Former President Donald J Trump wins the US Election

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In the pivotal 2024 US election, Republicans have gained control of the presidency and Senate and are predicted to win the House. However, abortion rights have made strides in multiple states.

Donald J Trump took an early lead in the polls last night and secured the 270 electoral votes necessary to win the presidency in the early hours of the morning. Critical swing states Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, and Pennsylvania all voted for the Trump-Vance ticket. Arizona and Nevada, although not yet called, are headed in the same direction".

The former president made strides among minority voters. He gained a 10-point lead with Hispanic men and increased his popularity among voters under 30 to 4 in 10 from 3 in 10 in 2020. Meanwhile, Harris faced a drop in support from Black voters as 8 in 10 voted for her, down from 9 in 10 voting for Joe Biden in 2020. 

Also on the ballot in ten states were abortion referendums. Arizona voted to expand abortion rights, as well as Missouri narrowly. In Florida and South Dakota, similar measures did not pass. Colorado, Maryland, Montana, New York, and Nevada all passed a measure to enshrine abortion rights in their state constitutions. Nebraska will maintain its 12-week ban. 

At the Democrats Abroad Election Night Watch Party, the mood turned from hopeful to solemn as polls increasingly predicted Trump’s victory. By 8am GMT, volunteers started taking down “Harris Walz 2024” paraphernalia and packed away streamers, flags, and Uncle Sam-style hats. Many American ex-pats began to cry, reflect on his previous presidency, and trudge home. When asked how she felt, one volunteer said, “Not great… There’s not much else to say.” Others nodded their heads in agreement. Disappointed (but unsurprised) silence settled over the bar, broken only by a broadcast of Trump’s victory speech. 

As America moves towards Inauguration Day on 20 January, civil rights organizations such as the ACLU mobilize “to defend civil rights and liberties” and economists warn markets to brace for “long term volatility.”