The 2024 US Presidential Election saw a fierce contest between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican incumbent Donald Trump. As voters cast their ballots, Edison Research conducted an exit poll to gauge the pulse of the electorate in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. Here are some of the preliminary findings:
Harris Captures Women’s Votes, Trump Holds Onto White Voters
Harris emerged victorious among women voters in Pennsylvania, garnering 55% of their support compared to Trump’s 43%. This represents a slight decrease in Trump’s share from the 2020 exit poll. Trump, however, continued to hold a strong lead among white voters, securing 54% of their votes. This figure is down 3 percentage points from the 2020 exit poll. Trump’s dominance among white men voters remained evident, with 58% supporting him, while Harris received 40% of their votes. This marks a 4 percentage point decrease in Trump’s share from the 2020 exit poll. Interestingly, among white women voters, Trump edged out Harris with 50% to 48%. This also indicates a 2 percentage point drop in Trump’s share from the previous election.
Voter Sentiment: Economic Concerns and Democracy at the Forefront
The exit poll also provides insights into the key issues driving voter decisions in Pennsylvania. A significant 31% of voters stated that the economy was the most important factor in their voting choice, while 31% cited the state of democracy as their top concern. Immigration and abortion followed closely, with 12% and 15% of voters respectively citing them as their primary motivations. Foreign policy ranked significantly lower, with only 3% of voters highlighting it as their main concern.
Economic Outlook: A Sense of Worsening Financial Situation
The poll further reveals that a majority of voters in Pennsylvania (48%) perceive their family’s financial situation to be worse off than four years ago. This figure stands in stark contrast to the 16% who reported the same in the 2020 exit poll. While 22% indicated an improvement in their financial situation, this represents a significant decline from the 43% who shared that sentiment in 2020. The remaining 29% of voters reported no change in their financial circumstances.
Democracy Under Threat: A Widespread Belief
A strong majority of Pennsylvania voters (74%) expressed concern over the state of democracy in the US, believing it to be under threat. Only 24% felt that democracy was secure.
Demographic Breakdown: Gender and Racial Representation
The exit poll reflects a relatively even gender distribution among voters, with 53% being women and 47% being men. This aligns with the demographic breakdown observed in the 2020 exit poll. The racial composition of voters was predominantly white (82%), with Black voters making up 9% and Hispanic voters accounting for 6% of the electorate.
It is important to note that exit polls are a snapshot of voter sentiment, reflecting a sample of voters who participated in the election. As additional poll responses are collected, these results are subject to change. While providing valuable insights into voter attitudes and priorities, exit polls are not a definitive indicator of the final election outcome. They offer a valuable perspective on the electorate’s mindset, but the actual results will be determined by the count of ballots cast across the nation.
