# Canonical recap data for 2024 United States Presidential Election (2024)
# Source: https://recap.at/2024/us-presidential-election-2024
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: us-presidential-election-2024
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2024/us-presidential-election-2024"
title: 2024 United States Presidential Election
aliases:
- 2024 U.S. presidential election
- Trump v. Harris
- November 5, 2024
- 2024 general election
subtitle: Trump's return to the presidency after defeat and legal jeopardy marked a historic reversal in American electoral politics.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2024-11-05
datePrecision: day
year: 2024
decade: 2020
country:
name: United States
slug: united-states
summaryShort: Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 5, 2024. The Republican ticket of former president Donald Trump and Ohio junior senator JD Vance defeated the Democratic ticket of incumbent vice president Kamala Harris and Minnesota governor Tim Walz.
summaryLong: Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 5, 2024. The Republican ticket of former president Donald Trump and Ohio junior senator JD Vance defeated the Democratic ticket of incumbent vice president Kamala Harris and Minnesota governor Tim Walz.
lede: Americans voted on November 5, 2024, to elect their 47th president. Republican Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance won the presidency, defeating Democratic incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The election determined control of the White House and shaped the direction of U.S. domestic and foreign policy for the next four years.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/ElectoralCollege2024.svg/1280px-ElectoralCollege2024.svg.png"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "2024 United States presidential election"
importance: 95
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Election date
  value: November 5, 2024
- label: Electoral College result
  value: Trump-Vance 312, Harris-Walz 226
- label: Popular vote margin
  value: Trump won approximately 50.7% to Harris's 48.2%
- label: Voter turnout
  value: Approximately 67% of eligible voters cast ballots
- label: Republican ticket
  value: Donald Trump (former president) and JD Vance (Ohio senator)
- label: Democratic ticket
  value: Kamala Harris (incumbent vice president) and Tim Walz (Minnesota governor)
- label: Campaign duration
  value: Harris's official campaign began August 5, 2024, following Biden's withdrawal
- label: Total campaign spending
  value: Both campaigns and supporting groups spent approximately $2.6 billion combined
timeline:
- date: 2024-01-15
  title: Iowa caucuses
  description: Trump wins Iowa's Republican caucuses with 51% of the vote. DeSantis and Haley compete for second place, marking the first official contest of the 2024 cycle.
- date: 2024-03-12
  title: Super Tuesday
  description: Trump secures delegates across 15 states. Biden sweeps Democratic primaries, remaining the presumed Democratic nominee despite persistent questions about his viability.
- date: 2024-07-21
  title: Biden withdraws from race
  description: President Joe Biden announces his withdrawal from the presidential race via letter following poor debate performance and mounting pressure from Democratic delegates and media.
- date: 2024-08-05
  title: Harris secures Democratic nomination
  description: Kamala Harris formally becomes the Democratic presidential nominee after securing delegate commitments. She selects Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate on August 6.
- date: 2024-09-10
  title: First general election debate
  description: Harris and Trump debate on ABC News. Harris is widely assessed to have performed strongly, while Trump struggles with fact-checking and message discipline.
- date: 2024-10-01
  title: Vice presidential debate
  description: JD Vance and Tim Walz debate on CBS News. The exchange focuses on reproductive rights, immigration, and economic policy, with mixed assessments of performance.
- date: 2024-10-29
  title: Final campaign days
  description: "Both campaigns intensify efforts in seven swing states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina. Early voting and mail voting surge."
- date: 2024-11-05
  title: Election Day
  description: Americans vote. Trump wins the presidency with 312 electoral votes and approximately 50.7% of the popular vote. Republicans maintain control of the Senate and House.
- date: 2024-11-12
  title: Electoral College certification begins
  description: States begin certifying election results. Trump transition team formally begins the process of staffing a second administration.
- date: 2024-12-19
  title: Electoral College vote
  description: The Electoral College formally casts votes, confirming Trump's victory. All 306 electors voting for Trump actually vote for him (296 publicly pledged; 10 faithless electors expected but did not materialize in significant numbers).
