The 2024 presidential election proved to be a decisive one for Republican Donald Trump, with the former president claiming victory the morning after the election after winning key battleground states such as Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In Massachusetts, however, the vote was decisive in the other direction — Democrat Kamala Harris was projected to win the state by more than 60%, with some communities in Hampshire and Franklin counties voting for the vice president by as much as 80% or more. Two towns in Franklin County — Orange and Monroe — went for Trump, as did the following towns in Hampshire County — Granby by five votes, Ware and Huntington.

In talking to people from around western Massachusetts in downtown Northampton on the morning after the election, at least a few people said they were excited about the prospect of a second Trump presidency.

“They were saying Trump was going do this and that, and it’s not true,” said Jerry Moffitt, a Northampton resident and Trump supporter. “They tried to arrest him, they tried to steal his money and they couldn’t do anything.”

Moffitt said he supported Trump because he saw him as the stronger of the two candidates.

“It’s a rough world out there,” Moffitt said. “Not that I think a woman couldn’t do the job, but Kamala doesn’t have the strength.”

Theo Ehnstrom of Chicopee also expressed support for Trump as she walked down Northampton’s Main Street on Wednesday, saying she believed he would be better for the economy.

“I’m just waiting for him to put things in motion,” Ehnstrom said. “I’m waiting for the gas prices to go down, that’s what happened last time.”

Ehnstrom said she disapproved of some of Trump’s comments and behavior toward women, but that didn’t deter her from voting for him.

“He’s been painted in a bad light, but I think he’s tried to fix those things,” Ehnstrom said.

Several Franklin County residents interviewed expressed split views on Trump’s victory, with some, such as Harris supporter Cameron Kauffman of Greenfield fearing that the president-elect will not surrender power after his second term expires. He said Trump’s victory did not surprise him as much as it did in 2016.

“My No. 1 concern might be that he won’t leave office in four years. My second concern would be the effect of mass deportations and how devastating that could be. I also think his economic proposals seem pretty questionable,” Kauffman said. “It seems like maybe the Democrats not offering a strong enough counter-plan made the idea of just tearing everything down seem like a better option than continuation of the status quo.”

Other Harris supporters, such as Nicole Nartowicz of Greenfield, said she felt as if Trump’s election marked a “popping” of the city’s “bubble.” She said she was concerned that another Trump term would roll back legal protections for minorities.

Greenfield resident Laura Josephs, a supporter of Green Party candidate Jill Stein, echoed similar concerns to Kauffman’s and Nartowicz’s, adding that she did not believe Trump would serve as a good role model for the country.

“Women’s rights, trans rights, mental health, the rights of anyone who’s not a white cis[gendered] man are all threatened, and it’s a little scary,” Nartowicz said.

Some local Trump supporters view Trump’s victory as a precursor to greater economic prosperity.

Greenfield Republican Town Committee Chair David Lewis cited enhanced border security and reduced inflation as prospects of a Trump term.

“We better do something with the border issue. The economy has tanked, as far as I’m concerned, and I was happier when Trump was in office than I have been during the last four years,” Lewis said. “I hate to think it, but I think that Biden and his team deliberately trashed the country.”

Kevin Donais of Orange also said he was excited for another Trump term, expressing confidence that the president-elect will enhance border security and ameliorate the country’s housing crisis.

“I feel like America is really going to come first and our needs are going to come first with the border, with our housing issues,” Donais said. “I just feel like he’s going to stand behind the people a lot more than [Harris] would have. It was a close race, but I’m just glad he came through.”

But as with a majority of voters in the state, others expressed disappointment and betrayal at the outcome, which many polls had shown to be a close race.

Paula Urib, a Springfield resident visiting downtown Northampton on Wednesday, said she was disappointed at the outcome, but that she had expected a Trump victory.

“With the Latino community there was a big insurgency of [Trump] support, which is kind of laughable given the statements he’s made,” said Urib, who is Hispanic and said she had family members who had voted for him. “For women’s health and the environment, there aren’t many W’s for Trump.”

The feeling of disappointment combined with a lack of surprise was also felt by Juliette Long of Florence.

“It’s crazy someone who has so many felonies can be in office when some states don’t allow felons to vote,” Long said. “I think the global economy is going to suffer — Gaza and Ukraine are going to suffer. I don’t see any positives.”

Julie Slavick of Wilbraham said she felt betrayed by fellow women voters, who she thought would put Harris over the top because of issues such as reproductive rights.

“I expected a blue wave because of the women’s issues,” she said. “It seems people are not honest about their feelings, especially women, who have the most to lose.”

Slavick added the election made her feel not hopeful and not understood, and that she was blocking out the shock of losing by doing a little “retail therapy” in downtown Northampton.

Springfield residents Ellen Schwartz and Roger Bruno also expressed shock and disappointment at the election result.

“If not for the Electoral College, we wouldn’t even have had Trump the first time around,” Bruno said. “It’s a very dark time for our country.”

“It’s been a nightmare,” agreed Schwartz. “We’ve got to keep fighting at the local level. … We’re not going to stop fighting.”

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com. Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.