THE PRAIRIE EDITOR: The 2024 Election Cycle Is Now Over

The most bizarre presidential election in memory is

now over. Donald Trump has won a decisive victory

not only in the key electoral college, but also in the

national popular vote, something a Republican ticket 

has not done since 2004.

Many of the predictions about this contest did not

happen. There were, however numerous surprises

and sudden dramas throughout the cycle.

As President Biden said in his remarks after the 

voting, an election is a contest in which one side

wins and one side loses. To his credit and to Vice

President Kamala Harris, his party’s  presidential 

nominee’s credit, they called and congratulated 

President-elect Trump and graciously accepted the 

result, assuring an American tradition of the peaceful

transfer of power after an election.

In the seven-week period until Inauguration Day, 

there is time for voters on both sides to reflect on the

campaign just passed. The winners. of course, are

celebratory, but that does not mean  any gloating is

useful. Republicans should remember how they

felt four years ago when they were on the losing side,

and be respectful of how most Democrats now 

understandably feel.

Winners  in politics can lose in a subsequent election,

and losers can win in one. In fact, Republicans face

their next voter test in only two years, and the historic

frequency of defeat in the first mid-term after a

presidential victory. Their challenge is compounded by

their numerical disadvantage in the U.S. Senate races,

an advantage they had and which helped them in 2024,

In the meantime, Mr. Trump is choosing his cabinet and

other executive branch leaders, and preparing to take

the executive reins of government.  The U.S. House and

U,S, Senate are both controlled by his party, albeit by

narrow margins. As a so-called lame duck president, he

will need to work quickly to enact his policies.

Voters did give Mr. Trump a mandate, and now they

expect hum to deliver on his promises.

Democrats now are the Opposition. After  a period of

reflection and discussion., they will decide what directions

to take, and what changes they need to make.  Their

2024 campaign and many of their candidates did not

resonate with a majority of voters, so new ideas, policies

and leaders are likely to emerge. 

Foreign governments, both friendly and unfriendly, have

already begun adjusting to Mr. Trump’s election. By

selecting Senator Marco Rubio as his Secretary of State,

and Congresswoman Elisa Stefanik as his U.N. ambassador

he has signaled to our allies, competitors, and those

who are hostile, that his administration will pursue a robust

and articulate foreign policy —- and one different from the 

one conducted in the past four years.

Judgments about President Trump’s domestic and  foreign

policies in his second term will have to wait until he is in 

office again. In the meantime, it is a relief to be past the

now-concluded campaign cycle and its especially

melodramatic and divisive tone.

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Copyright (c) 2024 by Barry Casselman. All rights reserved.