Cuyahoga Voters Set to Judge President on 2024 Pledges

Residents of Cuyahoga County will vote in days to evaluate President Donald Trump's performance against the promises he made during his 2024 presidential campaign. Nearly two years after his second inauguration, the electorate is positioned to weigh his record on key issues including the economy, immigration, and foreign policy.

During his 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to reverse the direction of the U.S. economy and secure America's borders. He has frequently cited his immigration efforts in recent months. Speaking at a rally in Arizona on October 14, he told supporters, “Two years ago, we inherited the worst border in American history, and we turned it into the safest border, the best border by far in the history of our country.”

Public reaction to those efforts has been mixed. While many voters credit the administration with closing the southern border, other aspects of the immigration policy have drawn criticism. Economic approval remains lower, a trend partly attributed to the tariffs introduced under the “Liberation Day” plan.

The administration did follow through on several specific tax commitments. Trump eliminated taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits. In a campaign speech delivered in Asheville, North Carolina, on August 14, 2024, he had listed broader economic targets. He stated, “We will target everything from car affordability to housing affordability to insurance costs to supply chain issues … to the price of prescription drugs.”

Energy costs have risen since Trump took office. Gas prices are up 40%, a surge driven primarily by disruptions to global oil supplies linked to the conflict in Iran. This development stands in contrast to his campaign pledge of “no new wars” and his promise to keep the United States out of foreign conflicts.

The war between Ukraine and Russia also continues, despite Trump's initial pledge to end it on his first day in office. He has now indicated that the administration will address Cuba following its current focus on Iran.