The unprecedented win for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election has left many, myself included, feeling stressed and distraught about the future of our nation. I was ready to finally feel represented in my government with a strong, qualified woman of color in the White House. Instead, I woke up the morning after the election to find the man that played a vital role in the overturning of Roe v Wade to be the winner. While at first I wanted to crawl under my covers and cry, I tried to find some positive changes in the midst of all the heartbreak I was experiencing. 

It is easy for the president elect to overshadow the rest of the roles in our democracy, and while our country did choose a republican president, there certainly were some historic wins for democrats. 

Delaware state senator Sarah McBride was her state’s congressional district winner, making her the first ever openly transgender woman appointed to Congress. McBride ran on a platform that promoted criminal justice reform and expanding access to healthcare. During her campaign she emphasized that she did not just want to be a figurehead in a movement, but to actually help her fellow Delaware natives, regardless of party affiliation.

Another exciting victory in Delaware has two black female senators serving at the same time. This came with Delaware’s Lisa Blunt Rochester as well as Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks, both in the Democratic party. 

In Kentucky voters overwhelmingly voted against an Amendment that would allow education funding from the General Assembly to go to non public schools. If passed, this amendment would have likely seen tons of budget cuts and possibly even shut downs in public schools throughout the state. 

This election year we also saw many states taking measures to combat the stricter abortion laws that were put in place in 2022. Colorado, Maryland, Montana, and New York all voted in favor of amending access to abortions and putting this in their state’s constitution, which would protect them from heavier regulations that could follow during the next presidency. Arizona and Missouri, two states with some of the heaviest restrictions on reproductive rights in the country, voted to repeal these laws and expand access to healthcare. 

While the 2024 election certainly did not turn out the way I wanted it to, I’ve decided to keep my head up and look forward to the young, open-minded individuals who will bring change and innovation instead of hatred and dissent. With Harris stating in her concession speech that she will ensure a peaceful transfer of power I hope that our nation can begin to heal from the divisiveness we have encountered these past few years. Whatever this new era brings I believe the American people will work together to ensure a better future for us all, regardless of the person you voted for.