On Monday, the U.S. Congress officially confirmed Donald Trump's win as the president-elect following the November 2024 elections. The joint session, overseen by outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris, marked the traditional counting of Electoral College votes, granting Trump a total of 312 electoral votes against the 226 garnered by Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz.
As the outgoing vice president and Senate president, Harris was tasked with supervising the certification, which she described as a "constitutional duty." Her role in this event echoes other significant moments in history when defeated vice presidents, such as Joe Biden in 2017 and Al Gore in 2000, presided over the declaration of their rivals' victories.
For Harris, this moment symbolized a bittersweet conclusion to her presidential journey. Despite the solemnity of the occasion, applause filled the chamber when she read the final results for both Trump and herself, underscoring the institutional respect for the democratic process.
Supervising the Certification
During the session, Harris instructed lawmakers to take their seats and managed the proceedings, which involved reading state results alphabetically by a group of tellers consisting of two representatives and two senators from each party. Upon completing the reading, Harris declared Trump's victory and adjourned the joint session.
Election Outcomes and Key Numbers
Trump, alongside his vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance, secured a total of 312 electoral votes, solidifying a victory that also included the popular vote, with 77.3 million votes compared to Harris's 75 million. The pivotal contest was decided in seven key states where Trump managed to overturn the results that had led to his defeat in 2020.
The clarity of the outcomes and the absence of objections during the certification significantly contrasted with 2021, when a faction of Republican lawmakers unsuccessfully attempted to challenge Joe Biden's victory by objecting to the vote count.
Contrast with January 6, 2021
This year's electoral certification, typically seen as routine, proceeded without disruptions or controversies. This process stood in stark contrast to the events of January 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to stop the certification of Joe Biden's election victory. At that time, Trump and his allies attempted to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence to block Biden's win, a demand that Pence refused, even facing death threats from the former president's followers.
Since then, laws defining the vice president's role in the certification process have been clarified, explicitly stating that the vice president does not have the authority to alter election results. This legislative change aimed to bolster trust in the American democratic system and prevent potential power abuses.
With this certification complete, the path is clear for the inauguration ceremony on January 20, when Trump and Vance will formally assume their roles as President and Vice President of the United States, respectively.
Insights into the Certification of Trump's Victory
What role did Kamala Harris play in Trump's certification process?
As the outgoing vice president, Kamala Harris supervised the certification of Trump's victory, a duty she described as constitutional. Her role was similar to past vice presidents who presided over the certification of their opponents' wins.
How did the 2024 certification differ from 2021?
The 2024 certification was conducted without disruptions or controversies, unlike 2021 when attempts were made to block Biden's victory. The process this time was orderly and devoid of objections.