The latest verdict on the nation-wide electoral struggle for power, suggests a clear victory for former President Donald Trump against Kamala Harris. Trump convincingly outperformed Harris to guarantee his triumphant return to the Oval Office, eclipsing Harris’s efforts in the all-important states of Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. The early reports on Wednesday morning foreshadowed Trump’s triumph, courtesy of the vital swing states, settling him comfortably for another tenure at the presidency.
Hailing a more significant success, the Republicans managed to regain their lost majority in the Senate. A minimum of 51 seats within their purview now, the Republicans exhibit a strong comeback. However, the verdict for control over the House was still hanging in the balance, painting an unclear picture on the prevalent political landscape.
Shining light on the electoral standing in North Carolina, the state pledged its 16 electoral votes to Trump. Exiting the polling booths at 11:39 p.m. Eastern time, the electorate affirmed their trust in Trump with an expected 89% of votes tallied from every corner of the North Carolina counties.
On the education front, Kentucky took the lead in addressing its ballot measure, pushing Amendment 2 to the forefront. This amendment proposed the allocation of public funds for private school tuitions. However, it was rejected by 65% of the voters, consistent with almost all votes counted, marking an emphatic ‘no’ against the expenditure of public funds for private education.
Meanwhile, Nebraska was faced with the decision to uphold or abolish the ‘Bill 1402’, i.e., Referendum 435. The bill was intended to fund students wishing to pursue education in non-public schools. While initial ticks favored sustaining the bill, the later trends showed voters inclined towards its repeal with a slightstanding majority of 53%.
Unfolding a nail-biting competition, Colorado put forth the Amendment 80, pertaining to the choice of public funds’ allocation to private education within their state constitution. A steep uphill battle, the bill required a 55% majority to be approved, but fell short at a disappointing 47.7%.
Adding to the series of educational amendments, Florida introduced Amendment 1. This proposal requested voters to decide whether to make school board elections partisan and add candidate’s political affiliations beside their names. The amendment needed a 60% majority, yet failed to qualify as it managed to garner only 55% votes.
Interesting parallels can be drawn between the current developments and their counterparts from the year 1968. In harrowing echo of the past, an unpopular Democrat incumbent chose to step away in the election year, and the baton was handed over to his vice-president. However, the division that plagues the Democrat party due to international conflicts mimics the seismic shift in political allegiances observed during an unpopular war.
Reverting to the popular narrative of the underdog’s return, Trump’s successful re-election bid draws similarities to another political stalwart who had lost a previous presidential race. In an uncanny reflection of the Nixon versus Humphrey dynamic, the stage is now set for a Trump versus Harris showdown.
Despite the definitive prevalence of blue along the West Coast, it was unable to ensure a win for Harris. Washington state, joining Oregon and California, were among her anticipated strongholds, but her general lack of appeal is gaining prominence over these minor victories in the political landscape.