The day following the 2024 election saw a whirlwind of results streaming in that significantly altered the balance of power in Washington. No stranger to the limelight, former GOP star Donald Trump was once again declared the winner, resecuring his position as the nation’s president. What’s more, the Republican forces staged a successful invasion of the U.S. Senate, seizing control from their Democratic counterparts. Meanwhile, the outcome in Michigan’s hotly contested Senate race remained undecided, keeping the whole nation on its toes.
Meanwhile, a dismal result awaited Vice President Kamala Harris. In a shocking turn of events, Harris managed to gather fewer votes in Detroit during Tuesday’s general election than any Democratic candidate over the last two decades. The painfully detailed election data blatantly revealed that Harris only rounded up 221,629 votes in Detroit. This number pales in comparison to the approximately 241,000 votes Biden managed to garner in 2020 or the 235,000 rewardingly earned by Hillary Clinton in 2016.
These numbers are shockingly low, especially when compared to the votes gained by former President Barack Obama. During Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, he managed to capture roughly 281,000 votes, a number that dwarfs Harris’ poor performance. Even Obama’s first run in 2008 presents a stark contrast, as he succeeded in rallying around 325,000 votes within Detroit.
Taking a look at the victor, then-President-elect Donald Trump might not have inherited all of Harris’ missed vote opportunities, but he did make marked improvements from his past performances. In the 2016 election, Trump received a meager 7,682 votes from Detroit. Fast forward to his unsuccessful 2020 run, and he attracted nearly 13,000 Detroit votes. Against the odds, Trump managed to charm nearly 20,000 Detroiters in the 2024 election.
While the specific impact of the Detroit vote might not fully explain Harris’ struggles in Michigan, it certainly played a part in her disappointing performance in one of the most tightly contested swing states. Throughout the election cycle, both Trump and Harris frantically courted Detroit voters, with many campaign visits to the city.
On a bright note for the State of Michigan, a new voting record was established with the culmination of this intense election. According to preliminary results with 98% of votes tallied, more than a smashing 5.6 million Michiganders cast their votes in the 2024 presidential election. Out of an estimated total of 7.9 million residents aged 18 and older, it appeared that voter turnout was a impressive 70.7%.
Among the noteworthy success stories of the election were the well-deserved victory of Thomas on Michigan’s bench. A nominee from the Democrats, Thomas secured an impressive 61% of the vote for his eight-year term. His opponent, Republican state Rep. Andrew Fink from Hillsdale, remained far behind at 39%, indicating the strength of Thomas’ public appeal, even if his party didn’t fare well overall.
In a riveting change of events, Michigan’s 7th Congressional District saw a swift flip from blue to red. The state’s competitive district gave a decisive victory to former state Sen. Tom Barrett. With current U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin choosing to run for a U.S. Senate seat instead, the district was left ripe for the taking.
Adding to the list of victories for the GOP, Barrett outperformed Democrat Curtis Hertel, his former state senate colleague. The clear winner of this race had built up an impressive lead, turning what had been a stronghold for Democrats into a severe defeat.
In another race, McDonald Rivet claimed 51.3% of the vote, a competitive majority compared to Republican Paul Junge’s 44.6%. This further reflected the disparity between the two parties during this election cycle, with Republicans asserting themselves left, right, and center.
Further cementing Republican reign, U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman from Watersmeet will be returning to Congress after comfortably cruising to victory in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District. His triumphant reelection sends a clear message about the constituents’ preference in this part of the state.
The final call for the U.S. Senate arrived late in the night, highlighting the Republican party’s conquest of this legislative body. This result completes the power shift in Washington, as the GOP now brazenly control both the executive office and the U.S. Senate.
In contrast to her party’s overall defeat, incumbent U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib from Detroit managed to clinch a narrow victory, ensuring her a chance to continue representing Michigan’s 12th Congressional District for another two years. However, the fact that even Tlaib’s re-election was so intensely competitive underscores the challenges facing the Democrats in a post-2024 political landscape.