Megan Trotter & Spencer Thomas | news editor & editor-in-chief

Four years ago, Donald Trump began planning a path to the White House that undoubtedly ran through Pennsylvania. After nonstop campaign rallies and millions of dollars raised in the region, he has been elected the 47th president of the United States.

“This was a movement like nobody’s seen before and frankly this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time,” Trump said in his speech on Election Night. “We’re going to help our country heal.”

The victory came into picture via resounding wins in the sun belt, where the former and future president reversed a 2020 loss in Georgia and retained North Carolina. However, the death blow for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign came in the midwest, where Democrats were relying on holding up their “blue wall” in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Ava Hickman, president of the College Republicans at Duquesne, along with the other members of the College Republicans watched the votes roll in at Dave McCormick’s watch party.

“No matter what, win or lose, it was amazing to see it come together,” Hickman said.

Bobby Latham, administrator of the College Republicans, said he went into the night with cautious optimism and kept an eye on how fast Florida was counting their votes.

As the calendar turned to Nov. 6, it became clear that Harris needed comeback victories in swing-states Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan overnight.

However, those pipe dreams died early Wednesday morning, when Pennsylvania became the first state in the wall to crumble.

Despite Pennsylvania ultimately turning red, Allegheny County officials reported at 12 a.m. on Wednesday that 98.12% of precincts had reported. At the time, Harris led against Trump for the presidency 415,729 to 278,683.

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato released a statement Wednesday afternoon.

“The people of Pennsylvania and the nation selected a new president and leaders. I believe democracy is fundamental to maintaining a free society, and I accept the outcome of the election,” Innamorato said.

As of Wednesday, Trump had an advantage in the remaining midwest states, as well as swing states Nevada and Arizona.

Hickman said to The Duke that she was not expecting Trump to win Wisconsin.

Emily Theroux, secretary and communications director of the Young Democrats, people who want a change in the economy. However, she said that Trump does not represent those people – only himself.

“It’s disappointing, but I absolutely refuse to delegitimize the election,” Theroux said. “This is what people wanted.”

Theroux pointed to Trump’s 34 felonies, impeachments and accusations of sexual assault as the main reason she was surprised he won.

She said she was especially disheartened that women voters did not come through.

William Blumel, president of the Young Democrats, shared a similar sentiment saying that there were a lot of demographics that voted red which he wasn’t expecting.

Blumel watched the race from U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio’s watch party along with the other members of the Young Democrats.

Not only did Trump earn the victory in the Electoral College, but his win was felt in every aspect of the vote. The popular vote continues to remain up for grabs, and Trump closed the gap in Democratic strongholds like Virginia and New Hampshire, while strengthening his grip in Texas and Florida.

Hickman said she thinks a major part of Trump’s success was the “Democrats for Trump” movement, where many lifelong Democrats chose to vote red in this election.

“They feel left behind by the left,” Hickman said.

Hickman said that despite losing, some of her friends who were not Trump supporters still reached out to say congratulations.

“It was a weird quiet aura walking around campus this morning,” Latham said. “Nobody was angry … just a quiet acceptance.”

Theroux said that she hopes people who voted Republican pay attention and reflect on Trump’s actions during his second term.

“I’m scared. I have a lot of fear for the next four years,” Theroux said. “It’s just upsetting that empathy is down trending.”

Harris called Trump on Wednesday to concede the election and congratulate him, according to the Associated Press.

Wednesday afternoon, Harris gave a public concession speech at Howard University.

“My heart is full today. Full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. Full of love for our country and full of resolve. The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for. But here me when I say … the light of America’s promise will always burn bright,” Harris said.

Democrats also lost three-term U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown D-Ohio, which essentially clinched the Senate for the GOP. Dave McCormick looks to be riding Trump’s coattails to a narrow victory in the Keystone State. He unseated U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., also a three-term senator.

Trump will spend the next 75 days planning his transition before the inauguration on Jan. 20.