Hopes for First Female President Dashed by Trump Victory

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Hopes for First Female President Dashed by Trump Victory \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The 2024 election offered a chance for the U.S. to elect its first female president, Vice President Kamala Harris, but voters instead chose Donald Trump, signaling a focus on economic and social issues over gender. AP VoteCast revealed that while many women supported Harris, significant concerns about the economy and other key issues led to Trump’s return to the White House.

The 2024 Election: Voter Sentiments and Missed Milestones Quick Looks

Historic Opportunity: Voters had a chance to elect Harris as the first female president but chose Trump.
AP VoteCast Insights: Harris saw strong support among women but could not expand beyond Biden’s 2020 base.
Key Voter Motivations: The economy and core issues outweighed the historical significance of Harris’s candidacy.
Diverse Reactions: Some voters mourned the missed milestone, while others prioritized policy over gender.
Gender in Politics: While Harris’s campaign marked progress, it highlighted persistent challenges for women seeking the presidency.

Deep Look

The 2024 presidential election presented an opportunity for the U.S. to shatter a long-standing political barrier by electing Kamala Harris, potentially the first female president. However, voters chose a different path, returning Donald Trump to the White House for a second term. AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of over 120,000 voters, underscored how economic and policy concerns took precedence over gender for many Americans.

Mixed Reactions and Missed Potential

For some voters, Trump’s win came as a significant disappointment. Precious Brady-Davis, a Black transgender woman who had just been elected to a local board in Chicago, expressed her dismay: “I am disappointed in my fellow Americans that, once again, we did not elect a qualified woman to the presidency.” On the other side, Trump supporters like 20-year-old Katherine Mickelson from South Dakota argued that gender alone could not drive their vote. “We aren’t just going to blindly vote for a woman,” she said, highlighting the focus on values and issues.

Harris’s Narrow Margin Among Women Voters

Harris secured 53% of the female vote compared to Trump’s 46%, a smaller margin than Joe Biden’s advantage in 2020. This showed that while Harris resonated with college-educated and higher-income voters, Trump maintained and even slightly improved his support among middle- and lower-income women. AP VoteCast found that only about 1 in 10 voters cited the possibility of Harris breaking the glass ceiling as the primary motivator for their vote, with about one-quarter acknowledging it as an important, but not decisive, factor.

Black women were particularly inspired by the chance to elect the first female president, with about one-third indicating it was the most important factor in their vote. Yet, the broader electorate prioritized economic stability and core policy concerns over symbolic progress. Denise Martin of Georgia reflected this sentiment, saying, “I really feel like the majority of Americans still aren’t ready for a woman.”

Policy Over Gender

Trump’s policies and rhetoric, while controversial, did not deter his core female supporters. His campaign, marked by hypermasculine themes and pledges to protect women—whether they “like it or not”—resonated with women like Krissy Bunner of South Carolina, who described Trump as a “promoter of women.” Bunner cited Trump’s immigration stance and his opposition to transgender athletes in women’s sports as reasons for her continued support.

For other voters, economic survival outweighed gender considerations. Nina Christina, a North Carolina nurse and Trump supporter, expressed concern for everyday financial struggles. “It shouldn’t be this difficult to survive,” she said, adding that she voted for Trump with hopes for economic relief.

Harris’s Uphill Battle

Harris faced a challenging path since stepping into the race in July following Biden’s departure. Her campaign aimed to appeal to voters through progressive ideals and strong advocacy for women’s rights. However, her efforts fell short in galvanizing enough new support to secure victory. Despite focusing on critical issues such as reproductive rights and healthcare, which had gained urgency after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Harris was unable to overcome economic and social concerns that dominated voter priorities.

During the campaign, Trump intensified his rhetoric against Harris, using terms like “stupid” and “lazy,” and his running mate, JD Vance, referred to her as “trash.” This language, while offensive to many, did not erode Trump’s appeal among his base, who viewed his brashness as part of his authenticity. Supporters like Virginia King of Dallas, 19, valued Trump’s outspokenness, saying, “It’s probably not ideal, but it doesn’t make me not support him.”

The Gender Gap at Home

The election results highlighted the gender gap even within families. Dee Bertino of New Jersey, who supported Harris, noted that her husband, Bob, chose Trump despite sharing her stance on abortion rights. Their split underscored a broader trend where men and women within the same households diverged on prioritizing economic issues over women’s rights and democratic values.

Meanwhile, voters like Denise Martin in Georgia prepared themselves for disappointment. After hoping to witness the first female president, Martin said she felt devastated upon waking to see the election had been called for Trump. Her concerns included the future of democracy, healthcare, climate policy, and the U.S.’s global reputation.

Moving Forward

Harris’s campaign marked a significant step for women in politics, building on past bids by candidates such as Hillary Clinton. Clinton, reflecting on Harris’s candidacy, remarked on the shift in public perception: “Now we have a much better opportunity for women candidates, starting with Kamala, to be viewed in a way that just takes for granted the fact that, yes, guess what? She’s a woman.”

Even Trump supporters expressed openness to a female president someday but did not believe Harris was the right fit. Elizabeth Herbert from North Carolina said, “I think a woman could do a great job as president. I don’t think she is the right woman.”

As Harris supporters grappled with the outcome, some, like Bertino, pledged to continue fighting for what they believed in, while others, like Martin, sought solace among friends. “The world is going to change, but we have to find our way in it,” Martin said. “We can’t let this ruin us.”