Every four years, politics are the topic of most discussions, the population is gathering at voter polls and there’s a political divide in society. While this tradition has been around since 1798, when George Washington was elected unanimously, every election brings its own historically important aspect.

There are many significant presidential elections, including the most recent presidential election of 2024, where Kamala Harris (Democrat) ran against Donald Trump (Republican). This election will make Trump the second president in U.S history to serve two terms non-consecutively, as he served from 2017 to 2021, and it also continued Kamala Harris’ campaign for equality, which she started as Vice President, and equal rights for all minorities. Harris was the first female, first African American and first South Asian Vice President. The 2024 election raised many concerns for both parties, whether the concerns were on taxes, immigration laws, women’s reproductive rights or the economy, the U.S people struggled with their decision on who to vote for. On November 6th, a day after election day, the final results were already counted for the 47th president-elect. Trump won with 312 electoral votes and 50.2% of the popular votes. When the polls initially opened, the votes were close but as numerous swing states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, leaned Republican, it was clear by the morning. Trump would be the next president.

Here at Hoover High School, many students had the opportunity to vote for the first time. While others couldn’t, they still kept involved by researching each candidate, educating themselves on the candidates’ issues and policies or even just discussing the election with friends and family. Locally, the debate on Issue 1 arose. Issue 1 would remove redistricting duties from elected officials and instead create a 15-member citizen commission to redistrict U.S and state legislative offices. This issue did not pass, as 53.8% of the Ohio people voted “No” on it. Another local election was the race of Sherrod Brown (Democrat) and Bernie Moreno (Republican) for the Senate position. Sherrod Brown was the incumbent but Moreno won with 50.2% of the votes. As time passes, Ohio has switched from a Democratic state, to a swing state and now to a predominantly Republican state. This is seen as Ohio was a red state for the Presidential and Senate elections, which changed within the last four years. As we focus on the issues that directly affect our communities, it’s important to remember that regardless of the election’s outcome, the work of creating change continues and there are always ways to stay engaged and move forward.

Moving on from the election and its results can be challenging, especially if the outcome doesn’t align with your hopes. However, it’s important to take a step back and reflect on what the result means for you personally and for the broader society. Acknowledge your emotions, but try to avoid dwelling on frustration or disappointment. Focus on what you can control; whether it’s engaging in local community efforts, supporting causes that matter to you, or simply taking care of your well-being. The process of moving forward involves understanding that change is constant and each election is a moment in the ongoing journey of democracy.

*Numbers reflect votes tallied at time of publication
Source: The Associated Press