Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Fact check: What were the key issues that influenced the 2024 presidential election?
Executive Summary
The 2024 presidential election was shaped primarily by a clustered set of issues where the economy, immigration, abortion, and concerns about democracy consistently ranked at the top of voter priorities, while foreign policy, climate, and technology policy also influenced turnout and persuasion in key states. Polling and exit data show that partisan lenses produced sharply different top concerns—Republicans emphasized the economy and immigration while Democrats prioritized democracy, abortion, and Supreme Court appointments—creating an electoral environment where message discipline on a few hinge issues determined outcomes [1] [2] [3].
1. Why the Economy Dominated Voter Calculus and How Candidates Claimed Advantage
Economic issues were the dominant single driver for many voters in 2024, with inflation, job growth, and general economic anxiety appearing as the most-cited concerns in multiple national and state polls. A Gallup survey from October found the economy labeled “extremely important” by a majority of voters and showed a measurable trust advantage for the Republican standard-bearer on economic competence [1]. Exit polling and reporting from ProPublica and other outlets confirmed that economic performance and perceptions of who could best manage growth and prices remained pivotal in swing states and in persuadable voter blocs [4] [2]. Campaign strategies reflected this: Republicans leaned heavily into messaging about inflation and economic recovery, while Democrats emphasized targeted relief measures and protections for social safety nets, attempting to neutralize the economic argument and shift attention to values and democratic norms [5] [3].
2. Abortion and Reproductive Rights: A High-Mobilizer for Some Voters
Abortion emerged as a defining issue that mobilized core Democratic constituencies and shaped turnout among suburban and younger voters, particularly in jurisdictions that had enacted stricter restrictions following changes in federal precedent. Multiple issue rundowns and analyst briefings listed abortion among the top seven issues at stake for the electorate, and polling linked pro-choice prioritization to greater support for the Democratic ticket [3] [5]. At the same time, activists and voters emphasizing restrictions framed the issue as one of moral clarity and federalism, helping consolidate conservative turnout in parts of the country where abortion policy was a salient local flashpoint [6]. The net electoral effect varied by state: in some battlegrounds, abortion was a deciding factor; in others, it moved turnout but was counterbalanced by economic concerns and local issues [4].
3. Immigration and Border Policy: Republican Advantage in Salience, Democratic Defense in Nuance
Immigration and border security consistently ranked higher on Republican voters’ lists of top concerns, translating into an advantage in salience for the Republican campaign narrative, which tied immigration to broader economic and security themes [1]. Voter surveys and exit data showed that those prioritizing immigration tended to prefer the Republican candidate, especially where the issue was portrayed as a law-and-order or economic-competition problem [7] [2]. Democrats countered by emphasizing reform proposals, humanitarian framing, and legislative solutions, seeking to blunt the issue’s potency among moderates and immigrant communities. Analysts from academic and policy centers flagged the complexity of translating policy detail into persuasive messaging, noting that nuance helped Democrats with persuadable voters but was less effective in high-salience contexts where simple security narratives dominated [6].
4. Democracy, Courts, and Institutional Trust: A Cross-Partisan Crackpoint
Concerns about the health of American democracy and the role of the Supreme Court formed a central axis of voter decision-making, particularly for Democrats, who listed democracy and judicial appointments as top issues influencing their vote [1]. Exit polling showed sizable shares of voters worried about the country’s direction and democratic norms, with these concerns correlating strongly with support for candidates who promised institutional safeguards [2] [8]. Republicans emphasized restoring institutional balance as they presented it, while Democrats framed the election as a referendum on protecting democratic processes and rights. This divergence produced a partisan cleavage: the same institutional concerns motivated Democrats to prioritize turnout, while Republicans often folded these debates into messages about legitimacy and lawfulness, demonstrating how the framing, not just the issue, altered voter behavior [8].
5. Foreign Policy, Climate, and Technology: Secondary But Strategic Influencers in Key States
Foreign policy issues—especially responses to the Israel-Lebanon war, East Asia tensions, and transatlantic relations—along with climate and technology policy influenced specific voter blocs and helped shape elite endorsements and turnout among informed voters. Academic analyses cataloged these as important but generally secondary to pocketbook issues; however, in certain electorally decisive constituencies, such as defense-industry regions, climate-impacted districts, and tech hubs, these topics shifted margins [6] [5]. Exit polling and surveys showed that voters who prioritized foreign policy or climate tended to be more educated and metropolitan, leaning Democratic, while tech and antitrust debates crossed partisan lines and elevated questions about regulation and innovation. Campaigns tailored messages accordingly, using targeted foreign-policy and climate appeals to secure narrow but vital gains in competitive locales [6] [5].