By: Rory Zeman

Media Production Editor

On Nov. 5, American citizens will participate in one of the tightest elections yet, voting for a new president, congress members, senators, and governors. Although the presidential race is a heated and somewhat daunting topic, there is still much to consider regarding which electoral votes will decide the election. Also, it is important to note which areas of the country the respective political parties need to win to control other facets of government. Here is a preview of what to look out for on Election Day and which states and districts will prove pivotal in the election cycle.

. Ultimately, the election comes down to just eight states: Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska’s second electoral district. In the 2020 election, President Joe Biden won all of these states except North Carolina. As of Oct. 9, the latest NY Times polls have Vice President Kamala Harris winning by a small margin of three percent; however, the polls underestimated former President Donald Trump in the last two elections.

Experts expect an incredibly small margin of victory in the state elections. As a result, both candidates are vigorously campaigning in the swing states. Since taking over the Democratic ticket, Harris has raised over one billion dollars for her campaign and used a fair amount of it to campaign in the swing states, mainly Arizona and Pennsylvania, where she, along with Governor Tim Walz, held many rallies. Likewise, Trump has also focused his campaigning in these states, going as far as to host Elon Musk at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania–the site where an assassin shot Trump. Pennsylvania, the biggest of the swing states in terms of electoral votes, will likely become the deciding factor in the election. Its importance owes to the fact that it is necessary for a candidate to win the majority of other states if they lose just Pennsylvania. 

Despite the paramount importance of the presidential election, the congressional elections and the state-level elections will also play a major role in the shift of power in the government. One of the most significant elections is the race between Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Bernie Moreno for the Senate in Ohio, a state that has shifted its partisanship numerous times in the last few election cycles. This seat is critical for Democrats to keep the majority in the Senate. Furthermore, races for seats in the House of Representatives in states such as Michigan, New York, Washington, and Nebraska could shift the tide of conservatism in the House. Finally, the race for governor in North Carolina between Republican Mark Robinson, who has been controversial due to his past of verbal bigotry, praise of slavery, and references to himself as a “Black Nazi,” and Democrat Roy Cooper is also extremely close. Trump backed Robinson, labeling him as “Martin Luther King on steroids.” These small races may seem to be in the shadow of the presidential election, but they are equally consequential.

(Sources: CNN, NBC, NPR, NY Times)