In Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election, Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in key battleground states, North Carolina and Georgia, according to projections from Edison Research. These wins have brought Trump closer to an impressive political comeback, just four years after leaving the White House. The race remains undecided in five other states critical for determining the winner.
Trump displayed broad support across the nation, securing 246 Electoral College votes against Harris’ 182. With 270 votes required to clinch the presidency, his victories in North Carolina and Georgia narrow Harris’ path, limiting her options to the Rust Belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where she trails in the early results. Trump plans to address his supporters at a convention center near his Palm Beach residence, a campaign aide confirmed.
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Republicans also gained a majority in the U.S. Senate by flipping Democratic seats in West Virginia and Ohio. Control of the House of Representatives remains uncertain, with Republicans holding a narrow majority.
Trump’s road to Election Day saw him with a 50-50 chance of regaining the presidency—an unexpected resurgence since January 6, 2021, when many thought his political career was over. That day, a mob of Trump supporters stormed Congress in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
Exit polls show Trump increased his support among Hispanic and lower-income voters, demographic groups typically inclined towards the Democratic Party. Nationwide, he garnered 45% of the Hispanic vote, a 13-point rise from 2020. Economic concerns appeared to fuel much of his support, as voters whose primary issue was the economy overwhelmingly chose Trump, particularly those feeling financially worse than four years prior.
Financial markets reacted to the early results favoring Trump, with U.S. stock futures, the dollar, and bitcoin all seeing gains, while Treasury yields rose, though investors are cautious.
Trump’s performance exceeded his 2020 numbers in nearly every region, from suburban Georgia to rural Pennsylvania, indicating a modest shift in American support. By 11 PM ET, over a third of counties had completed their counts, with Trump’s share of votes up by approximately 2 points from four years ago.
The race for control of Congress is equally competitive. Republicans currently have 48 seats in the Senate to Democrats’ 38, with both parties fighting for the remaining undecided seats. The House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a narrow majority, also remains up for grabs.
In Florida, a proposed ballot measure to guarantee abortion rights failed, falling short of the 60% threshold, keeping a six-week abortion ban intact. Nine other states have abortion-related measures on their ballots this year.
This election season has highlighted the country’s deepening divisions, with nearly three-quarters of voters saying American democracy is under threat. Trump employed dire warnings, claiming without evidence that election fraud was widespread, particularly in cities like Philadelphia and Detroit. Philadelphia and Detroit officials dismissed these claims, calling them baseless and reinforcing the integrity of the election process.
Voters across the country turned out in orderly lines, with only minor disruptions, including bomb threats that the FBI believes originated from Russian email domains. Trump monitored results from his Mar-a-Lago club, with plans to speak at a nearby convention center. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a Trump supporter, joined him to watch the outcomes.
In radio interviews, Harris urged Americans to vote, later speaking at Howard University, her alma mater. She expressed pride in the symbolic significance of visiting the historically Black college on election day.
Tuesday’s vote concluded a historic campaign season marked by unpredictable events, including assassination attempts on Trump, President Biden’s sudden withdrawal, and Harris’ rapid ascent. Regardless of the outcome, this election will make history. Harris could become the first female, Black, and South Asian American president, while Trump could become the first president in over a century to serve non-consecutive terms.
Across the country, voter priorities were split, with issues like economic policy, abortion rights, and immigration at the forefront. In Michigan, Nakita Hogue voted for Harris, expressing concern for reproductive rights. Meanwhile, in Arizona, Jesse Miranda, a Trump supporter, cited inflation control and immigration as his key issues.
The deeply polarized nation waits for final results, as both candidates navigate tight paths to victory in a closely watched and fiercely competitive election.
