2024 Election Special: Key Race Results, Shifting Voter Trends, and Puerto Rico’s Gubernatorial Race

This week’s edition covers stories 
from October 31st to November 6th, 2024.
Today’s issue is 1199 words, a 10-minute read.

Hey folks, Mateo here.

It has been an eventful week, to say the least. Election week is never easy, so be sure to take care of yourself and others during this high-stress time. Today’s edition is focused on election results from local elections, to the presidential elections, and the gubernatorial elections in Puerto Rico. Many of these races are still ongoing, so be sure to stay informed on the current happenings.

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Presidential Race Concludes: Trump Wins Amid Changing Voter Landscape

Former President Donald Trump has won the presidential election, becoming the first president who was previously convicted of felonies. He is also only the second president to be elected to two nonconsecutive terms. Vice President Kamala Harris, his opponent, underperformed across the nation, losing votes in several battleground states that Joe Biden had won. Exit polls show significant shifts in support for Trump among three demographics that aided Biden just four years ago: Black, Latino, and younger voters.

Among Black voters, a traditionally strong Democratic group, Harris received 86% support, a drop from Biden’s 92% in 2020. Black women largely favored Harris, with 92% backing her compared to just 7% for Trump, similar to Biden’s 2020 margins. However, support among Black men declined to 78% for Harris, almost 10% down from Biden’s 87%. Latino support also saw a shift. While Harris won the group with 53% to Trump’s 45%, this was a noticeable decrease from Biden’s wider 2020 margin of 59% to 38%. Latino men favored Trump more in this cycle, with 54% backing him over Harris’s 44%, a shift from Biden’s 2020 support of 57% among this group. Younger voters aged 18 to 29 supported Harris over Trump by 13 points, with 55% favoring her versus Trump’s 42%. However, Biden had outpaced her in this age bracket with a 24-point margin in 2020.

Beyond these shifts, Harris and the Democratic party’s stance on Israel proved to be another factor in her electoral challenges. After the Biden-Harris administration showed strong support for Israel, many liberal voters, especially those aligned with pro-Palestinian causes, grew increasingly critical. Across college campuses, protests and encampments emerged, with students and public figures taking significant risks to advocate for Palestinian rights. Despite pressure from activists, the Harris campaign made no concessions, which alienated some of her supporters. The campaign’s outreach efforts to Arab Americans and other pro-Palestinian advocates seemed limited and at times dismissive. Another group that the Democratic party struggled with is rural voters, signaling a need for a re-evaluation in how they connect with blue-collar workers across races. A main concern of those who fit into that category and others across the country was the economy, which didn’t play a big enough role in Harris’s campaign. This, combined with endorsements from prominent Republican figures like Dick Cheney, signaled to voters that the campaign was out of touch with their concerns, impacting Harris’s performance.

Though she underperformed, her efforts to put together a full fledged campaign in just over 100 days cannot go unnoticed. Kamala Harris’s rapid campaign for the Democratic nomination was a whirlwind effort marked by her ability to build support quickly and decisively. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Harris’s team had intensified their efforts to lay the groundwork for a possible 2028 campaign, which they swiftly adapted for an immediate run. With little time, Harris called influential leaders—including Barack Obama, the Clintons, and top Congressional Democrats—while her allies rallied activists nationwide to support her. Within 48 hours, she had secured endorsements from a majority of delegates, allowing her to clinch the nomination without a primary, an unprecedented move since 1968. This unconventional approach generated criticism from some who viewed the process as rushed, yet her team saw it as a testament to her capability and political strength. Harris then chose a popular Democrat in Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as the vice presidential nominee, as he was gaining traction for his ability to tackle key issues. 

Over approximately three months, Harris aimed to connect with voters and highlight her differences from Trump, who had not accepted the 2020 election results, leading to an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and was found guilty on 34 counts of felony charges earlier this year. Trump’s campaign focused on economic concerns and immigration, appealing to voters frustrated by these issues. He vowed to implement a large-scale deportation program, aiming to remove millions if re-elected. His platform included promises to reduce taxes, impose higher tariffs on imported goods, curb migration across the southern border, enforce tighter crime policies, and ending executive support for policies associated with the transgender rights movement. This campaign appears to have resonated better with the American people.

Democrats Hold Ground in Minnesota Despite Lower Turnout

Local elections ended better for the democrats in Minnesota, as in the U.S. senate race, Senator Amy Klobuchar secured her fourth term, overcoming a challenge from Republican Royce White, a former basketball player and political newcomer aligned with former president Trump. Klobuchar campaigned on her record of bipartisan efforts in areas like healthcare and veterans’ services, while White positioned himself as an outsider aiming to disrupt the status quo. Klobuchar led the race substantially, aided by a significant fundraising advantage and high profile recognition, solidifying her position as one of Minnesota’s most established political figures. This also meant that the DFL will keep its one-person majority.

In Minnesota’s 5th District, Representative Ilhan Omar, a prominent member of the progressive “Squad,” easily defeated Republican challenger Dalia Al-Aqidi. Omar’s re-election reaffirms her support in a district where Democrats often hold a substantial lead, with Minneapolis at its core. Her campaign emphasized contentious topics such as Israel-Palestine relations and police reform, areas where Omar has consistently pushed for change despite conservative criticisms. Additionally, Representative Angie Craig won again in Minnesota’s competitive 2nd District, defeating Joe Teirab, and marking her fourth consecutive term. The house majority appears to still be in the air, currently sitting at 67-67.

Jenniffer González Leads Puerto Rico’s Gubernatorial Race, Setting Stage for PNP’s Third Term

Jenniffer González of Puerto Rico’s pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP) is leading in the island’s closely watched gubernatorial election, with 39% of the vote and over 90% of precincts reporting. González’s potential win would mark a historic third consecutive term for her party, and she would be the first elected women governor of Puerto Rico. Her primary opponent, Juan Dalmau of the Independence Party and Citizen Victory Movement, is in second place with 33%, becoming the first candidate outside the two main political parties to reach this level of support. Jesús Manuel Ortiz of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), which favors Puerto Rico’s current territorial status, has been pushed to third with 21%, reflecting a shift in voter alignment.

The election has underscored rising frustration among voters, many of whom are seeking alternatives to the longstanding dominance of the PNP and PPD. Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, a vocal supporter of Dalmau, purchased billboards urging against PNP vote and has pledged continued advocacy for issues affecting the island. As the final votes are tallied, Puerto Rico awaits an official certification, with González  promising to govern inclusively if elected and Dalmau vowing to push for transformative change.

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Stay informed, stay connected. 

See you next week! 

–
Mateo and the NewPrensa team

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