In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump won with stunning ease over Kamala Harris. Despite pre-election polls indicating a tight race, Trump won all the pivotal swing states and secured his return to the White House. Understanding Trump’s recipe for success, is like getting a good gumbo recipe. Lot’s of steps and ingredients.

Kamala Harris’s Late Entry: A Double-Edged Sword

Vice President Kamala Harris entered the presidential race late, bringing both advantages and challenges. During his presidential debate, Joe Biden seemed old and  confused. After Biden stepped aside. VP Harris was immediately different. Her candidacy injected fresh energy into the Democratic campaign.  Harris’s dynamic presence and command of current issues initially galvanized the party’s base. However, the abbreviated campaign period hindered her ability to forge deep connections with most of the American public.

Without the traditional primary process, Harris missed critical opportunities to articulate her vision and policy positions comprehensively. This led to perceptions of her as overly focused on a single issue—abortion rights.  So many focused on her personality. Kamala Harris’s campaign faced a delicate balancing act. Her naturally warm and jovial demeanor contrasted sharply with Donald Trump’s often surly disposition.

While this approach aimed to offer a positive alternative, it sometimes led voters to question her strength—a quality many Americans seek in a president. Additionally, Harris had to navigate the “angry Black woman” stereotype, which limited her ability to display assertiveness without facing criticism. This tightrope walk, combined with the limited time frame of her campaign, made it challenging for her to connect with voters who desired both approachability and strength in their leader.

Association with the Biden Administration

Throughout the campaign, Trump adeptly linked Harris to the Biden administration’s policies, framing her as a continuation of the status quo. This strategy was particularly effective, forcing Harris to constantly say that she was not Joe Biden. Despite Harris not being the incumbent president, her role as vice president made it challenging to distance herself from the administration’s shortcomings. Trump  questioned voters: “Are you better off today than you were when the Kamala took office?” For many, the answer was no. Additionally, Harris was unable to present herself as a transformative figure capable of addressing their concerns.

Economic Concerns and Voter Sentiment

Economic issues, notably inflation and rising grocery prices, were at the forefront of voters’ minds. Harris didn’t address this head on. Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign capitalized on this by promising immediate relief and positioning himself as the candidate of change. This message resonated strongly with suburban women managing household budgets, who felt the pinch of increased living costs. Harris, by contrast, was perceived as part of the administration responsible for these economic challenges, making it difficult for her to convince voters of her ability to enact meaningful change. Trump constantly said, “She had four years to make it better, but they failed the American people.

Immigration Policy and Border Security

But more impactful than the economy was immigration. Immigration emerged as the pivotal issue during the campaign. Remember the “They’re eating the dogs” rant. Seemed crazy then. But Trump was just raising the immigration issue. Harris went on and on about how silly the statement was. But Trump pledged to deport illegal immigrants with criminal records, promising swift action upon taking office.

This stance appealed to voters concerned about border security. Harris, tasked with addressing border issues during the Biden administration, faced criticism over the border crisis. Despite Trump’s previous unfulfilled promises regarding the border wall, voters trusted him to implement stricter immigration policies. Notably, Trump even got support from Hispanic voters who believed his policies targeted only criminals, not Hispanics in general..

African American Voter Turnout

During the campaign, Trump actively sought the support of Black men. In fact, his inroads were so significant that Barack Obama messaged directly to Black men.  But his message missed the mark  as many termed it condescending. While Trump’s support among Black men remained modest, even his slight increases in this demographic, coupled with lower overall African American voter turnout, contributed to his victory. Harris’s campaign failed to mobilize this crucial voter base effectively, impacting her performance in key states.  Across the board Black turnout was down when compared to Biden’s campaign.

Why Some Black Men are not Voting for Kamala Harris

Donald Trump’s victory can be attributed to his effective portrayal as a change agent amid widespread economic dissatisfaction and his successful efforts to associate Kamala Harris with the perceived failures of the Biden administration. Harris’s late entry into the race, while initially invigorating, ultimately limited her ability to connect with voters and present a compelling alternative vision for the nation’s future. 

Like gumbo, all the different parts came together for Trump and propelled his historic victory.