2024 Elections: Will This Be America’s Year of Political Surprises?

This year’s United States elections are filled with surprises. With just ten days remaining, the polls are at a standstill. The White House race is tightly contested between former President Donald Trump and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris.

The races for control of the Senate, currently led by Democrats, and the House, dominated by Republicans, are as competitive as the presidential contest. A smoother administration often occurs when the President’s party controls the Senate, easing the confirmation of judicial and political appointments.

Many of the races have become extra competitive in an election that is looking set to disappoint bookmakers. Contests in some predominant strongholds and traditional bases of the two parties could flip the other way. Elections in America have never been this close in recent history.

Major news networks are thriving as parties and candidates compete to outspend each other on political messaging. Voters are overwhelmed, and independents, the primary targets of these ads, may struggle to decide their stance. This election is unprecedented, and America will need time to heal afterward.

Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate J.D. Vance urged supporters from both parties to prioritize family and long-standing relationships over political differences. “Whether you support me and Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, don’t let politics come between family and friends. It’s not worth it. By embracing this mindset, we can begin to heal the nation’s divide,” Vance stated.

The campaigns are getting down to the wire and the race is too close to call. Whoever wins of the two candidates will make history. Trump is the oldest candidate to be elected President and Harris is the first female and black American President. It is also inching home as the most expensive election in America’s history.

Interest groups are actively investing in campaigns to safeguard their interests and bolster their influence. The National Rifle Association was an early supporter of Trump. Trends show that LGBTQ+ individuals largely back the Democratic Party, a pattern expected to persist as long as the Republican Party supports legislation detrimental to the LGBTQ+ community. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency sector aims to resist regulation. Key issues like workers’ rights, immigration, and abortion will also play a crucial role in shaping the election results, impacting both Congress and the White House.

A lot of Americans talk about the country changing but the nature of that change is coloured by partisan biases. While Kamala Harris talks about turning the page, with a vision of an American allowing the people’s rights to prevail and for more freedom, Trump talks about making America to be great again. Harris fights for the middle class but Trump promotes the interest of the big businesses.

Trump’s cronies are unleashing an onslaught of ads on TV and the internet aimed at tricking undecided voters. They spread lies. They scare people. They insult and belittle Vice President Harris. Democrats are spending a lot to persuade their supporters who don’t vote in every election to come and reach out across the political divide.

Foreign Interference in the Election

Chinese hackers reportedly targeted phones used by Trump and Vance. This week, the Trump campaign was alerted that hackers might have accessed data from these phones through a breach in American telecommunications systems.

Russia has been amplifying and spreading false and misleading claims online about recent hurricanes in the United States and the Biden administration’s response. This is part of a broader Kremlin effort to manipulate American political discourse ahead of the presidential election.

The content, spread by Russian state media and networks of social media accounts and websites, criticizes the federal response to Hurricanes Helen and Milton. It exploits legitimate concerns about the recovery effort to paint American leaders as incompetent and corrupt.

Trump has filed a legal complaint against the UK’s governing party for meddling, sparking concern about bilateral ties between the longstanding allies if Trump wins. He filed a legal complaint requesting an immediate investigation into “blatant foreign interference” on the part of British officials in the upcoming November 5 presidential election.

In a letter sent to the US Federal Election Commission (FEC), Trump’s campaign lawyer Gary Lawkowski accused the UK’s ruling Labour Party of sending senior advisers and officials to US battleground states in support of his Democratic Party rival Kamala Harris.

The Polls and Group Endorsements

The candidates are neck and neck among likely voters in seven swing states and nationwide. These pivotal states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—are essential battlegrounds. Significant demographic groups, including Hispanic men and women, Asians, Blacks, and Latinos, are aligning with candidates based on campaign promises and proposed policies. Many non-immigrants support Harris for her immigration stance, contrasting with Trump’s pledge to deport them.

America’s nouveau riche is divided between the candidates. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, aligns with Trump, while Bill Gates and numerous celebrities support Harris. Both candidates are frantically raising funds for their campaigns, yet the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.

This year’s United States elections are full of surprises. With only ten days left, the polls remain unchanged. The White House race is intensely competitive between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris.