LIVE: 2024 Election Coverage

This story is part of our continuing coverage of the 2024 General Election. We aim to provide fair, complete coverage of this race across issue and political party. The Wire’s live election updates can be found below. 

OPINION: 9:55pm PST, “Latinos for Who?” Sebastian Vera Cuevas:

If you’ve tuned in to NBC, CNN, or any other news station that has been discussing the demographics of voters as election night drags on, you’ve likely heard incessant remarks about the “massive shift” in the Latino vote in key states since the last election as News anchors speculate why the change has taken place. This follows a trend of the media placing disproportionate weight on the vote of minorities like Latinos, and Black men. 

Although the shift is real and not to be ignored by Democrats who’ve systematically taken both voting blocks for granted, particularly in swing states like Pennsylvania and Georgia, it is not the only factor this election. 

Having likely capitalized on “economic anxiety”, an issue Latino and Black men, the majority of whom are working class, identify as a top issue, has been a large focus for Republicans. Another vital factor is that the two groups seem to be amongst the most disillusioned with the lack of change delivered by the democrats. When surveyed, it becomes evident that Black and Latino men “don’t necessarily doubt Democratic intentions, but they are disappointed in the results.” (NYT). 

Despite the deep-dives and attempts to interpret the wishes of marginalized groups on-air Kamala Harris and Democrats continue to maintain 10+ point leads with both communities across the country.

Despite what you may hear about the Latino and African-American voting block tonight, it is vital to remember that no matter the result, rhetoric placing an inflated amount of weight on minority groups often leads to disproportionate blame, hatred and violence. 

OPINION: 9:10pm PST, “Thinking Senate in a Presidential Frenzy,” Owen Jakel:

If you’re planning to watch live election coverage late into the night tonight, you’re not alone. Especially for Democratic voters, the current state of the electoral map may be anxiety inducing and doesn’t offer a strong backdrop for sleep tonight. However, as we hyper-focus on the Presidential election, I urge you to take a look at the senate races, many of which are also too close to call.

A Donald Trump presidency would be heavily limited by a Democratic senate, even if the margin is slim. Court nominees need congressional approval to serve on the Supreme Court or any number of Circuit Courts. A national abortion ban would need to pass through the Senate as well. While many voters are concerned about the possible neglect of democracy in a Trump presidency–and rightly so–the Senate places certain restrictions on Presidential powers.

However, current counts show that the senate may end up in the hands of Republicans. This could be disastrous for Democrats and points to an inability for the Democratic Party to focus on political concerns beyond Donald Trump over the last eight years. As you follow other races through the night, it is important to remember that these outcomes are the result of the successes and failures of political rhetoric. Our incessant focus on the Presidential election fails to utilize the full extent of our democratic possibilities.

9:10pm PST, “Whitman Votes Thanks Students for Turn Out,” Hunter Tucker and Bex Heimbrock: 

As of 5:30pm PST, voters ages 18-29 account for 14% of all ballots cast in the 2024 election. As of 8:00pm PST young voters are favoring Harris with 52% going to her and 44% going to Trump. This is the age range with the largest percentage of votes for Harris. This finding comes from Edison Research’s National Election Pool exit poll. At Whitman, students have been engaged in registering their peers to vote. In an email to Whitman’s community, Jonathan Becker, Co-Chair of Whitman Votes, thanked students for turning out to vote.

“The time you spent volunteering to help people register for the election made a real difference, and I am so grateful,” wrote Becker.

The Wire followed up with an interview with Becker about Whitman Votes and his involvement.

“I got involved in Whitman Votes because I thought that it was just important to make sure that students at Whitman are able to participate in the democratic process,” said Becker. He explained that college students are the age demographic least likely to vote. “So it’s just important to educate college students about how they can participate in the electoral process,” he said.

With regard to the organization Becker said, “Whitman Votes is a chapter of a national organization called Every Vote Counts, and that organization focuses on work to get out the vote but also civic education and advocacy to make the participation and civic engagement more accessible.” Becker emphasized that Whitman Votes does these efforts in a non-partisan way and provides resources to both in and out of state students.

Becker wasn’t able to provide exact numbers of students registered or talked to, but he did say that Whitman Votes tabled six times in October alone having at least three students visit each time. “We were having tables all around campus. We’ve done them in the library. We’ve done them. We’ve done them at Cleve. We’ve done them in Reid,” Becker said.

9:05pm PST, “Measures on the Walla Walla Ballot,” Poppy Lasher:

This election day, Washington voters faced four ballot measures on their ballot. These initiatives involved the environment, capital gains tax, and state long term care insurance. 

Washington Initiative 2066, Natural Gas Policies Measure (2024)

Supported by Mainstreet Matters for Washington and Let’s Go Washington, a committee led by a conservative hedge fund manager

Opposed by Stop Greed and No on 2066

What the ballot says:

“This measure would repeal or prohibit certain laws and regulations that discourage natural gas use, and/or promote electrification, and require certain utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers. Should this measure be enacted into law?”

Washinton plans to direct combination gas and electric companies to decarbonize and electrify gas systems. The state plans to move to 100% clean energy. This measure, supported by those with a stake in the Fossil Fuel industry, would resist these moves towards clean energy. 

Washington Initiative 2109, Repeal Capital Gains Tax Initiative (2024) 

Supported by Taxpayers Accountability Alliance and Let’s Go Washington

Opposed by Stop Greed and No on 2109 Committee 

What the ballot says:

“This measure would repeal an excise tax imposed on the sale or exchange of certain long-term capital assets by individuals who have annual capital gains of over $250,000. Should this measure be enacted into law?”

