Republican candidate Donald Trump has claimed 27 states, including major wins in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Indiana, and Kentucky, putting him ahead in the 2024 race. Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, has so far won 19 states, as early projections stream in and ballot counting continues across remaining counties.
While Trump appears closer to the presidency with victories in key swing states, Harris still has a path to a slim victory if she captures remaining Democratic-leaning states and swings key wins in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
As voting closed nationwide, ballots began counting in many states, with early in-person and mail-in votes expected to be tallied first. Over 82 million Americans took advantage of early voting this election season, making this one of the most actively followed election days in recent memory.
Throughout election night, Trump and Harris have each focused on critical battleground states that could shift the final outcome. Trump’s victories in North Carolina and other swing states have pushed him to 247 electoral votes, leading Harris’s 214. However, Harris could still overtake Trump by securing remaining Democratic strongholds and other crucial states.
This historic election holds the potential to make Harris the first woman and the first person of both Black and South Asian descent to hold the presidency. Her campaign message centers on unity and constitutional freedoms, while Trump’s emphasizes economic recovery and strict immigration policies. Both candidates ended their campaigns with rallies in Pennsylvania, the largest of seven battlegrounds, aiming to sway undecided voters.
Election experts warn that initial leads may shift due to the large volume of early votes, especially in battleground states, where early “mirages” are common. With Trump leading in six of the seven battlegrounds, Harris’s team remains hopeful for a comeback as final counts proceed.
