The Road to November: A Map to Voting
In the few hours between Biden’s withdrawal and the promotion of the new Democratic candidate, people nationwide felt excitement and uncertainty. While Kamala Harris was not the unexpected choice, many Democratic voters view her as the young, intelligent, and coherent President that the country needs. Since the announcement of Harris’s running, Trump’s political maneuvers to minimize Harris’s favor primarily revolve around conflating her policies with the Biden administration (Colvin & Price 2024). The replacement of Biden with Harris represents a shift in the age and demographic of who the President can be, after centuries of men and only one of color leading the country.
Similar to Harris’ rhetoric to elevate the Democratic Party, Trump, as the Republican nominee, essentially talks about past decisions and mistakes rather than making concrete statements of plans for the future. An AP News article explains that the Trump campaign prepared anti-Harris videos in case Biden dropped out. Donald Trump’s campaign explicitly connects Harris to perceived failures regarding the border between the U.S. and Mexico, which both parties view as in need of securing. An online poll identifies “Harris with a 5-point lead over former President Donald Trump among registered voters, 49% to 44%” (Murray 2024). Additionally, this article references the different selling points of each nominee’s political campaign: Harris is the better pick for protecting immigrant rights, abortion, and mental acuity. Trump is seen as better for “securing the border, the economy, and dealing with the cost of living” (Murray 2024). It is vital to understand how each campaign will attempt to attack the other as Americans will partake in a higher media consumption surrounding the election so voters can make educated decisions.
As we prepare for the upcoming presidential election, many states are also preparing for important Congressional races that could significantly influence national policy. These smaller elections hold importance as they shape vital issues like abortion rights, tax credits, and national security, issues that affect the everyday lives of Americans. While the presidential race naturally takes the spotlight, other congressional races set the tone for the next few years.
Battleground Senate Races
Senate races highlight the key issues voters care about abortion rights, healthcare, the economy, and influence national policy. Senators not only shape state laws but also block or advance presidential initiatives. For example, they are essential in confirming judicial appointments and certifying presidential election results, directly impacting national governance’s direction . Many states have very competitive Senate races, with outcomes that could shift the balance of power. Seven key battleground states are a ton of attention:
Arizona: The race between Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake, is set to be a close race. Gallego’s priorities include healthcare and climate change, while Lake focuses on border control and energy policy.
Michigan: With Democrat Debbie Stabenow retiring, Elissa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers are in a heated race. Slotkin emphasizes expanding the middle class and democracy, while Rogers has focused on abortion bans and national security.
Montana: incumbent Democrat Jon Tester, faces off against Republican Tim Sheehy. Tester’s priorities include veterans' rights and healthcare, while Sheehy leans into the economy and gun rights.
Ohio: Incumbent Sherrod Brown faces Bernie Moreno , endorsed by Donald Trump. Brown is focusing on innovation and equal rights, while Moreno champions local law enforcement and border security.
Nevada: Democrat Jacky Rosen is expected to have a tight race against Republican Sam Brown, with key issues including reproductive rights, immigration, and education.
Pennsylvania: Democrat Bob Casey is running for re-election against Republican Dave McCormick. Casey fights for middle class families and healthcare for children. McCormick focuses on inflation and securing our borders.
Wisconsin: Incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin faces off against Republican Eric Hovde. Baldwin focuses on economic opportunity for all while Hovde focuses on securing our borders and the broken healthcare system.
Congressional Races
Congressional elections play a significant role in shaping the future of the U.S. government, as they determine which party controls the House of Representatives and influences national policy. Here are key congressional races to look out for:
Maine’s 2nd District: Democrat incumbent Jared Golden has served in the house for three terms, this year he is up for a heated race against Republican Austin Theriault. Golden focuses on law enforcement and small businesses, Theriault focuses on the second amendment and the economy.
New York’s 4th District: This is a rematch between Republican Anthony D’Esposito and Democratic Laura Gillen from two years ago. Esposito focuses on education, health, and veterans. Gollien focuses on environmental protection, the economy, and women’s rights.
Arizona’s 1st District: This race is between Republican Incumbent David Schweikert and Democracy Amish Shah. Schweikert focuses on animal welfare, border security, and the second amendment. Shah focuses on women’s rights, housing, healthcare, and funding the border.
Our Resources
Our organization aims to assist the community in navigating local, state, and federal polling through our Election Hub. The purpose of the Election Hub is to help registered voters prepare for election day while staying politically informed in the lead-up to it. We created sectors that ensure our resources align with the needs of our community and are accessible for others to share. These include:
Our Frequently Asked Questions section, which addresses commonly asked election-related questions and provides resources for a seamless election day experience, including a voting day checklist, instructions on how to register to vote, and information on navigating polling precincts.
