As the United States feet closer to its 2024 general election, the concept of the” Blue Wall” is becoming a key focus in the battle between the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Democratic candidate, original President Donald Trump.
Given that these crucial state have a significant impact on who will win the presidency, both campaigns have invested money in these crucial states.
What is the Blue Wall?
A group of states that consistently voted for the Democratic presidential candidate from 1992 to 2012 are known as the” Blue Wall.” But, this long-standing pattern was disrupted in 2016 when Trump managed to turn three important says: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
These state, with a combined total of 44 political seats, were instrumental in Trump’s win over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primaries, as he won 306 electoral college votes despite losing the nationwide popular vote by roughly 2.9 million.
President Joe Biden won up these claims in the 2020 election, bringing the exact result that Trump had had in four years earlier. Biden’s nationwide popular vote direct extended to over 7 million, but the Blue Wall says remained fiercely contested arenas.
Now, in 2024, these states are once again at the heart of the electoral struggle.
Votes in the Electoral College are Important
To win the presidency, a candidate needs at least 270 of the 538 available electoral college votes. Each state is allocated a certain number of votes based on its congressional representation, with all but two states following a winner-takes-all system.
While both parties have strongholds, Democrats rely on the 18 states, plus Washington, DC, that have consistently supported them, amounting to 238 electoral votes.
Republicans, on the other hand, hold a solid base of 218 votes from the South and interior states, though they tend to be less populated and carry fewer electoral votes.
Pennsylvania
This state has 19 Electoral Votes.
Historically, a Republican had n’t won Pennsylvania since 1988 before Trump’s victory in 2016. Biden reclaimed the state in 2020, beating Trump 50 per cent to 48.8 per cent.
Michigan
This battleground state has 15 Electoral Votes.
Like Pennsylvania, Michigan had n’t gone red since 1988 until Trump’s narrow win in 2016. Biden flipped it back in 2020, securing 50.6 per cent of the vote to Trump’s 47.8 per cent.
Wisconsin
This key state has 10 Electoral Votes.
Before Trump’s victory in 2016, no Republican had won Wisconsin since 1984. Biden recaptured the state in 2020, narrowly defeating Trump 49.6 per cent to 48.9 per cent.
Stakes in 2024
Polls indicate that the Blue Wall states are once more too close to calling, according to USA Today. Trump has a good chance of winning the presidency if he can do so in the same way he did in 2016.
Conversely, if Harris can hold these states for the Democrats, her path to victory becomes much clearer.
As Election Day approaches, the eyes of the nation—and the world—will be on Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the blue wall trio that could tip the scales in one of the most closely contested elections in recent history.