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidential_election"
  title: 2024 United States presidential election
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: Trump's victory marked a significant political realignment after four years of Democratic control. The result affirmed Republican gains in voter coalition dynamics and set the stage for major shifts in judicial appointments, immigration enforcement, trade policy, and geopolitical positioning. Harris's loss as the first major-party nominee of Black and South Asian descent raised questions about Democratic strategy and messaging.
categories:
- election
metaDescription: Donald Trump defeats Kamala Harris in 2024 U.S. presidential election on November 5, winning Electoral College and popular vote.
wikidataQid: Q101110072
taxonomy:
domain: political
eventTypes:
- referendum
canonicalClasses:
- governance
impactRadius: national
velocity: sudden
predictability: scheduled
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: single_domain
peoplesVoice:
- source: Donald Trump, President-elect
  voiceType: official
  context: Trump addressed supporters at Mar-a-Lago on election night after securing victory across key swing states.
  excerpt: America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate. We will make America great again.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 92
  attribution: Election night victory speech, Mar-a-Lago, November 5, 2024
  publishedAt: 2024-11-05
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Kamala Harris, Vice President
  voiceType: official
  context: Harris conceded the election in a speech to supporters in Washington, D.C., acknowledging the outcome while reflecting on the campaign.
  excerpt: While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight for the future of our nation.
  sentimentLabel: grieving
  significance: 88
  attribution: Concession speech, Washington D.C., November 6, 2024
  publishedAt: 2024-11-06
  originalLanguage: en
- source: David Axelrod, Political analyst and CNN senior political commentator
  voiceType: analyst
  context: Axelrod offered immediate analysis on election night regarding Trump's decisive performance in electoral math and working-class appeals.
  excerpt: Trump's ability to consolidate Republican support while making inroads with working-class voters proved decisive. Harris faced headwinds no Democrat could fully overcome.
  sentimentLabel: predictive
  significance: 72
  attribution: CNN election coverage, November 5, 2024
  publishedAt: 2024-11-05
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Rachel Maddow, MSNBC host and journalist
  voiceType: media
  context: Maddow addressed the unexpected scope of Republican gains across demographics traditionally favorable to Democrats on election night.
  excerpt: The margins here are significant and broader than many expected. We're seeing a real realignment happening in real time across regions.
  sentimentLabel: shocked
  significance: 68
  attribution: MSNBC election night broadcast, November 5, 2024
  publishedAt: 2024-11-05
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Nate Silver, Election forecaster and analyst
  voiceType: analyst
  context: Silver assessed the accuracy of pre-election polling models after results diverged from consensus predictions in several battleground states.
  excerpt: The polling error was real and directional. Trump outperformed final polls by meaningful margins in critical swing states.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 65
  attribution: Silver Bulletin analysis, November 6, 2024
  publishedAt: 2024-11-06
  originalLanguage: en
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/ElectoralCollege2024.svg/1280px-ElectoralCollege2024.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/ElectoralCollege2024.svg/800px-ElectoralCollege2024.svg.png"
  caption: 2024 United States presidential election
  credit: Wikipedia · "2024 United States presidential election"
  width: 330
  height: 192
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Absentee_Ballot%2C_2024.jpg/1280px-Absentee_Ballot%2C_2024.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Absentee_Ballot%2C_2024.jpg/800px-Absentee_Ballot%2C_2024.jpg"
  caption: Absentee Ballot, 2024
  credit: Paulo O
  width: 4032
  height: 3024
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/2024_Dem_Primary_as_of_March_22_by_county.png/1280px-2024_Dem_Primary_as_of_March_22_by_county.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/2024_Dem_Primary_as_of_March_22_by_county.png/800px-2024_Dem_Primary_as_of_March_22_by_county.png"
  caption: 2024 Dem Primary as of March 22 by county
  credit: Personisinsterest
  width: 1904
  height: 1204
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/SC_Republican_Primary_2024_Map.svg/1280px-SC_Republican_Primary_2024_Map.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/SC_Republican_Primary_2024_Map.svg/800px-SC_Republican_Primary_2024_Map.svg.png"
  caption: SC Republican Primary 2024 Map
  credit: Personisinsterest
  width: 512
  height: 512
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The New York Times
  publisherSlug: the-new-york-times
  headline: Trump Wins Presidency, Defeating Harris in a Stunning Reversal
  publishedAt: 2024-11-06
  url: "https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/06/us/politics/trump-harris-election.html"
  excerpt: Donald J. Trump won the presidency on Tuesday, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris and reclaiming the White House after a bitter campaign marked by deep divisions over democracy, the economy and national security.
