US Presidential Election 2024 Results: 11 reasons why Kamala Harris lost badly

In the end, it wasn’t close at all. Donald Trump swept all seven swing states, easily paving a way to the White House. Polls had suggested a neck-and-neck race, but Harris lost every swing state and performed even worse than Joe Biden in every county. Trump's triumph signals the end of the liberal order established with Barack Obama’s presidency in 2008, which saw Democrats dominate the narrative and shape much of American culture, from the media to Hollywood. Now, with Donald Trump – a convicted felon – back in the White House, the tables have turned. Trump achieved numerous firsts, including becoming the first president since Grover Cleveland to serve non-consecutive terms and dismantling the so-called "Blue Wall."

1) No Time to Prepare

Planning a presidential campaign in just four months was a tall order, and Harris, stuck with Biden’s team, struggled to articulate her message. She was forced to reverse positions on key policies, including those on illegal immigration and gender-affirming care, which eroded public confidence.

2) Interview Doom Loop

Initially, Harris refused interviews, leading polls by 3.6 points in FiveThirtyEight’s polling average. Silicon Valley investor David Sacks warned she could fall into a “doom loop”: as her ratings dropped, she’d be forced to give more interviews, further harming her standing. This proved true, with her ratings plummeting from 3.6 to 1.4 points just before Election Day.

Read: 11 reasons Trump won

3) MSM Playing Nero

The media's role should be to inform the public, yet, over the past eight years, mainstream outlets have been preoccupied with attacking Trump. They frequently distorted facts, as seen when they misinterpreted Trump’s comment about for violence rather than a critique of her “war hawk” views. Even comedy shows leaned into anti-Trump narratives, reinforcing biases rather than fostering critical discourse. And they also committed the worst crime of all time, not eveng being funny.

4) Rise of New Media

With mainstream media missing the mark, alternative platforms have gained prominence, allowing people to judge Trump independently. Platforms like X, owned by Trump ally Elon Musk, and podcasts such as The Joe Rogan Experience have helped Trump redefine his image, distancing him from labels like “fascist” and “bigot.” In today’s media landscape, where figures like Joe Rogan hold as much influence as major celebrities, Trump’s alternative media appearances have countered the negative portrayals from traditional outlets.



5) Shrill Surrogates

As Harris’s ratings dipped, her surrogates grew desperate. Hillary Clinton likened a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden to a Nazi gathering, while Obama admonished Black men for not backing Harris. Figures like Tim Walz and AOC tried to turn a Puerto Rican joke into a headline. At times, it felt like the Puerto Rico joke - no matter how crude, got more coverage than two assassination attemps on Trump.

6) Trump Minority Outreach

Trump extended his reach to minority groups. His pro-business stance and ties with Indian PM Narendra Modi appealed to conservative Indian Americans. Among African Americans, he capitalised on frustrations with the Democratic Party, drawing young Black men with promises of economic opportunity. Endorsements from Arab American leaders in Michigan boosted his support, particularly among those critical of US involvement in the Middle East. His Hispanic support, though somewhat affected by a Puerto Rican joke, grew due to his positions on economic issues, immigration, and crime.

7) U-Turns on Major Policies and a "No Comment" Strategy

Kamala Harris ’s reluctance to commit to clear policy positions backfired. By avoiding firm stances on former progressive policies, she created an impression of evasiveness, which alienated voters. She was also seen as the "No Comment" candidate, one could win by not alienating voters. It was a rather hard sell though. For example, you can't claim to be the champion of recreational marijuana use when you have a history of locking up recreational marijuana users. Conversely, Trump’s direct, if polarising, policy positions won him a loyal base, securing a clear victory. Harris’s avoidance left her vulnerable to attacks, with voters gravitating toward a candidate with a more defined agenda.

8) MAGA Kulturkampf Triumph

MAGA hasn't just cannibalised the Conservative movement, it has also challenged the Democratic Party’s liberal world order. Issues like the trans movement and identity politics have alienated some traditional Democratic voters, and MAGA has reframed debates on immigration as conflicts between illegal immigrants and minority communities. This was evidenced in Harris' own behaviour who left behind many of her more progressive policies to become a 'moderate'. For normal people, there is no hesistancy in saying that men shouldn't participate in women's sports or that grown men - irrespective of how they identity - shouldn't use bathrooms. It was a hard task, getting women to vote for Harris after spending so long not being able to define a woman. The MAGA messaging on these issues hit home and this electoral reversal will perhaps force the Dems to come back to normal centre.

9) Reverse Swing in Swing States
Harris, much like Indian batsmen from the 90s, failed to deal with the swing. Of course, in Harris' case, it was the key swing states,
losing ground that Joe Biden had previously held. Her failure to connect with working-class voters on issues like the economy and immigration cost her in places like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In Florida and Arizona, Harris’s appeal fell flat with Latino voters, who leaned towards Trump’s stances on jobs and border security. Her campaign’s missteps across these pivotal states led to a complete swing-state wipeout, blocking her path to victory.

10) The "DEI" Candidate

Kamala Harris’s ascension to the Democratic nomination had sparked criticism, with some labelling her a “DEI candidate” – suggesting her rise was due to diversity priorities over electoral support. This narrative cast doubt on her qualifications, overshadowing her roles as attorney general, senator, and vice president. Unlike Clinton, Harris was virtually given the nomination after Biden dropped out. VPs are often picked to complement the POTUS of the day. Becoming the main focus is a different matter. Her campaign, burdened by these assumptions, ultimately failed to resonate widely, underscoring the unique challenges faced by Black women in leadership, where their achievements are often undermined by questions around race and gender.

11) America won't vote for a woman

There’s an unspoken reality within American politics, underscored by historical and present-day facts. The US has longstanding issues with racism and misogyny. Abraham Lincoln had to lead the country into a civil war to end slavery. It wasn’t until 1920 that women gained the right to vote, and only in 1965 were voting rights fully extended to all Black citizens. Jim Crow laws continued to suppress Black rights across states well after the Civil War. The country has elected a Black president only once and has yet to see a female president. For many American voters, possibly including Black voters, casting a ballot for a candidate who is both half-Indian and half-Black felt like a great a leap—regardless of the opponent. Even in 2024, it was a bridge too far for America to cross.