SCI 2024 Election Analysis
2024 ELECTIONS ANALYSIS
The results of the 2024 general election are clear: President-elect Trump will be sworn in on January 20 with an electoral mandate, Republican Senate control, and a Republican House of Representatives majority. These sweeping results mean the years ahead present a massive opportunity to press our advantage and make substantial pro-hunter, pro-conservation policy gains for hunters and anglers like never before.
SCI, SCI-PAC, and the Hunter Action Fund (HAF) were heavily involved in races and ballot initiatives in competitive contests across the nation, spending more than $1.3 million nationally.
SCI’s impact during this past election cycle yielded unprecedented success and positively influenced the election’s outcome on behalf of SCI members and sportsmen and women coast to coast.
It’s a great time to be FIRST FOR HUNTERS!
Top line Results
- President Donald J. Trump (R) defeated Vice President Kamala Harris (D), receiving 312 electoral votes and 74.8 million popular votes to her 226 electoral votes and 71.2 million popular votes.
- Republicans took control of the U.S. Senate by a 53 – 47 margin, with Republican candidates picking up Democrat-held seats across the nation: Dave McCormick (R-PA), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Jim Justice (R-WV), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH).
- Republicans have held control of the U.S. House of Representatives by claiming over 218 seats, though results for some races are still pending amid ongoing vote counts.
- FL & CO Ballot Initiatives: SCI supported Amendment 2 (Right to Fish and Hunt) in Florida, which passed with 67% of the vote. SCI opposed Proposition 127 (Mountain Lion, Bobcat, and Lynx Hunting Ban) in Colorado, which 55% of voters rejected.
- SCI utilized SCI-PAC, the Hunters’ Action Fund, and SCI digital communications and publications, coupled with earned media responses and editorial engagement, to motivate hunters’ engagement with and participation in this election, plus supplied the membership with a one-stop-shop election center on our site, including: voting information, SCI-PAC endorsements, and a social media took kit.
- HAF ran statewide radio ads in Pennsylvania and Michigan and targeted digital ads for presidential and House races in MT-01, MI-10, WI-03, and PA-08. We also reached low- propensity GOP voters in Montana with several rounds of pro-Tim Sheehy direct mail. Bumper stickers were distributed to 29 races through SCI’s chapter network.
Presidential Race
SCI supported President Trump throughout the election due to his outspoken and loyal defense of hunters, anglers, and responsible conservation policies while serving in office and on the campaign trail.
SCI-PAC endorsed him for President, raised donations, and welcomed him to the Hunters’ Embassy on June 13, 2024, to discuss hunting-related issues and the importance of the 2024 election for the outdoor sporting community.
SCI also sponsored a Ruthless Podcast episode and fishing outing in Michigan with then-vice-presidential nominee (now VP-elect) Senator JD Vance (R-OH).
- Safari Club International Celebrates President Donald Trump’s Victory as a Win for Hunters, Anglers, and Conservation (Outdoor Wire, 11/7/24)
- SCI Sponsors ‘Ruthless Podcast’ Fishing Outing and Interview with J.D. Vance (Outdoor Wire, 10/15/24)
- Trump visits hunting group on Capitol Hill swing (E&E News, 6/14/24)
U.S. Senate Races
SCI endorsed 15 candidates for the U.S. Senate who have consistently stood up for the rights of hunters and anglers in office, in public life, and on the campaign trail. Only a single SCI-endorsed Senate candidate lost: Mike Rogers, in a very tight race against Elissa Slotkin in Michigan.
SCI hosted a First for Hunters podcast episode with Senator-elect John Curtis (R-UT) and former Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt to highlight the choice hunters faced in the 2024 election.
Thanks to SCI’s issue and election advocacy and SCI-PAC’s fundraising prowess, Republicans control the Senate chamber 53-47.
U.S. House of Representatives Races
SCI endorsed 84 candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives who have consistently supported the rights of hunters and anglers in office, in public life, and on the campaign trail. Of these 84 candidates, an incredible 74 candidates have secured victory in their races. While several races are still counting votes, these results reflect an incredible 90 percent win record for SCI’s endorsement list.
Thanks to SCI’s issue and election advocacy and SCI-PAC’s fundraising prowess, Republicans are poised to control the House as they approach the 218-vote threshold to claim the majority.
Ballot Initiatives
SCI successfully engaged in issue advocacy on two high-profile hunting-related ballot initiatives:
- In support of Florida’s Amendment 2, the Right to Hunt and Fish
- This passed with 67% of the vote
- Scott Thomas: Passage of Florida’s Amendment 2 secures your right to hunt and fish—forever (Florida, Times-Union, 10/25/24)
- In opposition to Colorado’s Proposition 127, a Mountain Lion, Bobcat, and Lynx Hunting Ban
- It did not pass, with 55% of the vote rejecting the measure
- Mia Anstine: Ballot-box biology at its worst (Colorado Politics, 7/17/24)
