote, unlike in 2016.
los 2024 election victory also marked an unlikely political comeback for Trump, a convicted felon who was twice impeached and largely left disgraced following the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol in 2021.
“We’re going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly,” Trump told a jubilant crowd that greeted the president-elect with chants of “USA! USA!” at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
Trump added that his presidency will result in “a truly Golden Age for America” as a result of the “powerful mandate” given to him by voters.
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Trump won all seven battleground states — including Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia — to capture the White House.
Like in many Western democracies, the United States now moves to the right. Here are five things we learned from Tuesday’s vote:
1. Trump wins big with Catholics
For many faith voters, the presidential contest between Trump and Harris was more than just a race for the White House. For many, it was a battle between two ideologies, the latest in the decades-old culture war, attached to issues such as abortion and transgender athletes playing in women’s sports.
Exit polls conducted by NBC News from 10 key battleground states revealed that Trump did very well overall with voters who identified as Protestant (62%) and Catholic (56%).
In his remarks, Trump — referring to two assassination attempts on his life this year — said, “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason — and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness, and now we are going to fulfill that mission together. We’re going to fulfill that.”
De acuerdo a los El Correo de Washington’s exit polling, Trump won the national Catholic vote — a bloc that includes Hispanics — by a staggering 15-point margin: 56% to 41%.
The Catholic Vote delivered for Donald Trump. https://t.co/XDFvOPpxvS
— Joshua Mercer (@joshuamercer) November 6, 2024
Trump, once again, did extremely well for a third straight election cycle with white evangelicals (81%) and white Catholics (60%), according to NBC News exit poll data.
Meanwhile, NBC reported that Harris did better with Jewish voters (77%), those who identified as “something else” (60%) and nones (71%).
2. GOP regain control of the Senate, hold House
The makeup of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives was also on the line in this election.
Senate Republicans picked up a seat in West Virginia, winning an expected victory that put them just one seat away from seizing control of the chamber after four years, and another in Ohio.
Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia easily won the slot that opened up following the retirement of Sen. Joe Manchin, who served most of his career as a Democrat before becoming an independent earlier this year. In Ohio, Republican businessman Bernie Moreno defeated incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown, chair of the Senate Banking Committee.
As a result, the GOP will have at least a 51-seat majority, although six races were yet to be decided. Republicans could win up to 55 seats by the time the counting ends.
In the House, the GOP entered the night with a narrow 220-212 edge. It remained too close to call which party would win a majority, although overnight returns showed the GOP winning more seats.
“As more results come in it is clear that, as we have predicted all along, Republicans are poised to have unified government in the White House, Senate and House,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement.
3. Florida abortion measure fails
One of the biggest issues of this campaign season (other than the economy and illegal immigration) was abortion. In fact, 11 abortion-related measures – a record high in a single election year – were on the ballot.
Ten would provide for state constitutional rights to abortion: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Nevada and South Dakota. One, in Nebraska, would limit the timeframe for when an abortion would be performed.
In Florida, a state Trump won, voters rejected creating a constitutional right to abortion, a political win for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, that will keep in place the state’s ban on most abortions after the first six weeks. The measure failed to clear the 60% threshold needed to pass.
It marked the first time abortion opponents won a ballot measure in any state since the Supreme Court overturned Roe contra Wade in 2022, a decision that ended nationwide abortion protections.
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops said it was “profoundly relieved at the defeat of Florida’s pro-abortion Amendment 4.”
“This is a positive outcome for Florida and all efforts to promote the flourishing of our state,” the bishops added.
Among other notable results, Maryland became the first state on Tuesday to adopt an abortion rights amendment – a legal change that won’t have an immediate difference to abortion access in a state that already allows it.
A New York measure — one that abortion rights groups argued will bolster access — also passed. The law did not contain the word “abortion.” Instead, it bans discrimination on the basis of “pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”
While abortion motivated many women to vote, creating a gender gap, Trump won nonetheless thanks to what many called the “bro vote” — a coalition of men across all racial groups — to put him over the top.
