Government
By Anthony Birritteri, Bob Considine, Jim Pytell On Nov 6, 2024
After vote counting in key battleground states went deep into the night, the 2024 presidential race was called by multiple outlets at around 2 a.m., declaring Republican candidate Donald J. Trump as the 47th president of the United States. In a historic victory, President-elect Trump is now projected to secure 312 electoral votes and appears to be on track to sweep all seven swing states.
Trump also became the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004 by securing 70,973,208 votes as of 6a.m. this morning, compared to Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris’ 66,146,435 votes.
The former president – and now once again president-elect – took the stage at Mar-a-Lago in the early morning hours on Wednesday, accompanied by Vice President-elect JD Vance, family and friends, to declare victory and address his watch party crowd and the nation.
“I believe this was the greatest political movement of all time,” Trump said. “We are going to help our country heal. I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president.”
The 2024 presidential campaign cycle was unlike anything we’ve seen in the country’s history, and included two assassination attempts on President Trump; as well as incumbent President Joe Biden being ousted mid-campaign and subsequently replaced by Harris, without receiving any votes to become the party’s nominee.
Harris did not publicly speak last night at her watch party at Howard University, though she is expected to speak today.
There was more good news for Republicans on the night, as the GOP additionally took control of the Senate, gaining two seats, and, according to current projections, appears to be on track to maintaining control of the House of Representatives, which would mark a clean sweep for the now rejuvenated party.
With the victory, Trump becomes the first president to return to the White House in 130 years.
Below, we look at what transpired concerning the major races, looking at the winners and losers and how New Jersey citizens voted.
The Senate Race
Three-term Democratic Congressman Andy Kim was the projected winner of the US Senate campaign to take over the seat left vacant by former Senator Bob Menendez.
With 91% of the vote reported this morning, Kim, the first Korean American elected to the Senate, took 53.1% of the ballots to defeat Republican challenger Curtis Bashaw (44.6%). During his victory speech at the DoubleTree Hotel in Cherry Hill hotel, Kim said he revered and was in awe of this country, the land his parents immigrated to 50 years ago.
It is because of this reverence, he said, that it pains him to see the struggle the nation is going through, where “the very foundation of our democracy is rendered fragile.”
Kim, who entered the Senate race the day after Menendez was indicted on federal bribery charges, told the audience that people “simply don’t trust their public servants. They don’t trust that politics is working for them. That they don’t think that the big challenges they face in their families and in the state are solvable … that they feel that nobody is looking after them,” Kim said.
However, he said that a new era of politics is rising. “The same old, same old is done, and in New Jersey, we have shown the country that there is a better way. … It means politics that lifts people; that gives people hope; that delivers for everyone. … It could mean politics that changes the trajectory of our nation and builds a brighter future.”
Kim put forward a challenge last night as the nation nears its 250th anniversary, saying, “Let us use this extraordinary milestone as a moment of healing. … Let us reflect on the very first principles of our nation and let us put forward a renewed vision. Let us use this 250th anniversary to be a reminder of the greatness of America. The greatness of America is not what we take from this country, but what we give back.”
In his concession speech given at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge, Bashaw, who also entered the Senate race because of Senator Menendez’s indictment (among other issues), quoted a Bible verse that reflected his campaign: “‘I have fought a good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith’ … our campaign has done that. … We have fought a good fight,” Bashaw said. “This race has played by the rules of our American values by keeping it civil and focusing on the issues. We ran our own race and owned our own lane, and we fought well.”
With 2.5 million registered Democrats in New Jersey compared to 1.6 million Republicans, Kim appeared to be the favorite to win the Senate race, especially when one considers that no Republican candidate has been elected to the US Senate in 50 years.
Congressional Race, District 7
In New Jersey’s closely watched District 7 congressional race, Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. held off a strong effort from Democrat Sue Altman.
In a congressional race that was easily the most expensive in the state, Kean held a 52.5% to 45.7% advantage over Altman, the former director of the New Jersey Working Families Party, with 93% of the vote recorded this morning.
Kean thanked Altman for running a “spirited race” during his victory speech in Basking Ridge.
“Tonight, we celebrate not just a victory, but our commitment to our hard work ahead,” Kean said.
Kean has served as Congressman for District 7 since winning the election in November 2022 over Tom Malinowski.
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