On election night, venues across Michigan buzzed with excitement as attendees heavily anticipated the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election. The Suburban Collection Showplace convention center, filling with Republican supporters, was alive with the chants of "USA, USA" echoing through the hall as election results rolled in. The local GOP Chair, Pete Hoekstra, greeted the crowd after midnight with enthusiasm, declaring the results were likely aligning with their objectives, "a high probability we hit all of our objectives," he noted, as the crowd erupted with cheers.
The excitement soared when Fox News announced Donald Trump's victory in Pennsylvania. Punctuating the night, attendees celebrated with jubilance, jumping together and tearing up—emotions were high as voices called out Trump's name, bringing together sentiment for what many believed would be the dawn of his second term. One attendee, Gina Feistel, captured the crowd's hope stating, "I feel like he's going to make it."
Meanwhile, the Democratic crowd at MotorCity Soundboard remained hopeful. Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris, gathered to champion reproductive rights, maintained high spirits, engaging with each other over the issues at stake. Among this crowd, Elise DuBois shared her aspirations for the election if Harris were to win, focusing on the need for fair political representation for women. "There's just a tone of misogyny in politics, especially in this country, and my hope is to have more women leaders to help change this narrative," DuBois expressed.
By 3 AM, Tom Barrett, the Republican Congressional candidate leading his race, took to the stage to express gratitude for his supporters and optimistically stated, "Clearly, it’s been a good night for Republicans," referencing successes throughout the Michigan statehouse and pledging to continue efforts to keep the state aligned with Republican ideals.
Barrett’s sentiment echoed the mood of fellow Republicans, with Hima Kolanagireddy, the Republican National Committeewoman from Michigan, emphasizing the newfound coalition within the GOP comprised of minorities, youth, and autoworkers, and declaring, "It's a slap in their face; they won't even know what hit them... Let’s bask in this victory!" The enthusiasm before and after Barrett's speech punctuated the night as thrill extended beyond immediate results, indicating long-term optimism within party lines.
A stark comparison unfolded elsewhere as the counting of votes progressed slowly across Detroit. Many had anticipated heavy turnout, but as of 3 AM, there remained about 4,500 absentee ballots uncounted. According to Daniel Baxter, chief operating officer for the Detroit Department of Elections, updates continued to trickle in, and the hope was to finalize totals by dawn. Turnout was estimated to be around 240,000 votes, falling slightly short of 2020's high turnout of 51%.
With those numbers still pending, the mood at the Democratic party remained buoyant. Ken Willard, organizing for Michigan Democrats, expressed concern but remained cautiously optimistic, focusing on the grassroots momentum seen leading up to election day. Despite Trump’s early indications of strength, there was still hope among Harris supporters as they insisted on the significance of numerous issues, especially women’s rights.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically as election results continued to come through during the night. Social media commentary echoed sentiments across the political spectrum, with many spectators eager for results indicating how American ideology could either shift or remain steadfast. Ross Douthat, writing later for the New York Times, detailed how Trump’s impending victory was closely tied to economic variables impacting voters deeply. He articulated, "The idea American voters would be swayed by anything other than their personal financial circumstances was misguided," highlighting how economic recovery areas have played pivotal roles even as inflation brewed frustrations among the working-class audience.
Political pundits began to evaluate Kamala Harris's positioning, with questions forming around her appeal to younger male voters and discussions of whether her campaign focused too heavily on the abortion issue at the expense of addressing economic concerns. Douthat pointed out the need for Democrats, if they were to lose this election, to reconsider their strategies for reaching out to pivotal demographics. He added, "If Harris loses, it may necessitate reevaluations from Democrats about their electoral strategies moving forward. What will they do after this?"
Reflecting on the night’s activities, Rola Makki, who ran for the Republican state House, echoed sentiments similar to Barrett’s. With mere hours left until final calls were made, her hope for positive GOP performance reverberated throughout conversations at the watch party. "It's not surprising to see the support for Trump; people are just so sick of the destructive Democrat policies," she insisted.
On the Democrats' side, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson stated the voting process went "smoothly," with few issues reported and anticipated high voter participation rates. With nearly 22,000 new registrations on election day, voters under 30 and even older demographics displayed excitement and engagement toward the process. Benson's press conferences throughout the night highlighted the palpable increase of voters and their eagerness to participate.
Underclass ballots emerged as another storyline during the election night broadcast. Uncertainty lingered over how these uncounted ballots could sway final results, especially since the trending sentiment was leaning toward Trump. Meanwhile, Harris's team desperately sought ways to rally supporters for one last push, continuing to stress the importance of turning out diverse voter bases.
With amplified tensions between both parties, it became clear as the evening progressed—in many states, including pivotal swing states—the electoral results were shaping toward Trump’s anticipated win. The environment, fueled by economic frustrations and polarized stances on immigration, encapsulated the backdrop against which the election took place.
On the surface, it seemed chaotic as crowds formed outside polling places, reporters bustled through venues, and the world tuned in to watch the outcomes ripple across the nation. The atmosphere was electric, but also rife with anxiety—who would emerge victorious after all the campaigning, the rallies, and the exchanges of opinions? All eyes remained fixed on this moment, knowing full well the sentiment attached to the outcomes had long-lasting effects on the political trajectories for years to come.
With emotions coursing through both venues, one thing seemed certain: regardless of the immediate results or potential victory, the United States left election night once more deeply divided, with acceptance of Trump's tenure still leaving its mark within the fabric of American politics.