ABORTION RIGHTS
Here’s how states voted on abortion rights.
Arizona, passed
Colorado, passed
Florida, rejected
Maryland, passed
Missouri, passed
Montana, passed
Nebraska, rejected
Nevada, passed
New York, passed
South Dakota, rejectedhttps://t.co/r2G29QxpRT— Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) November 6, 2024
4. Vote against school choice
This issue of school choice, which resonates with many faith voters, was on the ballot in three states.
In Colorado, Amendment 80 would provide in the state constitution that “each K-12 child has the right to school choice.” Kentucky’s Amendment 2 would allow the legislature to provide state funding to students outside of public schools.
In Nebraska, a veto referendum seeks to overturn a bill authorizing a program to provide public grants to eligible students to attend private schools.
Voters in Colorado and Kentucky voted against school choice and funding, respectively. In Nebraska, voters chose to repeal and eliminate the funding.
"While the measure in Colorado has not yet been called, voters are on pace to reject school choice in each state."
3 states vote against school choice, projections indicate https://t.co/2VNOye3axX
— The Grade (@thegrade_) November 6, 2024
5. Jews split on Israel-Hamas war
The Oct. 7 terror attacks, the war that followed and year-long campus protests made the ongoing tensions in the Middle East a campaign issue for voters concerned about foreign policy and the rise of antisemitism.
Exit polls revealed that Republicans and Democrats were divided on the issue. Asked whether U.S. support for Israel was “too strong,” 68% of Democrats agreed. Only 29% of GOP voters felt the same way.
Harris, in an appeal to Muslim-American voters, vowed to end the war in Gaza with a ceasefire. Trump has said he supports Israel’s right to defend itself and that the war would have never happened had he been in the White House.
The NBC News exit poll found that 21% of Jews voted for Trump — down from the 30% he garnered in 2020 and 24% in 2016.
Jews, as a voting bloc, have traditionally been a part of the Democratic Party coalition. The only exception has been among Orthodox Jews, who have come out for Trump and other GOP candidates.
Esta historia fue publicada originalmente por Religión desconectada.
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged. He previously served as deputy head of news at the New York Daily News and a longtime reporter at The New York Post. Follow him on X @ClementeLisi.
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32 Respuestas
6. They are inexplicably okay with electing to highest office a convicted felon and rapist and liar and serial sexual abuser, etc.
That’s easily explained. They don’t honestly care about morality. What really matters is that Harris is 1. not white and 2. female. Racism is the bedrock of the religious right. Everything else is just camouflage to try to hide the racism.
I did not vote for Trump, but you are missing the mark. 1. It’s the economy. 2. It’s the economy. 3. It’s the economy. Faith issues fall way behind in importance for those desperately struggling to keep their head above water. For better or worse, Trump was a change from what clearly is not working for many middle-class Americans, especially in fly-over country. The folks who think Trump and Jesus go together like peanut butter and jelly aren’t the ones who made the difference in this cycle.
Loren, I hear what you’re saying but I respectfully disagree. The fact (as reported here on this blog) that 81% of white Evangelicals again backed this man surely tipped the decision toward Trump. In your analysis, the price of a dozen eggs superseded all the character and leadership issues! THAT might be true, but it’s a very sad commentary on what we prioritize in this country.
I also agree it was the economy, which was not discussed enough by EITHER side.
And for all the talk about getting back to basics in schools, the comments from many indicate an ignorance of basic economics and the impact of economic policy: Like those tariffs Trump has promised are coming…those are almost always paid by the consumer, so saddle up and get ready. And how it usually takes a few years for the full impacts of economic policy to be realized….so do the math on who actually was behind that better life everyone was living 4 years ago (and who oversaw the causes of much of the inflation we are experiencing now).
