Pennsylvania has always been a bit of a tease. Honestly, if you were watching the returns on election night, you probably felt that familiar "here we go again" sensation. For months, the pundits told us it was a coin flip. The polls were basically a flat line. Then, the 2024 election results PA started rolling in, and the map didn't just tip—it shifted in ways that left a lot of people scratching their heads.
It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. Donald Trump didn't just squeak by this time. He cleared the 50% mark, something a Republican hadn't done in the Keystone State since 1988. We’re talking about 3,543,308 votes for the former president. That is the most votes ever cast for a single candidate in the history of Pennsylvania. Period.
Breaking Down the 2024 Election Results PA by the Numbers
You’ve gotta look at the margins to see the real story. Kamala Harris finished with 3,423,042 votes, which sounds like a lot until you realize Trump beat her by about 120,000. That’s a 1.71% margin. It might sound small, but in a state where 2020 was decided by less than a percentage point, it’s a landslide in "swing state" terms.
💡 You might also like: The Fast and the Holy: What Was the Fastest Conclave Ever Held?
Check out the "Blue Wall" districts. Everyone expected Philly to carry the day for the Democrats, but the numbers tell a different story. Trump actually cut into Harris’s margins in Philadelphia and the surrounding "collar" counties like Montgomery and Delaware. He didn't win them, obviously, but he lost by less. In politics, losing by less is often just as good as winning somewhere else.
The raw statewide data looks like this:
- Donald Trump (R): 50.37% (3,543,308 votes)
- Kamala Harris (D): 48.66% (3,423,042 votes)
- Jill Stein (G): 0.49%
- Chase Oliver (L): 0.47%
Basically, the third-party candidates were a non-factor. They didn't even combine for 1%. Voters were locked in on the top two, and the red wave was real.
The Senate Race That Refused to End
If the presidential race was a clear punch, the Senate race between Bob Casey Jr. and Dave McCormick was a 15-round brawl that went to the judges. For weeks, we weren't even sure who won. It got messy. Recounts, court battles over undated mail-in ballots, and enough tension to power all of Pittsburgh.
✨ Don't miss: Trump 34 Felonies Appeal: Why the Hush Money Verdict Could Actually Crumble
Dave McCormick ended up with 3,399,295 votes (48.82%). Bob Casey, the incumbent who had never lost a statewide race, pulled in 3,384,180 (48.60%).
That is a razor-thin 0.22% difference.
Because the margin was under 0.5%, it triggered an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law. Casey eventually conceded on November 21, once it became clear the math just wasn't there. It’s a huge deal because McCormick was the only Republican challenger in the country to flip a seat in a state Trump also flipped. Every other GOP gain happened in states Trump had already won in 2020.
Why the Suburbs Flipped (Sorta)
There’s this myth that the suburbs are deep blue. Kinda true, but mostly wrong. The 2024 election results PA showed that while suburban voters still lean Democrat, their enthusiasm hit a wall. In places like Bucks County, the shift was noticeable.
Why? Inflation, maybe. Or maybe just a general "vibes" shift. In rural areas, the Republican base didn't just show up—they exploded. Turnout in counties like Juniata hit nearly 85% of registered voters. That’s insane. You can't outrun those kinds of numbers by just winning big in cities.
The Down-Ballot Dominance
It wasn't just the big names at the top. Republicans swept the "row offices" too. This is the stuff people usually ignore, but it matters for how the state actually runs.
Dave Sunday won the Attorney General race with over 50% of the vote. Tim DeFoor kept his spot as Auditor General. Stacy Garrity held onto the Treasurer's office. When you look at the 2024 election results PA, you see a consistent pattern: Pennsylvanians wanted a change in management across the board.
🔗 Read more: Why the Max M. Fisher Federation Building is the Quiet Heart of Jewish Detroit
In the U.S. House, most incumbents held on, but there were some big flips.
- District 7: Republican Ryan Mackenzie took out incumbent Susan Wild.
- District 8: Rob Bresnahan defeated Matt Cartwright in a district that has been leaning red for years.
The Democrats did manage to keep control of the State House by a single seat, which is the only thing keeping Pennsylvania from being a total GOP trifecta right now.
What This Means for You Right Now
If you're trying to make sense of all this, you've gotta realize that Pennsylvania is no longer a "blue-leaning" state. It’s a true purple battleground that, for the moment, has tilted right. The 77.1% turnout of registered voters is the highest since the late 80s. People are engaged, they're voting, and they're not necessarily following the old party lines.
What to do with this info:
- Keep an eye on the courts: The legal battles over mail-in ballot dating are still influencing how future elections will be run.
- Watch the Senate: Dave McCormick was sworn in on January 3, 2025. His performance will likely set the stage for the 2026 midterms.
- Check your registration: With the state being this close, every single vote actually does matter. You can check your status at the PA Department of State website.
The dust has finally settled on the 2024 election results PA, but the political landscape of the state has been permanently altered. Whether this is a one-time shift or a long-term realignment is the million-dollar question for 2026 and beyond.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
- Follow the official Pennsylvania Election Returns portal for any late-breaking municipal audit data.
- Review the precinct-level maps to see exactly how your specific neighborhood voted compared to 2020.
- Monitor the 2025 judicial and municipal election cycles, as these often serve as a bellwether for the next major statewide contest.