2024 United States Presidential Election: Results and Analysis

The 2024 United States presidential election concluded on November 5, 2024, marking a pivotal moment in American political history. The contest saw the Republican ticket, led by former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance, face off against the Democratic ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz.

The election was characterized by intense competition in swing states and a complex shift in voter demographics. Ultimately, Donald Trump secured a victory, winning both the Electoral College and the popular vote, paving the way for his return to the presidency.

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Key Facts

Joe Biden, the incumbent president in 2024, whose term expired at noon on January 20, 2025

Winner: Donald Trump (Republican)
Electoral Votes: Trump 312, Harris 226
Popular Vote: Trump 77,302,580 (49.8%), Harris 75,017,613 (48.3%)
Tipping Point State: Pennsylvania
Incumbent Transition: Joe Biden's term expired at noon on January 20, 2025.

The Candidates and Tickets

To sow election doubt, Trump escalated use of "rigged election" and "election interference" statements in advance of the 2024 election compared to the previous two elections.[25]

The Republican Ticket

Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, ran for a second non-consecutive term. He selected Senator JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate. Trump's path to the nomination involved a dominant performance in the Republican primaries, winning nearly every jurisdiction except Vermont and Washington D.C.

Results of the 2024 Republican presidential primaries. Trump (blue) won everything but Vermont and Washington D.C., which went to Nikki Haley (orange).

Throughout the campaign, Trump focused on themes of election integrity and border security, pledging to complete the wall on the southern border.

Trump pledged to finish the wall on the southern border if elected.

The Democratic Ticket

Kamala Harris, the 49th Vice President of the United States, led the Democratic ticket alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Harris stepped into the role of the presumptive nominee following a primary process where Joe Biden had previously won the vast majority of delegates.

Results of the 2024 Democratic presidential primaries. Biden (blue), as the presumptive nominee, won everything but American Samoa, which went to Jason Palmer (purple).

The Harris campaign emphasized abortion rights and democratic norms, contrasting their platform with the Republican approach to judicial appointments and healthcare.

Abortion-rights protesters in Washington, D.C. in May 2022, as part of the Bans Off Our Bodies protest following the leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade

Election Results and Electoral College

To win the presidency, a candidate must secure at least 270 of the 538 available electoral votes. Donald Trump exceeded this threshold significantly, carrying 31 states plus Maine's 2nd congressional district.

A general election absentee ballot from Fairfax County, Virginia, listing the presidential and vice presidential candidates

The victory was cemented by wins in several critical "close states" where the margin of victory was narrow. Pennsylvania served as the tipping-point state, with Trump winning by 1.71% (120,266 votes).

Vote margin swing by state 2020 to 2024. No state shifted Democratic. Relative to 2016, 28 states shifted to the right by 2024, with an average shift relative to 2016 of 1 point.[561]

The following table provides a comprehensive summary of the final results:

2024 Presidential Election Final Tally
Candidate	Party	Popular Vote	Popular %	Electoral Votes
Donald Trump	Republican	77,302,580	49.80%	312
Kamala Harris	Democratic	75,017,613	48.32%	226
Other Candidates	Various	2,284,967	1.88%	0

Voter Demographics and Trends

The 2024 election revealed significant shifts in voter behavior. A notable trend was the rightward shift in 28 states compared to 2016, with no states shifting toward the Democratic Party between 2020 and 2024.

While Trump's total number of votes increased each election,[639] Democratic support rose from 2016 to 2020 and then fell in 2024. Turnout followed Democratic support trends.

Demographic Breakdown

Age: Harris maintained strength among voters aged 18–29, while Trump performed strongly among voters aged 50–64.
Gender: A clear divide persisted, with women aged 18–44 leaning heavily toward Harris, while men across most age groups favored Trump.
Race: Black voters remained overwhelmingly supportive of Harris, while Trump saw increased support among Latino and White voters.

Bar plot of the percentage of the population with a bachelor's degree in the electoral jurisdictions won by Harris in the election[641]

Campaign Issues and Controversies

The campaign was marked by high tension and several unprecedented events. Donald Trump faced multiple criminal and civil legal proceedings, including the discovery of classified intelligence material at Mar-a-Lago in 2022.

Classified intelligence material found inside Mar-a-Lago in 2022

The election cycle also saw attempts on Trump's life, which became a focal point of his campaign rallies and the Republican National Convention.

Trump at the RNC standing alongside the fire department uniform of Corey Comperatore, who was killed during the attempted assassination of Trump

On the policy front, the candidates clashed over the economy—specifically the post-COVID inflation spike—and foreign policy, including the U.S. response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.

Post-COVID inflation spike in the United States, with the gray column indicating the COVID-19 recession

Joe Biden signing Executive Order 14065 in February 2022 in response to Russia's imminent invasion of Ukraine. The United States has given billions worth of military aid to Ukraine following the Russian invasion of the country in 2022.

Demonstrators at the March on Washington for Gaza in January 2024

Presidential Transition

Following the election, the United States entered a transition period. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump met in the Oval Office to coordinate the transfer of power, ensuring the continuity of government operations.