Washington currently imposes a capital gains tax on the sale or exchange of long-term Washington capital assets. This measure would repeal this capital gains tax, which supports childcare subsidies and educational initiatives. 

Washington Initiative 2117, Repeal Carbon Cap and Invest Program Measure (2024)

Supported by Taxpayers Accountability Alliance and Let’s Go Washington

Opposed by Stop Greed, No on 2117, and Clean and Prosperous America No on 2117 Committee 

What the ballot says:

“Initiative Measure No. 2117 concerns carbon tax credit trading. This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Should this measure be enacted into law?”

This measure would repeal the 2021 Climate Commitment Act and ban state agencies from enacting carbon tax credits. This bill would also ban programs which involve trading carbon tax credits. Climate Commitment Act supporters argue that this bill means losing a weapon against the climate crisis. 

Washington Initiative 2124, Opt-Out of Long-Term Services Insurance Program Initiative (2024)

Supported by Taxpayers Accountability Alliance and Let’s Go Washington

Opposed by Stop Greed, No on 2124, and AARP No on I 2124 Sponsored by AARP Washington State

“Initiative Measure No. 2124 concerns state long term care insurance. This measure would provide that employees and self-employed people must elect to keep coverage under RCW 50B.04 and could opt-out any time. It would also repeal a law governing an exemption for employees. Should this measure be enacted into law?”

This measure would make worker participation in the WA Cares Fund, a 0.58% paycheck tax that goes towards long-term care for seniors (with a cap of $35,500), optional. The tax being voluntary could threaten the financial standing of the WA Cares Fund. 

8:50pm PST, “Votes Counted in Walla Walla County,” Bex Heimbrock:

13,999 ballots have been counted in Walla Walla County with 7,675 left to count. Preliminary results have come in, with Walla Walla leaning red in most races. The Walla Walla County Auditor recorded 36.57% voter turnout.

Nearly 70% of counted votes have approved the Fire Protection District No. 8 Proposition 1, which seeks an increase in funding for the Fire Department via a slight tax raise.

8:45pm PST, “Bob Ferguson Wins Washington Governor Race,” Natalie Comerford:

Bob Ferguson (D) has been elected as Governor of Washington State, according to The Associated Press, defeating former U.S Rep. Dave Reichert. Ferguson has served as the state’s Attorney General since 2013, and will take over the Governorship from three-term Governor Jay Inslee (D), who declined to seek reelection.

8:32pm PST, “Strategists Prematurely Look to Predict the Election With Working Class Latino Voters,” Owen Jakel

Leading up to the election, political analysts extensively discussed how the Democratic party was losing the working class. From the Teamsters President addressing the RNC to the massive gains that Republicans have made with Latino voters, often working class, these shifts are a cause of concern for Kamala Harris.

Before election day, many seemed to predict that the Democratic party would make up those losses from college-educated Americans. As this group grows, they become a more necessary contingent, but the real test is unfolding tonight, which can confirm or challenge these pre-election predictions.

States like Texas and Florida, which have large Latino populations, have both been called for Trump, despite hopes that these states could begin turning slowly towards Democrats. Yet it is not Florida or Texas that will decide this election.

Like everyone else, working class Latino voters will have the biggest impact on the outcome of the election in swing states, which are all currently too close to call. Peter Woolley, Director of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Graduate School of Public and Global Affairs, explained that Latino voters are complex and cannot so easily be casted as a monolith.

“The Latino vote is complex. Different voters of different national origins differ in their views. But the most interesting difference is gender. Male, Latino voters are drawn to the man—the strong man—Trump. Latinas, on the other hand, still heavily favor Democrats,” Woolley said.

Other political strategists and academics explained that things were just too close to call at the moment. Although they hoped to offer more information about working class Latino voters in the morning, their inability to note anything conclusive should be seen as a caution to those looking for any way to prematurely predict the outcome of this election.

8:25pm PST, “The Red Mirage,” Sebastian Vera Cuevas:

If you’re tuning in to any of the major networks right about now, you may be worried (or excited) to see the sprawling red wall of called states in the southeast, placing Trump comfortably ahead with a multiple-point lead in the election. If it feels like déjà vu, don’t worry, it’s not. This phenomenon, dubbed “The Red Mirage,” happens nearly every election night in states where polls close early, most of which lean red. 

Generally, Republicans vote in person and live in small, rural counties where votes are tallied and reported before anywhere else. Coupled with the standard rule that in-person ballots are counted first, you are much more likely to see more rural, typically red states with fewer mail-in ballots be officially called early in the night. Later on, Trump’s electoral lead will likely begin to wane as states that need to count ballots from dense, metropolitan areas and larger amounts of mail-in ballots begin tallying the votes. 

The singular, and important, exception to watch is Pennsylvania, where mail-in ballots are counted first, which could trigger a blue mirage within the state. 

8:10pm PST, “The Keystone State,” AJ Johnson:

As the vote count rolls in, all eyes are turned to the United States swing states, several of which mean the difference between a Trump victory and a Harris victory. One such state is Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is referred to as the ‘keystone’ state, highly coveted for its 19 electoral college votes.

As of 7:41 PM, PST, Donald Trump is in the lead by 1.7%, and there is no guaranteed winner for Pennsylvania. Many of the urbanized areas still have thousands of votes to count, and a complete count could be a multi-day process. Pennsylvania has bounced between Republican and Democratic since the 1970s. In 2016, Donald Trump won Pennsylvania with a margin of 0.7%. In 2020, however, Pennsylvania flipped back to blue. As of 8:00 PM, PST, Donald Trump is in the lead by 3%.