As expected, immigration ended up being a major issue in the 2024 presidential election. In July, 55 percent of Americans told Gallup that they supported a decrease in immigration, and this percentage included people across all parties. Democrats, Republicans, and Independants alike all supported more control at the border, especially coming off of Biden’s presidency.
Both Harris and Trump would publicly support tightening immigration policy, but Trump’s rhetoric turned out to be much more convincing for many. Harris did her best to publicize her support for “the toughest border control bill in decades”, but this was not enough, especially considering her role throughout Biden’s presidency. Many believed that Trump’s success came from his ability to establish immigration crisis and connect that crisis to the economy. Since 2015, he has been building a platform against immigration, and it seemed this platform was his ticket to many voters in the 2024 election.
The most notable aspect of this issue was its ability to access voters across political parties. 2024 was a big year for single issue voting, and immigration, along with the economy and reproductive rights, could single handedly dictate a vote. This led to voting across parties, as voters were more focused on the issues rather than the candidates.
Photo: Mark Abramson, The New York Times
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