News Streams, which highlight engaging news articles, publications, and other media discussing the election cycle.
Our Races to Watch section, a live tracker of key congressional races across the United States, featuring information on candidates, including party affiliation and legislative priorities.
Beyond our Election Hub, we encourage everyone to stay connected and engaged this election season. To support this effort, we are hosting a virtual event, Preparing for the Polls, on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. This event aims to equip voters with the essential tools to navigate the polls confidently. We will cover vital topics, including voting day essentials, strategies for combating misinformation on social media, and additional resources to make your voting experience seamless and efficient. Join us to ensure you’re ready to make your voice heard!
Citations
Anon. n.d. “About Tammy | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.” Www.baldwin.senate.gov. Retrieved (https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/about/about-tammy) .
Anon. 2024. “Stand with Ruben Gallego.” ActBlue. Retrieved (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ruben-ads-gs23?refcode=ads-230203-gs-launch-dtd-natl-19614320094-145165342269-646308916222-gallego%20for%20arizona&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAApRnEw2s37NEiV9Dl-K042M6c6AdS&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9b_w9PGBiQMVxUH_AR3Y2hO8EAAYASAAEgJMI_D_BwE).
Anon. 2023. “Kari Lake for Senate.” Karilake.com. Retrieved (https://karilake.com).
Anon. 2024a. “Montanans for Jon Tester.” Montanans for Jon Tester. Retrieved (https://jontester.com) .
Anon. 2024c. “Tim Sheehy - Official Website for Tim Sheehy for US Senate.” Tim Sheehy for U.S. Senate. Retrieved (https://timformt.com).
Anon. n.d.-b. “Home | U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio.” Www.brown.senate.gov. Retrieved (https://www.brown.senate.gov) .
Anon. n.d.-b. “Bernie Moreno for U.S. Senate.” Bernie Moreno for U.S. Senate. Retrieved (https://berniemoreno.com).
Anon. n.d.-c. “Elissa Slotkin for Senate.” Elissa Slotkin for Michigan. Retrieved (https://elissaslotkin.org).
Anon. 2024c. “Support Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate.” WinRed. Retrieved (https://secure.winred.com/rogers/donate-today/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=AD&utm_campaign=20230905_a000001-mr_Launch-US_Google&recurring=true&amount=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAqKjVMafTCRdNeeZiISAup7A4rbjp&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8-CWpKmCiQMVUG5HAR1CxwdtEAAYASAAEgLw9vD_BwE).
Anon. 2024a. “Home - Jacky Rosen.” Jacky Rosen. Retrieved (https://www.rosen.senate.gov).
Anon. n.d.-e. “Home | U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.” Www.cruz.senate.gov. Retrieved (https://www.cruz.senate.gov).
Anon. n.d.-c. “Colin Allred for U.S. Senate.” Colin Allred for Senate. Retrieved (https://colinallred.com).
Anon. n.d.-g. “Representative Jared Golden.” Representative Jared Golden. Retrieved (https://golden.house.gov).
Anon. 2024a. “Austin Theriault for Congress.” Austin Theriault for Congress. Retrieved (https://www.austinformaine.com).
Anon. 2024d. “Representative D’Esposito.” Representative D’Esposito. Retrieved (https://desposito.house.gov).
Anon. n.d.-g. “Laura Gillen for Congress.” Laura Gillen for Congress. Retrieved (https://lauragillen.com).
Anon. 2024b. “Congressman Schweikert – Arizona’s 1st District.” House.gov. Retrieved (https://schweikert.house.gov).
Arizona, Amish for. 2024. “Amish for Arizona.” Amish for Arizona. Retrieved (https://www.amishforarizona.com).
Brown, Sam. 2024. “Sam Brown for U.S. Senate.” Sam Brown for U.S. Senate. Retrieved (https://www.captainsambrown.com).
Colvin, J. & Price, M. L. (2024, July 21). Trump’s campaign quickly pivots to Harris after Biden announces decision to leave the race. AP News.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-harris-drops-out-920d7fe1c364e82290abeb9e0d1411c7
Murray, M. (2024, September 22). Poll: Newly popular Harris builds momentum, challenging Trump for the mantle of change. NBC News.
News, N. (2024, October). Senate Election Battleground States and Early Voting 2024 Results. Nbcnews.com; NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/senate-seats-battleground-states
Wisconsin, Hovde for. 2024. “Healthcare.” Eric Hovde. Retrieved (https://erichovde.com/healthcare/).
Meet The Authors
Taylor Solomon
Alika Jimenez
Bianca Dacres
Yasieli Perez