And does it need to be said that the market cap experienced over the last few days – in anticipation of the business deals billionaires are excitedly looking forward to with fewer regulations – won’t trickle down? Many were too busy accusing left-leaning celebs of being “out of touch” that they missed Trump’s multiple meetings with EQUALLY out-of-touch billionaires positioning themselves for this moment.
Not to mention we have to create money out of thin air to service growing debt payments already larger than our entire defense budget. What could possibly go wrong?
> And how it usually takes a few years for the full impacts of economic policy to be realized
Thank you! Voting for Trump because the economy isn’t as good as one would like it to be is just about as nonsensical as a “pro-life” voter voting for Harris because the Dobbs decision occurred during her vice presidency.
And I don’t see how massive tariffs and deporting millions of workers will lower prices.
Loren- so what I hear you saying is that greed (the economy, the economy, the economy) can make evangelicals abandon any moral stances they claim to hold?
What I’m saying is that in the swing states where votes actually matter, blue collar workers are struggling economically. That’s not greed. Those who flipped sides didn’t do it for religious reasons. They may tend to be religious people due to demographics, but that’s not what drove such a huge shift to Trump.
Jen, the greatest moral issue is the protection of life – whether born or unborn. Harris and her group have made it very clear they are not interested in protecting life. She told an individual at her rally that he was at the wrong one when he raised the issue. So many did hold on to moral stance contrary to your statement.
@Jen The same argument you are using is also used to end the life of unborn children. “Don’t want to be saddled with the expense or inconvenience so terminate the life.”
Hi Don. If the greatest moral issues is life, as you suggest, you should only be voting for democrats. Republicans offer abortion bans, but they do little to nothing to actually stop abortion- in fact, abortion numbers ROSE for the first time since the 80’s in Trump’s first administration, and have increased since the Dobbs decision. Democrats, on the other hand, look at the causes of unwanted pregnancies and interact with solving those. Abortion rates decrease in every administration (except Trumps) but they decrease faster in dem administrations because they fund education, birth control, poverty reduction, social safety nets, and comprehensive sex education.
And you should really look up the rally incident- the heckler was yelling “lies”, Harris dealt with it comedically, and the heckler yelled things about Jesus as they were being escorted out.
Don- to your second point- you are correct, the lack of monetary means is the most cited answer for most women having elective abortions. I would suggest that the democrats are much more adequately addressing poverty issues, health care issues for people in poverty, daycare and preschool, school lunches- not to mention SNAP and other safety nets- all of which make it more financially possible for women to complete pregnancies rather than abort them.
Republicans slash funding for all of those programs when given the chance, and refuse to acknowledge that they are contributing to high abortion rates by making it financially impossible for women to carry pregnancies in non-ideal situations. It is hypocritical to create systems that keep women in poverty, then shame them for making decisions to survive poverty.
So again, I’d suggest that if you care about saving unborn lift, vote for democrats. They do things that actually HELP pregnant women have their babies. Bans don’t reduce abortion rates, they just increase maternal and infant mortality rates. I encourage you to look up the vast statistical research showing all of that.
@Jen – According to Guttmacher, abortions increased significantly from 2020-2023. More money for education doesn’t mean better outcomes. Baltimore, MD has some of the highest funding per student and some of the worst outcomes. Certainly, if a woman can’t afford birth control, that should be provided. Poverty reduction? No! One of the primary reasons Harris lost is because of inflation and policies that have made it much more challenging financially. The economy was a significant issue. Please explain the “safety nets” you refer to. Certainly those who choose to birth should be provided with resources to support their decision and encouraged. I am involved with such a group that seeks to provide resources. The challenging part is when a woman continues to have children in order to continue to receive financial aid. One such individual lived across the street from me. That’s a challenging situation. Certainly don’t want to penalize a child for parent’s failure.
Don, you said:
“Certainly, if a woman can’t afford birth control, that should be provided.” However, it was conservatives who fought this tooth and nail, including insulting such women as Sandra Fluke by implying that “women want the government to pay for them to sleep around.”
