Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House

This is a term used to describe a group of traditionally Democratic-leaning states, located on the East and West Coasts and in the Upper Midwest, that are considered vital to a Democratic presidential victory. In the 2024 race, Harris struggled to reassemble this coalition, particularly with working-class men and voters of color. Her campaign’s inability to energize this demographic highlighted the fragility of the once-reliable blue wall.

Congress is the bicameral (two-chamber) legislative body of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the 2024 election, Congressional Democrats in both the House and the Senate played a pivotal role in pressuring Biden to step down, with figures like Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi assessing the impact of his candidacy on down-ballot races of senators and representatives as well.

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is the formal gathering of the Democratic Party where the presidential nominee is officially selected. In 2024, the DNC became an impromptu platform for Kamala Harris to be elevated as the nominee following Biden’s withdrawal. Though originally intended to be Biden’s moment of triumph, the convention instead symbolized a generational and ideological shift—albeit one fraught with tension, legacy issues, and mixed party unity.