Have you ever wondered what happens when an election unfolds in unexpected ways? 

This episode dives into the surprisingly decisive 2024 presidential election, exploring its unique dynamics and the implications for American democracy. Despite expectations of a close race, the results were clear almost immediately, leaving room to reflect on the shifting coalitions, demographic trends, and the role of the Electoral College in modern elections. What does this tell us about the future of American politics?

Join hosts Savannah Eccles Johnston and Matthew Brogdon as they analyze what this election means for political parties, the electorate, and constitutional processes like the peaceful transfer of power.

Tune in for an engaging conversation that connects the election outcomes to broader themes in constitutional governance and American civic life.

In This Episode

• 00:42: Overview of the 2024 Presidential Election
• 02:02: Historical Context of Previous Presidential Elections
• 03:02: Changing Dynamics of Party Control and Dominance
• 04:04: Shift in Party Demographics and Minority Vote
• 05:02: Breakdown of Voter Demographics by Ethnicity and Sex
• 06:02: Discussing the Latino, Black, and Asian American Vote
• 07:23: Shift in Republican and Democratic Party Bases
• 09:24: Electoral College and Senate Outcomes
• 11:02: Peaceful Transfer of Power and Concession Speech
• 13:10: Importance of Adhering to Constitutional Principles
• 14:01: Process of Voting by Electors in the Electoral College
• 15:55: Managing Faithless Electors
• 17:23: Role of the Archivist in Electoral Process
• 18:13: Introduction to the executive agency
• 18:32: Role of the Vice President on January 6th
• 19:02: Historical context of Vice Presidents declaring their defeat
• 19:13: Kamala Harris's responsibilities and constitutional role
• 20:00: Process of opening electoral votes in Congress
• 21:02: Potential outcomes and controversies in the 2024 election
• 22:00: Trump's legislative prospects and potential challenges
• 23:07: Impact of divided and unified government on passing legislation
• 25:02: Significant bipartisan legislation examples
• 25:42: Election results and political stability
• 26:01: Future of American politics and upcoming elections
• 26:22: Conclusion and call to continue learning about the Constitution

Notable Quotes

• [00:01:14] “We have an incoming president who won the Electoral College, a majority of the popular vote, and all swing states—a clean sweep in 2024.” — Savannah Eccles Johnston
• [00:06:49] “Race is losing salience, while gender and class are becoming more central to party politics.” — Matthew Brogdon
• [00:15:06] “The decentralization of the Electoral College makes election fraud at a national level incredibly difficult.” — Matthew Brogdon
• [00:18:55] “The power of transitions reminds us of the strength of our constitutional system, even in divisive times.” — Savannah Eccles Johnston

Matthew Brogdon

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-brogdon-8a21bb89
• https://x.com/profbrogdon

Savannah Eccles Johnston

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannah-eccles-johnston-515a72198/
• https://www.instagram.com/savypolitics/