On Nov. 5 2024, voters showed up to polls across the country, with the earliest opening times starting at 6:00 a.m. ET in nine states according to The New York Times, and the latest closing times ending at 1:00 a.m. ET in Alaska as stated by NPR. Several battleground states saw a tight race, with NPR originally rating swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania as “toss-ups.” Later in the night, the Associated Press called both states as a Trump win, giving him two of the most crucial states of the election. This pattern would continue, eventually earning Donald Trump the title of President Elect for the 47th presidency.
As of Nov. 10, Former President Trump has received 312 confirmed electoral votes with Vice President Harris receiving 226 as called by the Associated Press. Nationally, Trump received around fifty percent of the popular vote, while Harris has received about forty-eight percent. The same day, Associated Press live coverage of the electoral results finalized the last remaining state to be called, Arizona, as a Trump victory. Nevada was also added to the list of Trump’s electoral votes the day before, Nov. 9.
North Carolina was declared to be an addition to the Republican electoral college on Election night. But in the Gubernatorial race–relating to State Governorship–Democrat Josh Stein won over Republican opponent Mark Robinson. He made history that night, becoming NC’s first Jewish Governor as reported by CBS News. In Wake county, according to INDY Week—an independent news outlet for the Triangle Area—Janet Cowell won Raleigh Mayor “in landslide” over four other candidates in this year’s city-wide election.
The Herald was able to speak with Department Head of the Meredith Poll and Political Science professor Dr. David McLennan about the results of this year’s election.
When asked how close he expected the results to be and if surprised by the outcome, McLennan stated that he expected Trump's victory, but was surprised “somewhat by the margin.” Trump also made history that night, with McLennan adding that Trump was the “first Republican presidential candidate to win a popular vote majority since George H. W. Bush in 1988.” These results are due to a variety of factors, with one being the general unpopularity of President Biden’s Presidency, with McLennan noting that when polled, “about three-quarters of the American electorate [thought] the country [was] on the wrong track.” Despite this, the “party of the current president” gets blamed for nationwide issues, so they “suffered at the ballot box.”
This is what McLennan believes happened to Vice President Harris. He stated that because the country had issues with “high inflation/prices over the last few years, memories of COVID restrictions, etc,” Harris was blamed for the perceived failures of Biden's presidency, with McLennan noting that “only 38 percent of Americans approved of his job performance” regarding Biden’s popularity.
McLennan also had the opportunity to elaborate on Josh Stein’s recent victory in becoming Governor, and what that could mean for North Carolina going forward. According to him, politics in NC will likely remain the same, with Dr. McLennan adding that since 2017, “North Carolina has had a Democratic governor and a Republican-controlled legislature.” In terms of policy, McLennan believes that Stein is “very similar” to Governor Roy Cooper. However, due to the current Republican majorities in the whole General Assembly, McLennan foresees Stein being “unable to accomplish much of his policy agenda.”
Though, WRAL News said that Democrats recently broke the Republican supermajority with the results of this year’s election. The WRAL article shared that in this election, “the GOP came up one seat short in the state House of Representatives to keep their supermajority,” which no longer makes the General Assembly “veto-proof.”
Regardless of outcomes, elections have historically caused a shift in the mental health of the general public. An article from American psychology magazine, Psychology Today, stated that “55 percent of U.S. adults said ‘they feel worn out by political posts and discussions’” based on a Pew Research Center poll taken from 2020.
Dr. McLennan also offered advice to The Herald on how students can manage their mental health amidst an increasingly polarizing–and intense–political atmosphere.
Firstly, the same Psychology Today article referenced earlier states that “Social media often creates echo chambers, where users are exposed primarily to viewpoints that reinforce their own in an environment that intensifies emotions.” Because of this, McLennan believes that students should “reduce social media (and traditional media) usage,” as McLennan has noticed significant “hate and misinformation” being spread on online platforms.
Staying close to loved ones also helps to alleviate anxiety, with Dr. McLennan expressing that “allies help.” There are also plenty of ways of “staying active” according to him, with many nonprofits around Raleigh “serving the causes that many students value” beyond the polls. Raleigh-based Walter Magazine highlights A Place at the Table, a “sunny, downtown café” that serves meals regardless of a customer’s ability to pay and is the city’s “first pay-what-you-can cafe” according to their page. Another option to look into is The Green Chair Project, which calls for the donation of “gently used” furniture for families facing “homelessness, crisis, or disaster.”
McLennan finalized his interview with The Herald by stating that “American politics is cyclical.” The midterm elections, a vital time for the legislative branch, will occur in 2026 and indicate which party has the stronger push in future policies. This century marks a tumultuous one, as McLennan said that “in the first 24 years of this century, the White House, the US House, and the US Senate have changed party control consistently.” In the next coming years, he says one thing will remain as certain: “Americans want change.”
By Ericka Hewitt, Contributing Writer
Graphic by Shae-Lynn Henderson, EIC
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