Months of polling and debating came to an end on Nov. 8 when Republican candidate Donald Trump won the presidential election over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Trump had a total of 279 electoral votes compared to Clinton’s electoral vote count of 228.
In order to be elected president, one of the candidates had to reach 270 electoral votes.
Through the election night, poll results between Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio switched between candidates. Between these four states, Trump was able to pick up 75 total electoral votes.
Leading up to the election, it was predicted that Clinton would win states such as Florida, North Carolina and Virginia. Trump was able to turn these states in his favor.
After Trump won those states, the ones to watch were Michigan and Pennsylvania. Before election night, both states polled strongly in Clinton’s favor. After the results came in, however, Trump was able to take the victory.
“Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division. It is time for us to come together as one united people. It’s time,” Trump said during his victory speech.
Although Clinton was able to clinch key states such as California and New York, who offered 55 and 29 electoral votes, respectively, it still wasn’t enough for a democrat to retain the presidential position.
Although Trump won the electoral votes, Clinton won the popular vote 59,385,603 to 59,213,188.
Also, the fight for Senate control was up for grabs the same night. The Republican Party remained in control of the Senate. There were 10 democratic seats and 24 republican seats up for grabs. The Democratic Party gained control of 47 seats while the Republican Party gained 51 seats.
Polls leading up to the election showed that each party had an equal chance of gaining control of the Senate.
For the Senate race in Pennsylvania, Republican Pat Toomey pulled a victory over Democrat Katie McGinty. Toomey was the incumbent candidate in Pennsylvania for this race.
“I am really deeply humbled by this victory. I am incredibly honored the people of PA are giving me another term in the US Senate,” Toomey said during his victory speech.
The presidential and Senate positions were not the only positions that were voted upon on Nov. 8. Voters participated in other elections such as Attorney General, Auditor General, State Treasurer, and representatives in Congress.
Democrat Josh Shapiro was elected as the Attorney General of Pennsylvania. He will replace current Democrat Bruce Breemer.
“Thank you, Pennsylvania. I am honored and humbled by your support and I am proud to be the attorney general for all pennsylvanians,” Shapiro said on Nov. 9 after getting the results.
Auditor General will go to Democrat candidate Eugene A. Depasquale. He had a four-point lead over his rival, Republican John Brown.
State Treasurer was won by Democrat Joseph Torsella by a seven-point margin over Republican Otto Voit.
In the twelfth congressional district, the district Beaver County resides in, voted in favor of Republican candidate Keith Rothfus who was running against Democrat Erin R. McClelland to represent them in congress.
On the ballots this year, a question regarding a new constitutional amendment was added. This question was: “Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to require that justices, judges and justices of the peace be retired on the last day of the calendar year in which they attain the age of 75 years?” This created confusion before voting began as to whether there is already a retirement age set for judges. Currently, that retirement age is 70. Voting in favor of this question would be a vote to raise this retirement age to 75.
This question earned 51 percent of people in favor of it and 49 percent voted against it. This means that the majority of people voted to raise retirement age to 75 for judges.
Months of polling and debating has led America to make the decision to elect Trump as the next president of the United States and voted Republican in the majority of the races on Nov. 8.