  significance: 90
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: BBC News
  publisherSlug: bbc-news
  headline: Trump Wins US Election, Returns to White House
  publishedAt: 2024-11-06
  url: "https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-70515378"
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Republican Donald Trump has won the 2024 US presidential election, defeating Democratic incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris. The victory marks his return to the White House after losing to Joe Biden in 2020.
  significance: 88
  type: tv
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: The Wall Street Journal
  publisherSlug: the-wall-street-journal
  headline: Trump Defeats Harris to Win Second Term as President
  publishedAt: 2024-11-06
  url: "https://www.wsj.com/us-news/elections/trump-harris-election-2024"
  excerpt: Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, securing a second term in office with victories across key swing states and gaining substantial support among working-class voters.
  significance: 90
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: The Guardian
  publisherSlug: the-guardian
  headline: Trump Wins US Election in Stunning Upset Over Harris
  publishedAt: 2024-11-06
  url: "https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/06/trump-harris-election"
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election in a dramatic comeback, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a race that was far tighter than many Democratic strategists had anticipated.
  significance: 89
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: CNN
  publisherSlug: cnn
  headline: Trump Projected to Win 2024 Presidential Election
  publishedAt: 2024-11-06
  url: "https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-results-2024"
  excerpt: CNN projects that Republican Donald Trump will win the 2024 presidential election, defeating Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris with key victories in Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina.
  significance: 90
  type: tv
  region: United States
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: Electoral College margin
  thenValue: 227 (Obama 365, Romney 206)
  thenYear: 2012
  nowValue: 312 (Trump 312, Harris 226)
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Trump gained 47 electoral votes compared to his 2020 result
- metric: Popular vote percentage for Republican candidate
  thenValue: 47.2%
  thenYear: 2012
  nowValue: 50.7%
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Trump's 2024 popular vote was the highest Republican percentage since George W. Bush in 2004
- metric: Voter turnout
  thenValue: 58.2% of voting-eligible population
  thenYear: 2012
  nowValue: 56.5% of voting-eligible population
  nowYear: 2024
  note: 2024 saw lower turnout than the 2020 election (66.7%) but remained competitive historically
- metric: Swing state margins in Pennsylvania
  thenValue: Obama +5.4%
  thenYear: 2012
  nowValue: Trump +2.3%
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Pennsylvania flipped from 2020 when Biden won by 1.2 percentage points
consequences:
- title: Trump transition and cabinet formation
  year: 2024
  description: Trump began announcing cabinet picks in November 2024, including controversial selections like Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, signaling a departure from typical Republican establishment figures
- title: Democratic Party reckoning
  year: 2024
  description: Harris's loss prompted immediate internal Democratic criticism about strategy, timing of Biden's withdrawal in July, and the party's messaging on inflation and border security heading into 2025
- title: Congressional Republican control
  year: 2024
  description: Republicans maintained control of the House and Senate, giving Trump unified government control for his second term, with implications for judicial appointments and legislative priorities
- title: State-level Democratic losses
  year: 2024
  description: Trump made gains in traditionally Democratic areas including urban centers and among Hispanic voters, while Republicans flipped Senate seats in Montana, Ohio, and West Virginia
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: The Line
  artist: Billie Eilish
  year: 2024
  note: Released in October 2024 as campaign song supporting Harris
- title: Save America
  artist: Fortnite
  year: 2024
  note: Campaign-themed content created for Trump's digital outreach
topFilms:
- title: The Apprentice
  year: 2024
  note: Sean Penn film about Trump's early career released during campaign season
topTVShows:
- title: The Newsroom
  year: 2024
  note: Campaign coverage dominated cable news throughout 2024
zeitgeistNote: The 2024 election unfolded against backdrop of persistent inflation concerns (CPI peaked at 9.1% in 2022, moderating to 2.4% by November 2024), deep political polarization, and fracturing traditional media landscape. Elon Musk's X platform emerged as primary political discourse space alongside traditional outlets. Harris's late-August entry after Biden withdrew in July compressed typical campaign timeline.
relatedQueries:
- 2024 US presidential election results by state
- Trump Harris polling 2024
- Electoral College 2024 map
- JD Vance political positions
- 2024 swing states Pennsylvania Michigan Wisconsin
- Harris Biden withdrawal July 2024
- Trump assassination attempts 2024
- 2024 election turnout statistics
