Tuesday, November 5th marked the highly anticipated 2024 U.S. election, with the presidency, various congressional seats, and local issues contested. Below is an overview of the election results, focusing on national, state, and local issues.

National

After an intense campaign season, 270toWin reported that Republican Donald Trump won the presidency, with 312 electoral votes defeating Democrat Kamala Harris’ 226. Trump’s promises include mass deportations of undocumented migrants, tax cuts and tariffs on foreign goods, and removal of climate regulations. He is set to take office in January with current Senator J.D. Vance as his Vice-President.

The Senate majority is also Republican, with 52 seats filled opposing 46 by Democrats; 2 seats remain uncalled.

Democrat Adam Schiff won the open California Senate seat over Republican Steve Garvey, by a margin of 14.6%. 

The House of Representatives now leans Republican, with several incumbent candidates reelected in San Diego County’s congressional districts.

• District 48: Republican Darrell Issa beat Democrat Stephen Houlahan, representing East San Diego County.
• District 49: Democrat Mike Levin won a close race against Republican Matt Gunderson, representing coastal North County.
• District 50: Democrat Scott Peters won against Republican Peter Bono, now the representative for the San Marcos area and much of coastal San Diego.
• District 51: Democrat Sara Jacobs beat Republican Bill Wells, and will represent much of the northern San Diego City area.
• District 52: Democrat Juan Vargas won against Republican Justin Lee, representing the southern regions of San Diego City.

State

Voters in California were also asked to vote on various state propositions during the 2024 election cycle. Below, the fates of these propositions are summarized: 

• • Proposition 2 would give $10 billion to fund public educational institutions. It is expected to pass.
  • Proposition 3, which reinforces the universal right to marriage by removing restrictive language in the California Constitution, passed.
  • Proposition 4 would set aside $10 billion for environmental and water-related protections; it will likely pass.
  • Proposition 5, which would set aside bonds for housing and infrastructure, failed.
  • Proposition 6, which would end forced labor in California state prisons, failed.
  • Proposition 32, which would raise the minimum wage for Californians, failed.
  • Proposition 33, which would establish rent control throughout California, failed.
  • Proposition 34 would restrict spending of prescription revenues, and is poised to pass.
  • Proposition 35 would provide permanent funding for Medi-Cal, a healthcare program for low-income Californians, and passed.
  • Proposition 36, intended to increase punishments for drug and theft crimes, was passed.

Local

• Voice of San Diego reports that Democrat County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer appears to have defeated Republican challenger Kevin Faulconer, meaning San Diego County will remain under Democratic leadership. 
• Additionally, Democratic incumbent Todd Gloria is set to return as San Diego mayor. 
• Measure G, a countywide measure to fund county transportation, infrastructure, and safety through a 0.5% sales tax, appears poised to fail.

A group of 78 CCHS seniors was surveyed about their experiences this election cycle. 78.2% reported following the presidential election significantly or somewhat. However, only 11.6% of the same group reported following the congressional elections at least somewhat regularly, with 74.4% not following it at all.

Similarly, 12.9% of the seniors surveyed followed the San Diego elections at least somewhat, and 65.4% not at all. 14.1% followed the ballot propositions at least somewhat, and 50% not at all. While 95% of surveyed students felt prepared to vote for president, for each of the other elections, less than 22% stated that they felt prepared to vote.

“I definitely feel like the presidential election is obviously more spoken about,” Vonn Stenehjem ‘25 shares. Like many others, Vonn learned about local elections from ads around the county, and — as a young person– from discussions with parents.

“I think we were all nervous more than excited,” Vonn adds. “Elections always cause tension among everyone, so that’s never fun.”