So, it finally happened. After what felt like a decade of non-stop campaign ads, heated dinner table debates, and more polls than any human should ever have to look at, the dust has settled on the 2024 race.
Donald Trump is the winner of the election 2024.
Honestly, even if you saw it coming, the way it went down was kinda wild. He didn't just squeak by in the Electoral College; he pulled off something a Republican hasn't done in twenty years: he won the popular vote too. We're talking 312 electoral votes for Trump compared to 226 for Kamala Harris. He basically ran the table on all seven of the major swing states. Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin? All red.
It’s the kind of comeback story you usually only see in movies—or Grover Cleveland’s biography. Trump is now only the second person in U.S. history to win non-consecutive terms.
The numbers that actually mattered
People are going to be dissecting these numbers for years, but the basic reality is that the "red wall" didn't just hold—it expanded. Trump’s victory was built on a coalition that looks a lot different than the GOP of the 90s or even 2012.
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You’ve probably heard about the "gender gap," and yeah, it was there. Men, especially those under 50, went for Trump in a big way. Roughly 55% of men backed him. But the real surprise for many analysts was the shift among Hispanic and Black voters.
In some counties, the swing was massive. One-in-ten Black women and about 21% of Black men voted for Trump. That might not sound like a landslide, but in a game of inches, those points are everything. Among Hispanic voters who didn't vote in 2020 but showed up this time, 60% went for Trump. That's a tectonic shift in American politics.
Why did people vote the way they did?
If you ask ten different people, you'll get ten different answers, but the data points to a few big ones:
- The Economy: This was the heavy hitter. People were frustrated with the cost of living. Even if the macro stats looked "okay" on paper, the price of eggs and rent told a different story to the average person.
- Immigration: This was a huge pillar of the Trump campaign, and it clearly resonated, not just in border states but across the country.
- A "Man's World": The Trump campaign leaned hard into a specific type of masculine appeal, appearing on "bro" podcasts and sports broadcasts. It worked.
What happens now?
Since January 20, 2025, when Trump was sworn in as the 47th President by Chief Justice John Roberts, things have moved fast. If you've been following the news, you know he didn't waste any time.
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The transition was a bit of a rollercoaster. Trump famously skipped some of the traditional federal funding and office space early on, opting to run things through his own team led by Susie Wiles, who became the first female White House Chief of Staff.
The Day One (and Day 100) Agenda
We’re seeing a massive push on several fronts:
- Tariffs: This isn't just talk. Trump has already moved toward a 10% tariff on most imports and even higher for places like China, Canada, and Mexico.
- Energy: The "drill, baby, drill" mantra has turned into actual policy, with a focus on ramping up oil and gas production and pulling out of international climate agreements like the Paris Accord.
- Government Efficiency: This is the one everyone is talking about—the "DOGE" (Department of Government Efficiency) effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. They’re looking to slash spending and cut the federal workforce.
The things nobody talks about
While the big headlines are about tariffs and deportations, there’s a lot happening under the surface. For instance, the legal landscape for Trump changed almost overnight. The federal cases against him? Basically evaporated once he took office. The 34 felony convictions in New York? Those are in a weird legal limbo because of presidential immunity.
Also, the way the Electoral College worked this time was fascinating. Usually, it favors Republicans, but in 2024, that "bias" almost disappeared because Trump won the popular vote by a margin similar to his win in the decisive state of Pennsylvania.
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Actionable insights for the next four years
Whatever your politics, the winner of the election 2024 has set a course that’s going to impact your wallet and your daily life. Here’s how to prep:
Watch the markets closely. Tariffs can cause short-term inflation on imported goods. If you’re planning a big purchase of something made overseas—like electronics or a car—you might want to keep an eye on those trade deals.
Understand the shift in labor. With a focus on "America First" and potential mass deportations, certain sectors like construction and agriculture might see labor shortages, which could drive up costs for those services.
Stay informed on tax changes. The 2017 tax cuts are a big part of the agenda, and there’s talk of even more cuts for corporations and working families. Talk to your tax person to see how these might affect your specific bracket.
The 2024 election wasn't just another cycle; it was a realignment. The old rules of who votes for whom are being rewritten in real-time. Whether you're happy about the result or not, the "Trump 2.0" era is here, and it's looking to be even more disruptive than the first.