“The challenging part is when a woman continues to have children in order to continue to receive financial aid.” Unfortunately, we cannot legislate or police WHY someone has children. There are plenty of immoral or questionable reasons (e.g., trapping someone), but that isn’t our business.
Poverty reduction is VERY complicated. However, I believe Jen was getting to addressing the ROOT causes a woman chooses abortion. We want abortion to be RARE and safe; that will only happen if we get into WHY a woman sees it as a choice in the first place. Discussing affordable birth control access and addressing poverty issues like maternal leave and afforability of healthcare is a start.
The economy is an issue. Although we need to discuss Trump’s approach that flooded the market with cash (e.g., tax breaks that start at the top) that kickstarted this problem – and how to keep it from happening again should he look at doing it AGAIN (e.g., the money will NOT trickle down, we’ve seen this before). Remember, economic policy takes years to reach full impact.
You may want to reconsider how bigoted you sound, friend. It’s sad to see how many of my brothers and sisters are being unraveled by events. Don’t fall for it. They want us disunited and hating each other.
What I find fascinating is that the Muslim community also came out for Trump, even in majority areas like Dearborn, MI. It apparently shocked Muslim organizations like CAIR, who had expected Trump’s unapologetic support of Israel to work like kryptonite.
They’re trying to pin it on “anger over the Gaza war”, but again, Harris repeatedly committed to ending that war asap. Many Muslims accused her of not going far enough, but logically she would have been preferable to Trump who pledged to end the war by letting Israel “finish the job”.
Apparently the “faith-based” commentators either don’t know about this peculiar outcome, or they are afraid to comment on it. I got the news from VOA.
I love The Roys Report, and I’m not defending Trump as some do, like he is a saint. I do, however, get so tired of reading that Trump is a convicted felon. He is not. An indictment is not a conviction or proof of guilt. This narrative is as divisive as he can be. Please accurately report this; it’s just causing further division.
Mathew, you’re 5 months behind on the news, or misinformed. Trump was convicted, in court, by a jury, after a lengthy trial, of 34 felony counts. He has yet to be sentenced, but he is 100% a convicted felon.
No fan of Trump, but check your info. That was probably the worst case brought yet. It was an egregious misuse of law for political needs. It will be overturned. You cannot rely on our courts or the media for truth or justice. Trump lies, and his enemies lie. I am not sure now who lies more or with more severity. As a believer don’t throw in with Trump, or his enemies. They are both corrupt and you muddy yourself by defending either.
And yet, here you are defending Trump. Whether the case will be overturned or not doesn’t change the facts. TODAY, Trump is a convicted felon.
For the record, I am not one who believes Trump is some martyr or victim; he experiences consequences of his own choosing via his words and actions.
And many communities (especially the poor and people of color) have been crying about the bias of the courts and media for years, and it all fell on deaf ears….until Trump was on the receiving end. Interesting.
Marin, where did I defend Trump? I think you have problems reading my posts. This has happened before. And, no you are incorrect about the cases. Plenty of deception on both sides. You would be wise to throw in with neither, as I said. Now it’s POC issue ? When the only tool in your belt is a hammer, everything becomes a nail huh?
Jerome –
You are defending Trump against being called something that he is: a convicted felon.
And I am NOT incorrect about the cases: they have NOT been overturned. You can go on and on and on about what will or will not happen in the future. But as of today, November 8, 2024, Trump is STILL a convicted felon. So, reports of him being a convicted felon are accurate UNTIL the status of the cases change.
That is the TRUTH as it stands today. And, assuming you are a believer, it is wise to acknowledge it.
And I can point you to MANY cases in which the biases and injustices of the courts have been brought up by defendants who are poor (you mention reading comprehension, yet skipped over that part) and people of color that went ignored or dismissed.
It usually takes the “right” defendant (e.g., someone high profile and/or rich) for people to see that these claims of bias and injustice in our court system have some merit. I stand by that, as I can back it up with examples.
