Donald Trump is projected to become the first Republican in two decades to win the popular vote in the US presidential elections. Trump’s path to the presidency became clear as he won key swing states including North Carolina and Georgia, hurting Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris’s chances at the White House.
The former president is on track to reclaim the White House, potentially becoming the first Republican to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. In the 2004 US presidential elections, Bush won 62,040,610 votes and 286 electoral votes over Democratic candidate John Kerry. Who secured 59,028,444 votes and 251 electoral votes.
According to electoral voter data for the past 20 years, Barack Obama won the largest popular vote in 2008, with 69.5 million votes (52.9 percent) and 365 electoral votes. His second term in 2012, however, was still a decisive victory. There was a slight decline in popular vote percentage to 51.1 percent and electoral votes to 332.
In contrast, the 2016 election saw an unusual result when Donald Trump won the presidency with 304 electoral votes but only 46.1 percent of the popular vote, while Hillary Clinton won 48.2 percent of the popular vote—compared to Trump. Was 2.1 percent more. Still insufficient for victory.
In 2020, Joe Biden won a clear popular and electoral majority, winning 51.3 percent of the popular vote and 306 electoral votes. In comparison, Trump got 74,223,975 votes and his electoral votes were 232.
Trump took early leads in key swing states, including North Carolina and Georgia. But the greatest prize of all was winning the crucial battlefield of Pennsylvania. With 19 electoral votes, Pennsylvania’s victory brings Trump closer to the White House. These victories, combined with his strong showing in traditionally Republican strongholds such as Texas and Florida, gave Trump a significant advantage in the electoral vote count.
As the results came in, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign struggled to regain momentum. Despite strong showings in Democratic strongholds, his path to victory appeared increasingly slim. Harris’s campaign headquarters in Washington, DC, advised supporters that the clear path to victory would now depend on the so-called “Blue Wall” states: Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. With Pennsylvania now gone to Trump, all eyes are on the other two states.
There were dramatically different scenes at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Washington DC and Florida on election night. At Howard University, a historically black college in the nation’s capital, enthusiasm waned rapidly as results began to show Trump’s growing lead. Harris supporters, many of whom had hoped she would score a historic victory as the first Black and South Asian woman in the White House, expressed concern and unease. On the other hand, Trump supporters celebrated the early victory at the Palm Beach viewing party.
If confirmed, Trump’s victory would make him the oldest president to be inaugurated. His return to the White House would also make him the second president to serve non-consecutive terms, a feat previously accomplished by Grover Cleveland in the 19th century.
