The 7 states that will decide the 2024 election

A person wears rolls of “I Voted” stickers on their arm with a stack of them in their hand, seen from above with just the arm and torso.

A poll worker holds “I Voted” stickers during the first day of early voting at a polling station in Wilmington, North Carolina, US, on October 17, 2024.

In the seven weeks ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the Today, Explained podcast has been examining the major themes and policies impacting voters this year. We’ve been telling the story of the Donald Trump-Kamala Harris presidential matchup through each of the hard-fought swing states. There are seven battleground states, dotted throughout the country, and they each speak to major issues, themes, and demographic groups that will decide the 2024 election. Our hosts, producers, and reporters have been talking to voters in each of them: Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, North Carolina, and Michigan.

Episodes air every Monday or Tuesday from September 23 to November 4, 2024.


Can Georgia’s MAGA election board actually rig the vote for Trump?

The Georgia state election board’s 11th-hour rule changes, explained.


The strategy that might decide Pennsylvania — and the election

Victory in Pennsylvania might be all about losing by less in the other party’s strongholds.


Will abortion rights help turn out voters in Arizona?

Arizona’s ballot will include a constitutional amendment on the right to abortion up until fetal viability. Both the Trump and Harris campaigns are hoping that gives them an edge with women voters.


Why Wisconsin Democrats are campaigning in places they can’t win

Both the Trump and Harris campaigns need to court and win rural voters to take Wisconsin, a traditionally Democratic-leaning state that Trump won in 2016.


How Hurricane Helene scrambled the election in North Carolina

Will storm damage depress turnout in a key battleground state?

Credits

Executive Producer: Miranda Kennedy

Hosts: Noel King and Sean Rameswaram

Editors: Amina al-Sadi and Matt Collette

Producers: Hady Mawajdeh, Miles Bryan, Victoria Chamberlin, Avishay Artsy, Amanda Lewellyn, and Peter Balonon-Rosen

Engineers: Patrick Boyd, Rob Byers, and Andrea Kristinsdottir

Senior researcher: Laura Bullard

Related articles

State awards nearly $42.6M in HECap grants; Rochester General College of Health Careers receives $5M

Governor Hochul announced nearly $42.6M in state HECap grants to modernize campuses statewide. Rochester General College of Health Careers was awarded $5M for renovations to its Innovation and Learning Center.

Don’t believe story about heroic ‘K9 Valor’ surviving suicide bombing, saving 47 soldiers

According to a post, Valor became the first dog to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor in May 2023.

Buffalo man pleads guilty to burning down The Old Pink

John W. Burns pleaded guilty to arson for a June 17, 2024 fire that destroyed The Old Pink at 223 Allen Street in Buffalo. Sentencing is set for Oct. 27, 2026.

Stacy Spencer of Niagara Falls sentenced to 24 months for cocaine distribution, illegal firearm possession

A federal judge sentenced Niagara Falls resident Stacy Spencer to 24 months in prison after a DEA and Niagara Falls Police investigation recovered about 93.5 grams of cocaine, a pistol, and cash.