(Opening in a dry, Jimmy Carr-esque tone) Ah, the eternal optimism of the American people. They’ve gone and done it again, folks. They’ve elected a man who’s been described as a “unique snowflake” by his psychiatrist and a “bloody idiot” by the rest of us. (chuckles) Yes, Donald Trump is back, and this time, he’s got an even bigger ego to match his even bigger… (pauses for comedic effect)…hairdo.
But seriously, the data is in, and it’s a bit of a shocker. Trump’s support has grown significantly since his last stint in the White House. He won a higher share of the vote in each of the 50 states and in Washington, DC than he did four years ago. That’s like me winning a higher share of the audience’s laughter at a comedy club… it’s just not supposed to happen, folks! (in a mock-conspiratorial tone) I mean, what’s going on here? Has the entire country gone mad?
(Rowan Atkinson-esque flourish) Now, let’s take a gander at the numbers, shall we? Trump received 2.5 million more votes than four years ago, and he won the seven most closely contested states. That’s like winning a game of chess against a bunch of amateur players… it’s just not that impressive, old chap. But, I suppose, when you’re dealing with a country that’s as divided as a plate of nachos at a sports bar, every vote counts.
(in a Ricky Gervais-esque rant) And what about Kamala Harris, the Democrat who was supposed to be the great hope of the party? Oh dear, she didn’t exactly set the world on fire, did she? She received fewer votes than Joe Biden in three of the seven states where she campaigned almost exclusively. That’s like me trying to do a stand-up routine in front of a crowd of accountants… it’s just not going to end well, is it?
(in a Lee Evans-esque, high-energy tone) But, you know, the real story here is the shift to the right, even in heavily Democratic areas. I mean, Michigan’s Wayne County swung 9 points towards Trump. That’s like me suddenly developing a taste for… (shudders)…country music! It’s just not natural, folks! And what’s behind this shift? Is it the economy? Immigration? Or is it just a case of people wanting to stick it to the man… or in this case, the woman?
(wryly) Ah, but don’t worry, Democrats. There’s always the gubernatorial election in 2026 to look forward to. That’s like me having a backup plan in case my comedy career doesn’t work out… (chuckles) Oh wait, I don’t have a backup plan. I’m just going to keep on making jokes until someone laughs.
(in a dry, Jimmy Carr-esque tone) And that’s the way it is, folks. Trump’s back, and he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. So, let’s all just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride… or not. (smirks) After all, as the great philosopher, Dolly Parton, once said, “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” (smirks) Or, in this case, the tweets.
By THOMAS BEAUMONT, MAYA SWEEDLER, PARKER KAUFMANN and HUMERA LODHI
A stark reality has emerged for Democrats and Republicans alike: Donald Trump’s support base has grown exponentially since his last tenure as president, leaving a trail of concerns for the opposing party.
In a surprising turn of events, Trump outperformed his previous records in all 50 states and Washington, DC, securing a higher share of the vote than he did four years ago. A thorough analysis by the Associated Press reveals that Trump garnered more actual votes in 40 states than he did in 2020, a significant shift in the electoral landscape.
One of the primary factors contributing to President Harris’s defeat was the substantial drop of over 7 million votes from President Joe Biden’s 2020 totals. This decline was particularly pronounced in swing state metropolitan areas, which have traditionally served as the party’s electoral strongholds.
Despite the overall decrease in national participation compared to the highly enthusiastic 2020 election, Trump managed to secure 2.5 million more votes than he did four years ago. This enabled him to prevail in the seven most closely contested states and emerge victorious in the Electoral College, becoming the first Republican candidate in 20 years to win a majority of the popular vote.
Trump’s campaign successfully targeted areas where Harris needed to outperform to win a close election. As Democrats regroup and reassess their strategy, they are faced with the daunting task of regaining strength ahead of the midterm elections in two years, when control of Congress and dozens of governors will be at stake.
A closer examination of the election results reveals several key factors that contributed to Trump’s victory:
Trump’s Inroads into Northern Metro Areas
While Trump’s gains were widespread, his most significant improvements were in urban counties, including Detroit, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia – electoral powerhouses that ultimately hindered Harris’s chances in the industrial swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
In Wayne County, Michigan, which encompasses the majority of metro Detroit, Harris fell short of Biden’s total by over 50,000 votes, a deficit of 5 percentage points. Similarly, in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, she trailed Biden by almost 36,000 votes, and in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, she was nearly 1,000 votes short of Biden’s total.
It’s essential to note that Harris’s underperformance was not the sole factor in Trump’s victories in these states. Instead, Trump’s increased totals in all three metropolitan areas, where he received over 24,000 more votes in Wayne County, 11,000 in Philadelphia County, and nearly 4,000 in Milwaukee County, played a crucial role in his success.
Harris’s extensive advertising efforts and regular campaigning in these areas, including a rally in Milwaukee County, her first stop as a candidate, were ultimately insufficient to overcome Trump’s gains.
Trump’s Victory in Battleground States
Despite the initial enthusiasm surrounding Harris’s candidacy, she ultimately received fewer votes than Biden in three of the seven states where she campaigned extensively.
In Arizona, Harris secured around 90,000 fewer votes than Biden, while in Michigan and Pennsylvania, she trailed Biden by 67,000 and 39,000 votes, respectively.
In the remaining four states – Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin – Harris outperformed Biden, but Trump’s support grew at a more significant rate, often by substantial margins.
This dynamic is evident in Georgia, where Harris received nearly 73,000 more votes than Biden, yet Trump increased his total by over 200,000, ultimately winning the state by a two-percentage-point margin.
Trump’s campaign successfully targeted formerly Democratic-leaning working-class areas, such as Rock County in southern Wisconsin, where he received 3,084 more votes than in 2020, while Harris fell seven votes short of Biden’s total.
Shift to the Right in Democratic Strongholds
The most striking aspect of the election results is the significant shift to the right in heavily Democratic areas, including Michigan’s Wayne County, which swung 9 points toward Trump.
According to AP VoteCast, a nationwide survey of over 120,000 voters, Trump gained a larger share of Black and Latino voters, particularly men under 45, than he did in 2020.
Democrats won Senate races in Michigan and Wisconsin but lost in Pennsylvania. As they look ahead to the 2026 gubernatorial election, they will be defending governorships in all three states and a Senate seat in Michigan.
The 2026 gubernatorial election presents an opportunity for Democrats to reassess their economic message and connect with working-class voters, who have increasingly shifted toward the Republican Party.
“It’s still all about the economy,” said North Carolina Democratic strategist Morgan Jackson. “Democrats need to adopt an economic message that actually works for real people and talk about it in a language that people understand.”
As Democrats regroup and reassess their strategy, they must confront the reality of Trump’s growing support base and the need to reconnect with working-class voters who have been increasingly drawn to the Republican Party.
