Trump says he needs a ‘mandate’ victory from country in presidential race

Former President Trump said he needs a “mandate” from the American electorate this year as Election Day is just less than a month away. 

Trump said at a rally in Juneau, Wis., on Sunday that he needs his supporters from the key battleground state of Wisconsin and the country as a whole to turn out “in record numbers.” 

“We need, and I hate to use this word because they should have never done it with respect to COVID, they should have never done it, but for this, we need a mandate,” Trump said, referencing certain restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic requiring certain measures like wearing masks and social distancing to limit the spread of the virus. 

“But we need a mandate in the vote, and we’re going to get it,” he added. 

The current makeup of the federal government is closely divided, and that potentially could continue if the 2024 race is as close as the polls say. Democrats currently have a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate, while Republicans control the House by just a few seats. 

Polls nationwide and in the key swing states have mostly shown Trump and Vice President Harris nearly even with each other and at least within the margin of error if one candidate is slightly ahead. 

The main Senate races that will determine the makeup of the body are also close, and Republicans have several more pickup opportunities this year than Democrats, but polling has shown many of those Democrats in strong position to win their elections, which would keep the margin in the chamber close again. 

Multiple forecast models, including from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill and FiveThirtyEight, project the race for control of the House to also be tight, with a handful of toss-up contests likely to determine the majority. 

Trump reemphasized that he received more votes in 2020 than any sitting president before and argued as he has in the past that several issues that have happened in the past few years would not have happened if he were still president, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel and high inflation. 

Both Trump and Harris certainly would prefer a clear victory that gives them a mandate and sweeps their party into control of both houses of Congress, allowing them to more easily enact their legislative agenda. But the country appears likely headed to another close election that could be similar to the current makeup of the government, even if one party wins control of the presidency and Congress.