Election Day is new on the horizon and there are still millions of ballots slated to be cast to elect not only the next President of the United States but other key races. Hip-Hop Wired will attempt to bring Election Day into greater view and share what we’ve learned in the time leading up to the big day.
Tuesday is Election Day and polls will open bright and early across the United States until the later part of the evening. Naturally, much of the focus has been on the top of the ticket, with Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump squaring off for the Democratic Party and Republican Party respectively. Below, we’ll do our best to capture what the polls and election experts are saying as time narrows down.
The Polls Are Largely Tied With Some Exceptions
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Polls are but a sample size of actual voters but the data within is just as heavily scrutinized as comments made by candidates on the campaign trail. New national poll numbers have shown that the race is still virtually tied but there are slight variables that deserve a mention.
The most recent ABC News/Ipsos poll reveals that Harris holds a 49-46% edge over Trump and according to this report, this is been a constant result from this particular poll. The economy, border security, and rising costs are at the top of list for those who were polled. The poll also shows that independent voters are in favor of Harris at 49-44% over Trump. Harris also is enjoying the support of Black men at a rate of 76% and 87% for Black women in the ABC News/Ipsos poll.
NBC News released its final poll numbers on Sunday (November 2) and the results show a deadlocked 49-49% for both candidates, with the poll indicating rallying numbers for Harris around her stance on abortion and her campaign’s plan for the middle class. For Trump, poll results show that voters are worried about the direction of the country and the state of the economy. Harris is largely keeping things close with her large 87-9% lead among Black voters and voters under 30, who support the vice president 57 to 41% over Trump.
A shocking turn of events was the results of the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. Iowa, a state most assumed would fall to Trump, suddenly showed via its poll that Harris is leading there at a rate of 47% to 44% among likely voters. However, Trump still holds a massive edge among independent men but Harris still holds sway over women voters in Iowa.
Today (November 4), Emerson College Polling/The Hill released its final numbers which showed that seven critical swing states will come down to the final minute before polls close before the race for either candidate can be properly called. Michigan numbers show that Harris enjoys a two-point edge over Trump with 50% to 48%. In Nevada, the candidates are tied at 48% among likely voters, and 49% in Wisconsin. In this poll, Trump is up by one point in Georgia at 49% to 48%, which is a state he lost in 2020. Trump also enjoys one-point leads in North Carolina and Pennsylvania at 49% to 48% for both states. In Arizona, Trump enjoys a 50% to 48% lead there.
Other Races To Watch
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The race for the Maryland seat in the U.S. Senate between Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and former Gov. Larry Hogan might not have a lot of drama as we near Election Day. Alsobrooks, a Democrat, is highly favored in almost all polls in the blue state. Hogan, a Republican, ran a campaign that distanced him from Donald Trump but it appears thus far that won’t be enough to get the votes to earn the seat. If she wins, Alsobrooks will become Maryland’s first Black U.S. Senator.
In Washington, Democratic Party D.C. Council member Trayon White Sr. (Ward 8) is running for a third term against Republican Nate Derenge. This is an interesting race given that White is facing federal bribery charges. However, White has the advantage of being the incumbent in a blue-leaning city and could see an easy path to victory.
The U.S. Senate is currently controlled by Democrats, with just a handful of independents voting alongside them. But it appears that by most measures, even if Alsobrooks gains her seat, Montana’s Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, isn’t projected to win against Republican Tim Sheehy. Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat race is too close to call with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Republican Bernie Moreno virtually tied.
Republicans maintain a slight majority of the House with 220 seats to the Democrats 212 and several races across the nation are projecting big gains for the GOP. Considering the shape of state and local races, a Trump victory could see the former president returning to a White House with full party control of Congress and can exact many of the wide-ranging policies he’s mentioned on the campaign trail.
What Happens Now
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An expected “Hail Mary” of campaign ads have been the order of business for both presidential candidates and the same can be said of state and local races that we’ve observed in the mid-Atlantic. With some reported issues of ballot box tampering, voters being turned away, and general apathy among the undecided, if this race is even remotely close, it’s possible that the final findings could drag on for months.
In a race that often placed personality and personal grievances ahead of policy, everything is now in the power of voters to determine who they want to lead this country for the next four years, and how laws will be passed and measured in their respective neighborhoods. Early voting turnout numbers have been massive and the polls will be packed with lines all day Tuesday.
Hip-Hop Wired will be monitoring all the happenings this week.
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Photo: Getty