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The 2024 U.S. election and your portfolio

Here’s a look at what’s at stake in the November 5 U.S. election, analysis of historical stock market trends in election years, and portfolio considerations for long- and short-term investors.

What’s at stake—U.S. election 2024

Voters will choose a president and decide the makeup of the entire House of Representatives and about one-third of the Senate.

House icon with text explaining that current presidential term ends in January in 2025 and President Biden is seeking reelection.
People icon with text explaining 435 House of Representative seats are up for grabs.
Image shows the breakdown of 34 Senate seats up for grabs: 20 Democrats, 11 Republicans, and 3 Independents.

1 Two special elections will take place concurrently with the 2024 regular Senate elections: one in California to fill the temporary vacancy created by Democrat Diane Feinstein's September 29, 2023, death and one in Nebraska, following Republican Ben Sasse’s January 8, 2023, resignation.

Who's in power now?

Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House; Democrats hold a slimmer edge in the Senate and they control the White House.

In the House

Republicans have a 220–213 majority, with 2 vacancies

In the Senate

A 51–49 split, with Democrats narrowly maintaining control, owing to three independent senators who caucus with Democrats, effectively creating a majority

Key 2024 election dates

  • January 15–June 8: state presidential primaries and caucuses
  • July 15–18: Republican National Convention, Milwaukee
  • August 19–22: Democratic National Convention, Chicago
  • November 5: Election Day
  • January 3, 2025: 119th Congress convenes
  • January 20, 2025: 60th presidential inauguration

Elections and market history

Financial markets have generally shown resilience throughout four-year presidential election cycles, with changes in political party control of the White House and Congress appearing to have little discernible difference on long-term stock market performance. While election seasons can stir up strong emotions in investors and drive market volatility, trying to time the markets or make investment decisions based on perceived election trends could prove unwise versus simply investing for the long term.

Explore performance

Election cycles

In four-year election cycles, stock performance has typically been best in the year prior to a presidential election

S&P 500 Index performance, 1928–2023

Bar chart that compares stock performance in preelection year, presidential election year, postelection year, and midterm year. Bar chart that compares stock performance in preelection year, presidential election year, postelection year, and midterm year.
Source: Morningstar Direct, January 2024. The S&P 500 Index tracks the performance of 500 of the largest companies in the United States. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Party control

How stocks have performed under six different political scenarios

Average annual returns of the S&P 500 Index when different political parties were in power, 1928–2023 (%)

Bar chart that shows how the S&P 500 Index has performed when different political parties were in power. Bar chart that shows how the S&P 500 Index has performed when different political parties were in power.
Source: Morningstar Direct, January 2024. The S&P 500 Index tracks the performance of 500 of the largest companies in the United States. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Control of the White House

Stocks have risen over the long term no matter which party has been in the White House 

Growth of a hypothetical $1,000 investment in the S&P 500 Index, 1/31/28–12/31/23 

Line graph that shows the growth of a hypothetical $1,000 investment from 1928 to 2023. Line graph that shows the growth of a hypothetical $1,000 investment from 1928 to 2023.
Source: Morningstar, 2024. A logarithmic scale has been applied to the growth of $1,000 in order to more clearly show changing values during the early decades of the 1928–2023 time span. Dates of political party control of the White House correspond with presidential inauguration months. The S&P 500 Index tracks the performance of 500 of the largest companies in the United States. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. This figure is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent any specific investment or imply any guaranteed rate of return.

Election- vs. nonelection years

Relative to nonelection years, stocks have tended to lag prior to Election Day but come back following the vote

Cumulative average returns of the S&P 500 Index during 18-month periods before and after presidential and midterm elections versus nonelection periods, 1/31/28–12/31/23 (%)    

Line graph comparing the performance of the S&P 500 Index during 18-month periods before and after presidential and midterm elections versus nonelection periods. Line graph comparing the performance of the S&P 500 Index during 18-month periods before and after presidential and midterm elections versus nonelection periods.
Source: Morningstar, 2024. The 18-month periods used to calculate election year cumulative average monthly returns began in January of each year of a November presidential or midterm election and ended in June of the following post-election year. The nonelection 18-month periods began in January of each nonelection year and ended in June of the following year. The S&P 500 Index tracks the performance of 500 of the largest companies in the United States. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

60/40 portfolios

60/40 stock-bond portfolio performance has slightly lagged in presidential election years vs. nonelection years 

Annual returns of a 60/40 portfolio, 1954–2023 (%)

Bar chart that shows the performance of the 60/40 portfolio in election and nonelection years from 1954 to 2023. Bar chart that shows the performance of the 60/40 portfolio in election and nonelection years from 1954 to 2023.
Source: Morningstar, 2024. The 60/40 portfolio results are based on performance of a 60% allocation to the S&P 500 Index and a 40% allocation to 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds. The S&P 500 Index tracks the performance of 500 of the largest companies in the United States. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This figure is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent any specific investment or imply any guaranteed rate of return.

Election volatility

Stock market volatility has been modest before and after recent presidential elections—with some exceptions 

Cboe Volatility Index 30-day moving average in the 100 days before and after U.S. presidential elections, 1992–2020 

Line graph that shows stock market volatility before and after recent presidential elections from 1992 to 2020. Line graph that shows stock market volatility before and after recent presidential elections from 1992 to 2020.
Source: Cboe Exchange, Inc., 2024. The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) tracks the performance of the market's real-time expectations of volatility over the coming 30 days. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Manulife Investment Management shall not assume any liability or responsibility for any direct or indirect loss or damage or any other consequence of any person acting or not acting in reliance on the information contained here. This material was prepared solely for informational purposes, does not constitute a recommendation, professional advice, an offer or an invitation by or on behalf of Manulife Investment Management to any person to buy or sell any security or adopt any investment approach, and is no indication of trading intent in any fund or account managed by Manulife Investment Management. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee returns or eliminate risk in any market environment. Diversification or asset allocation doesn’t guarantee a profit or protect against the risk of loss in any market. Unless otherwise specified, all data is sourced from Manulife Investment Management. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

A widespread health crisis such as a global pandemic could cause substantial market volatility, exchange-trading suspensions and closures, and affect portfolio performance. For example, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in significant disruptions to global business activity. The impact of a health crisis and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could affect the global economy in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. A health crisis may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks. Any such impact could adversely affect the portfolio’s performance, resulting in losses to your investment.

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Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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