The Return of Donald Trump

By: Elián Zidán

After four years away, Donald Trump is returning to the White House. His resounding victory not only brings him back to the Oval Office but also grants him majorities in both chambers of Congress and the Supreme Court.

Trump dominated both at the polls and in the Electoral College. His victory was evident in the numbers, reflected on the U.S. map, and seen in Congress, which was almost entirely painted red.

The swing states yielded to the red wave, which, as the night wore on, continued to gain momentum.

On the night of November 5, which many expected to be drawn out due to the closeness of the candidates in the polls, it quickly became clear that the Republican candidate had a substantial lead over his Democratic rival.

What many are wondering is: What happened to the polls? Weren’t the candidates supposed to be neck-and-neck? These questions are understandable, given the margin by which former President Trump secured his victory.

To understand what happened after the polls closed and the first results were tallied, several key factors must be considered. One of the most striking was the sudden shift of several traditionally Democratic voting groups toward the Republican side.

According to the Associated Press (AP), compared to 2020, the African American vote for Donald Trump increased to 16%, the Latino vote to 42%, and support from other groups reached 41%.

However, it is the Latino vote that stands out most. Traditionally, this group has leaned Democratic for various reasons, one of the most significant being immigration. Yet in 2024, the Latino vote in favor of Trump was not only surprising but also decisive.

The attacks, derogatory remarks, mockery, and his hardline stance on immigration seem to have been largely forgotten by many Latinos. What mattered most to them at the polls was something personal and entirely understandable: the economy.

These elections can be viewed in two ways: one as the dramatic return of Donald Trump and the resurgence of his party, or as a referendum on the current administration and the Democratic Party.

An example of this shift was Trump’s victory in Miami-Dade County, a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections. No Republican had won the county since 2004, when George W. Bush was re-elected.

As for the swing states, a particular attention should be paid to Pennsylvania, the crown jewel of the contest. By zooming in on the map and comparing it to 2020, it’s clear that rural areas saw a strong shift toward the right.

Both candidates campaigned heavily in Pennsylvania, vying for the 19 electoral votes it offers. Experts had long predicted that whoever won Pennsylvania would likely cross the 270 electoral votes needed to claim victory, which is exactly what happened, in line with both models and predictions.

While Republicans are celebrating their victory and enjoying an absolute majority in several branches of government, Democrats must take a hard look at what went wrong and what they could have done better.

Over the next four years, they will have ample time to rethink their strategies, reevaluate their foundations, and understand why Hispanics—many of whom have been publicly insulted by the former president—still voted for him.

In a time of political upheaval, it is essential that the newly elected president governs for all Americans, putting the country’s interests first and leaving personal ambitions aside.

In this second chance given to Donald Trump by the electorate, he must prove that he is up to the task. After four years away, he should show growth, maturity, and the ability to lead.