Selecting a president isn't exactly like picking a new Netflix series. It's more like choosing the pilot for a plane you're already sitting in. For months, the airwaves were jammed with the same question: trump vs harris who should i vote for? It felt inescapable.
People are still debating it today. Even though the 2024 election has passed, the reasons why people landed on one side or the other tell us a lot about where the country is headed in 2026. You had two candidates who weren't just from different parties; they were from different universes.
Donald Trump leaned hard into his "outsider" persona, even though he’d already been in the Oval Office. Kamala Harris tried to balance being the sitting Vice President with being a "new way forward." It was a wild ride. Honestly, looking back at the policy shifts and the voter data, the choice wasn't as simple as "red vs. blue."
The Economy: High Prices vs. Tax Hikes
Most people vote with their wallets. It’s a cliché because it’s true. During the campaign, the massive debate surrounding trump vs harris who should i vote for usually started and ended with the price of eggs and gas.
Trump’s pitch was basically "remember 2019?" He promised to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which was set to expire. He also floated the idea of lowering the corporate tax rate even further—from 21% down to 15% for companies that make their products in America. He’s always been big on tariffs, too. He proposed a 10% to 20% across-the-board tariff on imports and a staggering 60% on goods from China.
Harris, on the other hand, had a different math problem. She wanted to raise the corporate rate to 28%. Her plan focused on the "care economy." She talked about a $6,000 tax credit for new parents and bringing back the expanded Child Tax Credit. For many, she represented a safety net. For others, she represented a continuation of the inflation that hit during the Biden-Harris years.
According to a study by the Penn Wharton Budget Model, Trump’s plan was projected to increase the national debt by about $5.8 trillion over a decade. Harris’s plans were also expensive, projected to add about $1.2 trillion. Voters had to decide: do I want the guy who promises growth through deregulation, or the woman who wants to tax the wealthy to fund social programs?
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Immigration: The Border Wall vs. The Border Bill
This was the loudest part of the room. You couldn't go five minutes without hearing about the border.
Trump's stance was consistent: build the wall, end birthright citizenship, and launch the largest domestic deportation operation in history. He viewed the border as a "national security crisis." He often used very blunt, sometimes controversial language to describe the influx of migrants.
Harris had a tougher needle to thread. She had to answer for the record number of crossings early in the administration. Her "pivot" involved supporting a bipartisan border security bill that would have added 1,500 more border agents and 100 more immigration judges. It was a more "law and order" approach than many expected from a Democrat.
Why the Shift Happened
- Voter Fatigue: People were tired of the news cycles showing chaotic scenes at the border.
- Economic Impact: Trump argued that undocumented labor was depressing wages for American workers.
- Legal vs. Illegal: Harris tried to focus on creating "orderly" pathways, but many voters felt it was too little, too late.
Abortion and Reproductive Rights
If the economy was the top issue for men, reproductive rights were the lightning rod for women. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the landscape changed.
Harris made this her centerpiece. She traveled the country, arguing that a second Trump term would lead to a national abortion ban. She was the "freedom" candidate in this regard. Trump’s position was a bit more of a moving target. He took credit for appointing the justices who overturned Roe but also said he wouldn't sign a national ban, preferring to let the states decide.
This created a weird patchwork of laws across the country. In 2024, voters in seven states had abortion-related measures on their ballots. It wasn't just about the candidates; it was about the fundamental right to choose.
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The Results: Who Actually Voted for Whom?
The data from Pew Research shows some pretty shocking shifts that occurred in the 2024 cycle.
Trump didn't just win with "the base." He made massive gains with groups that Republicans usually struggle with. He nearly doubled his support among Black voters compared to 2020. Even more surprising? He won 60% of Hispanic voters who hadn't voted in the previous election.
Harris maintained a strong lead with college-educated women and urban dwellers. But the "rural-urban" divide became a canyon. Trump won nearly 70% of rural voters. It turns out, that "forgotten man" rhetoric still resonates in the Rust Belt and the heartland.
Foreign Policy: Isolation vs. Alliances
Trump’s "America First" wasn’t just a slogan; it was a blueprint. He threatened to let Russia do "whatever the hell they want" to NATO members who didn't pay their share. He wanted to end the war in Ukraine "in 24 hours," likely by forcing a territorial compromise.
Harris stood for the status quo of international alliances. She argued that abandoning Ukraine would embolden China and Iran. It was a classic "Globalist vs. Nationalist" showdown.
What We Can Learn from the Choice
When people asked trump vs harris who should i vote for, they weren't just asking about two people. They were asking about two different visions of what "fairness" looks like in America.
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- If you valued stability and social safety, Harris was the logical choice.
- If you valued disruption and economic overhaul, Trump was the go-to.
The election proved that the old "party lines" are blurring. We saw young men, particularly those under 50, swing toward Trump in ways we haven't seen in decades. We saw Harris struggle to keep the "blue wall" of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin intact.
Actionable Insights for the Future
Politics doesn't end at the ballot box. Here is what you should be doing now:
Track the Tax Expirations Keep a close eye on the 2017 tax provisions. Whether you're a small business owner or a W-2 employee, their expiration (or extension) will change your take-home pay significantly by the end of 2025.
Watch the Tariffs If you buy imported goods (which is basically everyone), watch the news on trade. New tariffs could lead to a "price shock" on electronics and clothing. It might be wise to make major purchases sooner rather than later.
Local Elections Matter More Since the federal government is so gridlocked, most of the laws affecting your daily life—like property taxes, school boards, and local policing—are decided in off-year elections. Don't just show up every four years.
Verify Your Sources We live in an era of deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation. Before sharing a political "hot take" on social media, check it against non-partisan sites like Ballotpedia or the Pew Research Center.
The choice in 2024 was a turning point. Whether you're happy with the current administration or not, understanding the "why" behind the votes helps us navigate the next few years without losing our minds. Stay informed, stay skeptical, and keep your eye on the policy, not just the personalities.