With a new year and new election cycle beckoning, Roll Call is looking back at some of our top stories of 2024 from the campaign trail and beyond.
Donald Trump’s stunning White House comeback capped off an election year like no other. And down ballot, things were no less interesting, with Republicans flipping the Senate while Democrats managed to narrow, barely, the GOP’s already narrow House majority.
Our travels this year took us to states and districts across the country that played a key role in deciding control of Congress.
Not shying from the red label in a blue district: GOP Rep. Mike Lawler touted his bipartisanship as he sought a second term in his blue-leaning upstate New York district. He went on to win reelection comfortably and is now the subject of gubernatorial buzz.
Central Michigan gets central role in election: A pair of Democratic-held Central Michigan seats drew outsize attention in the battleground state. Republicans flipped one of those seats, helping them secure their narrow House edge.
Swinging for the fences in Virginia swing-seat race: Republicans saw an opening in a swing seat in Virginia vacated by Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, but Democrats narrowly held the district in the end.
Happening in Plains sight: A competitive Nebraska Senate race: A competitive Senate election in Nebraska was one of the surprises of 2024. An independent candidate scrambled the state’s partisan dynamics, though Republican eventually prevailed in the deep-red state.
‘Ready for the fight’: After narrow loss in 2022, Logan aims for Hayes’ Connecticut House seat: New England is by and large solid Democratic territory these days, but pockets of competitiveness linger, including in Connecticut’s 5th District, though Democrats again prevailed there.
Is 2024 the year of the ‘girl dad’ candidate? As Republicans sought to close a gender gap on the abortion issue, some male GOP candidates deployed messages of female empowerment in their campaigns.
For our best photos of 2024, click here and here.
From the convention floor
Roll Call was also at the Republican and Democratic conventions this summer, where present and future party stars took center stage.
Running mate Vance is ardent Trump backer with brief Hill tenure: Before he became the vice president-elect, Ohio Sen. JD Vance had to introduce himself to Republican voters at the party convention in Milwaukee.
[Analysis] Why JD Vance might not carry Trump’s MAGA torch into the future: At the GOP convention, opinions on Vance’s future as Trump’s heir were mixed.
Democratic Class of ’06 cheers one of their own on national ticket: Tim Walz’s selection as Kamala Harris’ running mate drew a warm reception from former House colleagues.
Crockett takes turn in spotlight, but is apprehensive about it: Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett is no stranger to viral moments, but she wasn’t entirely sure about embracing her elevated profile at the Democratic convention.
Looking ahead
And finally, some of our stories looked ahead to 2025, with Republicans holding a government trifecta and an ambitious agenda to try to push through.
How McConnell could remain a thorn in Trump’s side next Congress: Mitch McConnell is stepping down as Senate GOP leader, but he won’t be lacking for power or influence in the new Congress.
[Opinion] Hotel MAGA-fornia: The sound and fury of Donald Trump in Washington — again: “The Trump Show” is back.
Trump’s pick for top Hill liaison brings strong conservative ties to a difficult role: James Braid will face challenges on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue as he manages a mercurial boss and tight GOP margins in Congress.
Democrats are again ‘in between leaders’ as Biden prepares to leave office: The party faces similar dilemma to the one it did when Barack Obama left office.
A glide-path caucus of new senators with enhanced statures: Several new senators who coasted to November victories in safely Republican or Democratic states will enter the chamber with high profiles.
The post Roll Call’s top stories of 2024 from the campaign trail and beyond appeared first on Roll Call.
