Donald Trump reelected as 47th president of the United States, big win for Republican party.

In what was expected to be one of the closest elections of the 21st century, Donald Trump swept the Electoral College with 292 electoral votes to Harris’s 226 votes, becoming America’s 47th president. Trump won the swing states of Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and North Carolina, vastly over-performing pre-election polling in these key states. The states of Nevada, Arizona, and Alaska have still not been called, but at this point in the race they won’t affect the final outcome of the election. In addition to winning the electoral college, Trump has also won the popular vote, something he couldn’t manage to do against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

“I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president,” Trump said at an election watch party last night. “Every single day I will be fighting for you, and with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve.” 

Though the presidential race hadn’t yet been called when he made the speech, the signs were clear. Another Trump presidency means new firsts for America: Trump will be the oldest person to ever become president, the first convicted felon to become president, and the second president to serve nonconsecutive terms (after Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president). 

“I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States,” Vice President-elect JD Vance said at the same watch party. “America, under President Trump’s leadership, we’re never going to stop fighting for you, for your dreams, for the future of your children…We’re going to have the greatest economic comeback in history under Donald Trump.”

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, Vice President Kamala Harris called President-elect Trump to concede and a few hours after, spoke at her alma mater, Howard University. 

“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we hoped for, not what we voted for,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in her concession speech. “But hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright.” 

In just more than 100 days, Harris mobilized one of the largest presidential campaigns in modern history, raising more than $1 billion dollars in this short time. 

“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign. The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness, and the dignity of all people…We will engage in a peaceful transfer of power. A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election we accept the results.” she said harkening back to the January 6th attack on the capitol. “The important thing is don’t ever give up. Don’t ever give up. Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power.” she said, “I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time but for the benefit of us all I hope that is not the case. But America if it is, let us fill the sky with a billion brilliant stars. The light of optimism, of faith, of truth, and service.”

Article by Oscar Guillemin