My brothers and sisters: It would be good to stop quoting the “crimes” further without reading about the actual cases. Dishonest scales were used, and all of them will likely be overturned on appeal. Unfortunately our legal system has been compromised, and one cannot just take a jury verdict at face value as truth anymore. I don’t believe anyone who quotes these crimes has actually looked at the cases with a fair eye. They are all highly questionable at best and illegal persecution at worst. Be careful.
Jerome –
Interesting thing is, I actually agree with you. I’m the daughter of a criminal defense attorney, and my father and I have talked about this at length (along with many other shady moves by an otherwise desperate legal system he’s seen over the years – but again, my bringing that up is “only having a hammer”, so I digress); many of the charges were a “reach”, hence why there’s lack of clarity as to what they actually are.
BUT we have to acknowledge that UNTIL cases are overturned, Trump is a convicted felon.
Trump is too immoral to be a leader!!
Percy Lee McCoy JR says:
“Trump is too immoral to be a leader!!”
Let’s see…
By your standard, NOBODY should be a leader. Name just ONE moral leader who never sinned.
Just one.
Good luck!
Nothing was said about anyone being perfect, or even needing to be perfect to be a moral leader.
Yes, we all have sinned. But how do we respond when made aware of or caught in sin? Do we “double down”, blameshift, gaslight, play “whataboutism” moral relativism games, or play victim? Do we to keep on sinning, ignoring confrontation and taking advantage of God’s grace?
This is when questions of being “too” immoral (I notice you left that word “too” out to make a strawman argument) are valid.
Do you think it’s unfair that scripture requires elders to live moral lives? Do you see that as requiring elders to be sinless or perfect? Wouldn’t that be unfair, thus making scripture flawed? Of course not!
I believe you get what Percy’s concerns are about Trump’s character, but are trying to spiritualize your preference with Christianese.
That’s way too simplistic of an answer. More thoughtful people understand the majority didn’t want what she was selling. She didn’t win a DNC primary for President. Dropped out early in 2020. Pelosi is even hinting now there should have been a primary. Bidenomics, Crime, Immigration, Defund the Police, Antisemitism, etc. She couldn’t articulate what she would differently than Biden. She is not the epitome of virtue and neither is Emhoff. Pres. Obama had two terms – so not racism. Many females voted against Harris who were people of color.
Don, 92% of Black women voted for Harris. Black women are not the only women in “people of color”, but to suggest that Trump was a popular candidate with non white women is disingenous. I guess “many” is vague, but it’s also misleading. Trump was popular with white women, which is disappointing, but does lend support to the (internalized) misogyny and racism theory. of course that’s not the only reason, but is likely a bigger reason than white people will ever admit. I get it, it costs a lot of self examination and uncomfortable acknowledgements to admit that- but when the other given reasons (the economy, abortion, immigration) are all based on easily demonstrable lies, one has to believe it’s a different reason.
While I don’t think race was as big of a factor as before, I’d like to say that racism is never as simple as who did/did not vote for whom. “I voted for Obama” is similar to “I have a Black friend”, just as “A woman of color didn’t vote for Kamala” is similar to “My Black friend said that’s not racist so it’s not.” Those are tokenism arguments.
@ Jen – let’s be clear and honest, the Democratic party is NOT the party of reduced abortions. The DNC hasn’t found an abortion it doesn’t like or won’t support including the gruesome “partial birth abortion” where infant’s brains are vacuumed out. Also refusal to support “born alive” legislation where an infant who is born during abortion attempt is left to die (infanticide). Confirmed by former abortion workers. So, I’m leaving this discussion. Calling abortion “women’s health care” is similar to calling amputation “weight loss” though the amputation is on one’s own body. Perhaps you are more moderate on your views, I don’t know. But when the DNC celebrates abortion as a main plank and has an abortion trailer right outside the DNC convention, they are celebrating it, not attempting to reduce it. Have a good day.