It’s official: Donald Trump has secured his second term as president.
He scored 295 electoral votes over Kamala Harris’s 226; now, the country braces for a different kind of Washington.
With Republicans claiming a strong majority in the Senate (52 seats to the Democrats’ 45), Trump will have a lot of room to drive his agenda forward.
His comeback means we’re likely to see big changes in policy, appointments, and overall direction in Washington.
Whether you’re excited or nervous, the new administration is set to make some noise.
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris gracefully conceded after what was a pretty intense campaign.
She spoke at Howard University, a place close to her heart, with a message aimed squarely at her supporters, especially young people.
She urged them not to lose hope and promised that the values they fought for—social justice, climate action, equal rights—still matter and need champions.
Her message was that losing an election doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road, even if it feels that way.
With her loss, there’s a clear sense that some issues might take a backseat under Trump, but Harris’s supporters aren’t giving up, and neither is she.
On the legislative side, the Senate saw some interesting matchups, especially in states like Arizona and Nevada.
Here, Democrats Ruben Gallego and Jacky Rosen hold out with what they hope are just enough votes to flip these traditionally red-leaning states.
Gallego is actually ahead by 60,000 votes in Arizona, and Rosen is doing her best to claw back a slim gap of around 2,000 votes in Nevada.
Now, both sides await as final mail-in ballots trickle in.
But the Republicans have secured the Senate, so they’ll be a driving force behind new legislation and policies.
And talk about voter surprises—Texas, with a large Hispanic population that often leans Democratic, swung Republican in nearly all its Hispanic-majority counties this year.
The shift gives a peek into changing attitudes in what’s typically been Democratic ground.
Trump’s focus on jobs and immigration seems to have resonated with these voters, which shows that voter loyalty isn’t as set in stone as it once was.
It’s a trend worth watching, as it could shake up traditional campaign strategies going forward.
Now we turn our attention to New Jersey, which has voted Democrat in every presidential election since 1992.
And this year was no different; Harris took the state’s 14 electoral votes with 51.6% of the vote, against Trump’s 46.5%.
While Harris won here, Trump’s support was surprisingly strong for a state considered solidly blue.
The strong Republican turnout highlights that while New Jersey leans blue, it still possesses a significant, energetic, and active Republican base.
In the New Jersey Senate race, Democrat Andy Kim stood out, winning over Curtis Bashaw with 53.2% of the vote compared to Bashaw’s 44.5%.
This win was significant because Kim filled the spot left by Bob Menendez, who had to resign after a corruption scandal.
Kim’s win represents a fresh start for Democrats in the state, but with a bit of a bittersweet note since it came on the heels of Menendez’s controversial departure.
Over in the House, there were some close races and a few shake-ups.
In the high-profile 7th District, Republican Thomas Kean Jr. took down Democrat Sue Altman with 52.4% of the vote.
Altman put up a tough fight, but Kean pulled it off and added another seat to the Republican column.
Other districts saw Democrats largely holding their ground, although fewer seats saw closer-than-expected races.
Here’s a quick look at some of the results:
- District 1: Democrat Donald Norcross won 57.6% over Republican Teddy Liddell’s 40.2%.
- District 2: Republican Jeff Van Drew retained his seat with 58.4% against Joe Salerno, who had 40.9%.
- District 3: Democrat Herb Conaway won with 52.9%, defeating Rajesh Mohan with 45%.
- District 4: Republican Chris Smith held a commanding lead at 67.6% over Democrat Matthew Jenkins’ 31.4%.
- District 5: Democrat Josh Gottheimer won with 54.3% against Republican Mary Jo Guinchard, who garnered 43.5%.
- District 6: Frank Pallone, a Democrat, won with 55.7%, while his Republican opponent, Scott Fegler, trailed at 40.8%.
- District 8: Democrat Rob Menendez won with 59.2%, well ahead of Republican Anthony Valdes, who received 34.6%.
- District 10: LaMonica McIver, another Democrat, had a decisive victory with 74.2% over Carmen Bucco’s 22.5%.
- District 11: Mikie Sherrill, Democrat, led with 56%, while Republican Joseph Belnome received 42.4%.
- District 12: Bonnie Watson Coleman, also a Democrat, won with 60.3%, beating Republican Darius Mayfield at 36.9%.
Evidently, the lineup shows a state that’s largely blue but definitely open to competitive races.
It also reflects New Jersey’s changing demographic and political makeup, with some close calls and a few unexpected wins.
The results show that even traditionally blue states like New Jersey aren’t immune to the national political shift.
And Trump’s return to the White House, coupled with a strengthened Republican Senate, is likely to bring significant policy shifts.
His approach, highlighted by a commitment to re-energize the economy, get tough on immigration, and increase military spending, will set the tone for the next four years.
With the Senate in Republican hands, Trump’s appointments and policies should breeze through without too much pushback, so expect rapid moves on key issues.
His base is excited, and his team is prepared to bring in loyalists who will likely work swiftly to roll out his agenda.
In the wake of the results, the election has left people with mixed emotions.
For instance, former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton encouraged unity in their public statements.
They called on the new administration to focus on governing for everyone, echoing Hillary’s 2016 “stronger together” theme.
However, plenty of voices on the ground are worried about the social implications of a Trump presidency.
Laura Biancone, who runs an LGBTQ center in Pennsylvania, shared her concern for the future, especially for minority groups like the LGBTQ community.
She mentioned considering moving abroad as a possible reaction to policies she fears might target her community.
Despite these big wins, only some of the results are final. Arizona and Nevada’s vote counts could still hold some surprises.
Both states expect a large number of votes from major metro areas, and Democrats are holding on to hope in close races like those of Gallego and Rosen.
But no matter what, the main takeaway is clear: Republicans have a strong hold on the Senate, and Trump is set to pursue the policies and appointments he’s discussed throughout his campaign.
We’re heading into a period that’s likely to be bolder and more divisive, with Trump and a Republican Congress pushing hard on their agenda and Democratic leaders trying to keep important issues alive.
This moment could mean everything from healthcare and economic policy shifts to renewed debates on social and immigration issues.
Thus, it’s safe to say the next four years will be anything but quiet, and this election was just the beginning of what’s to come.
