Donald Trump will return to the White House after a stunning election in which he reversed Joe Biden’s narrow 2020 victories in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin and defeated Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency.
Trump’s comeback path was extraordinary. After refusing to accept the 2020 election results and sparking a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, he was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts. In his victory speech early Wednesday, he claimed “an unprecedented and powerful mandate.” Continue reading …
In the biggest statewide race in Pa., Republican challenger Dave McCormick appeared poised to unseat incumbent Sen. Bob Casey. As of 1:30 a.m., McCormick had a narrow lead with 90% of the vote counted.
Philly’s Malcolm Kenyatta was turned back in his bid to be state Auditor General as Republicans swept that position, Attorney General and Treasurer. Full results for Pennsylvania and New Jersey are here. For more information and updates throughout the day, visit WHYY’s Election 2024 live blog.
In Philadelphia, turnout was very high but proceeded without any serious incidents. Earlier in the day, Philly DA Larry Krasner said he was looking into a hidden-camera video taken of an election worker.
Election 2024: Other news
🗳️ Many Temple students waited nearly two hours to vote, before additional resources were provided to get the line moving. But there was plenty of music, food and even a visit from actor Paul Rudd to keep them occupied. [Billy Penn]
🗳️ Dear Next President: Sheryl Oring has been typing carbon-copied cards to the future president for 20 years. She came to the Free Library on Election Day to take dictation from Philadelphians. [WHYY]
🗳️ Across Philly, students engaged in mock elections, Socratic seminars, open discussions, arts and crafts projects, and podcasts to explore how the political process works and where they fit in. [Chalkbeat]
🗳️ First-time female Republican voters in Pa. split on the issue of abortion. [WHYY]
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• A new study for advocacy group PennEnvironment found microplastics present in waterways throughout Pa. Microplastics and nanoplastics, often invisible to the eye, are easily ingested and can invade people’s organs. [WITF/WHYY]
• Scammers can make the Medicare enrollment period treacherous. Here are ways to protect yourself. [Spotlight PA]
• 100 inmates at Philly’s jails were released with agreement by prosecutors, courts, and public defenders. [Inquirer $]
• A vending machine that lets people donate school supplies, clothing, toys and other items to Philly charities is coming to the Fashion District. [PhillyVoice]
• Jason Kelce apologized on-air for grabbing the phone of an unruly fan and spiking it to the ground before the Ohio State-Penn State game, after the fan shouted a slur about his brother Travis Kelce. [CBS3]
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
• The city’s Group Violence Intervention Initiative expands its mission to include juveniles. [The Philadelphia Tribune]
• Proposals for a red flag law, expanded background checks, and ghost gun restrictions are stuck in the GOP-led upper chamber. Could the election change their fate? [Philadelphia Citizen/The Trace]
• The Uplift Center for Grieving Children will be awarded $50,000 by DA Krasner and the Philadelphia Foundation as part of its violence prevention microgrants. [WHYY]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 15: Shooting victims recorded last week, including 2 fatalities, vs. 9, with 3 fatalities, the week prior. [Philly Police]
- 933: Shooting victims as of November 4 were down 38% vs. the previous year. [PCGVR]
- 216: Year-to-date homicides, down 48% vs. last year’s pace; down 27.5% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]
MAYOR WATCH
The mayor has no public events scheduled for today.
ON THE CALENDAR
🍿 Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 7-9: Plays & Players Presents “Single Black Female”
This two-woman show in Rittenhouse Square features rapid-fire comic vignettes that explore the lives of thirty-something African American middle-class women in urban America as they search for love, clothes, and dignity in a world that fails to recognize them amongst a parade of stereotypical images. $10 tickets. (7:30 p.m.)
🖌️ Friday, Nov. 8: Characters Welcome All Stars: An International Sticker Art Show
Meet, exchange ideas, & leave behind tokens of your amazing art on walls, ceilings, floors, etc at this community showcase of archival sticker art boards from 2012 – 2019, highlighting sticker artists all over the world! At Tattooed Mom. FREE. (5 p.m.)
🫘 Saturday, Nov. 9: Fishtown Chili Cook-off
Head to Star|Bolt for the chance to taste candidates for Best Resident Chili, Best Restaurant Chili, and the People’s Choice prize! Judges are TBD. $12 to compete; $18 preorder; $20 at the door. (12 to 3 p.m.)
🎞️ Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 17: Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
The 17th annual festival returns with dozens of short and feature-length films centering the AANHPI communities, screening at locations across Philly, like the Asian Arts Initiative, Moore College, and Vox Populi. Ticket prices vary.
Catch up on the previous week
Receive Billy Penn’s free daily roundup in your inbox every morning
