US Election Results: From Harris accepting defeat to world leaders congratulating Trump, US basks in red wave

While President-elect Donald Trump won the 2024 US presidential elections, he won’t take office until January 20, 2025, and there are multiple things that will happen between now and then. Here’s a look at some of the key dates ahead of the inauguration day.

• December 11: Deadline for states to issue Certificates of Ascertainment
• December 17: Electors vote in their states
• January 3: New Congress begins
• January 6: Congress counts electoral votes
• January 20: Inauguration Day

Trump waves at the crowd at a watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, November 5. AP

According to DDHQ, President-elect Donald Trump is projected to win Arizona, another major battleground state. Arizona is one of seven swing states that held the key to whether Trump or Vice President Harris returned to the White House. The Grand Canyon State went for Trump in 2016 by 3.5 points, but the former president narrowly lost it in 2020 against President Biden by just over a quarter of a percentage point.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden. AP

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory message to Trump on his win, a day after President-elect in the 2024 polls. Xi said China and the US must “get along in the new era” and urged the two countries to strengthen communication and dialogue, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

In this file image, former US President Donald Trump poses for a photo with Chinese President Xi Jinping. AP

The FBI issued a warning on Wednesday of additional fabricated videos that misuse its name and insignia to undermine confidence in the electoral system. One of the videos falsely claims that the FBI was made aware that at least 301 electors reported attempted bribery and blackmail by a political party.

The FBI says each of the videos contains false information.

File Image: AP

Melania Trump has vowed to “safeguard” America’s freedom.

“The majority of Americans have entrusted us with this important responsibility,” she said.

“I anticipate the citizens of our nation rejoining in commitment to each other and rising above ideology for the sake of individual liberty, economic prosperity, and security,” she added.

The majority of Americans have entrusted us with this important responsibility.
 
We will safeguard the heart of our republic – freedom.  I anticipate the citizens of our nation rejoining in commitment to each other and rising above ideology for the sake of individual liberty,…

— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) November 6, 2024

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters on Thursday he had held a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump. He noted that the conversation “in a nutshell, he was very friendly”.

Ishiba said the pair had agreed to organise a face-to-face meeting “as soon as possible”, adding: “I had the impression that he is the kind of person who I will be able to talk to candidly”.

Japan’s PM Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost a parliamentary majority in the elections. (Photo: Reuters)

Democratic Represenative Jimmy Gomez won re-election to the US House of Representatives. Gomez will be representating from the state of California. He defeated fellow Democrat and children’s court attorney David Kim, who was running against him for the third time in a row. Gomez was first elected to Congress in 2017.

The district is almost entirely in the city of Los Angeles and is majority Hispanic with a sizeable Asian American and white population as well. Roughly 20 per cent live in poverty, and it is one of the poorest districts in the state.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said that he is grateful to the millions of Americans who “stood up for our greatest ideals” in a statement on Wednesday.

“While the outcome is not what we wanted, I am grateful to the millions of Americans who joined our campaign and stood up for our greatest ideals: decency, compassion, and love of our neighbour,” he said.

“Now more than ever, we need you to continue fighting for those values and the country we all love,” Walz added. He also thanked Kamala Harris for “the honour and privilege of my life”.

While the outcome is not what we wanted, I am grateful to the millions of Americans who joined our campaign and stood up for our greatest ideals: decency, compassion, and love of our neighbor.

Now more than ever, we need you to continue fighting for those values and the country…

— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) November 7, 2024

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders slammed Democrat leaders for ‘abandoning working class’. “It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,” he wrote in an open letter.

“First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well,” he added.

It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.

While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change.

And they’re right. pic.twitter.com/lM2gSJmQFL

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 6, 2024

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Trump have spoken over the phone after the latter’s win in the 2024 US Presidential elections. The pair had “agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation”.

I had an excellent call with President @realDonaldTrump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory—his tremendous campaign made this result possible. I praised his family and team for their great work.

We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has spoken to Donald Trump and congratulated him on his victory.

“Good to speak this morning with President Trump to personally congratulate him on his election victory. We talked about the importance of the Alliance, and the strength of the Australia-US relationship in security, AUKUS, trade and investment,” Albanese wrote on X.

“I look forward to working together in the interests of both our countries,” he added.

Good to speak this morning with President Trump to personally congratulate him on his election victory.

We talked about the importance of the Alliance, and the strength of the Australia-US relationship in security, AUKUS, trade and investment.

I look forward to working…

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 7, 2024

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Junior congratulated Trump ‘on victory that showed world strength of American values’.

“President Trump has won, and the American people have triumphed. I congratulate them on their victory in an exercise that showed the world the strength of American values,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

President Trump has won, and the American people have triumphed. I congratulate them on their victory in an exercise that showed the world the strength of American values.

We look forward to working with President Trump on a wide range of issues that will yield mutual benefits… pic.twitter.com/uaQShypkm8

— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) November 6, 2024

Democratic politician Eugene Vindman won Virginia’s most competitive congressional race on Wednesday. Vindman defeated his opponent in a blow to the GOP’s hopes of flipping the open House seat.

Vindman beat Republican Derrick Anderson by a close margin after conservatives targeted the House seat. Democratic US Representative Abigail Spanberger, the district’s three-term incumbent, decided to run for governor in 2025 – presenting an opening in the battleground district.

The former army officer blew whistle alongside his brother during then-President Donald Trump’s first impeachment.

Army Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on 19 November 2019. AP

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon congratulated President-elect Donald Trump for winning the 2024 US presidential election. Luxon said that he looks forward to closer relations with the incoming administration.

Luxon said the relationship between the US and New Zealand is “strong and enduring” and he hopes the two nations will continue to advance their shared interests.

“The US is one of our most important partners, our second largest export destination, and a major source of global innovation and growth. Our long-standing cooperation both bilaterally and in our region has helped ensure our prosperity and security,” the NZ PM told Trump.

“I would like to commend the vibrant relationship between our two countries and the breadth of cooperation we have enjoyed during President Biden’s tenure. I admire his dedication to public service and the American people,” he added.

Christopher Luxon, leader of New Zealand’s National Party waves to supporters. Reuters File

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, former US President Bill Clinton and former First Lady Hillary Clinton congratulated Donald Trump and JD Vance’s victory in the 2024 US Presidential Elections. The Clintons said that “America is bigger than the results of any one election,” acknowledging the disappointment of those who did not support them.

Our statement on the result of the 2024 election. pic.twitter.com/1YYdGElPMP

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) November 6, 2024

After a phone call between US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, the latter’s campaign said that he has accepted the invitation to meet Biden at the White House.

“President Joe Biden called President Donald J Trump to congratulate him on his victory and extended an invitation to the White House to ensure a smooth transition between the current administration and the incoming administration. President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call,” communications director Steven Cheung said on Wednesday.

US President Joe Biden who ended his campaign for a second term in July and paved the way for Harris’s bid for presidency lauded the vice president’s strength after the election loss. “What America saw today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire. She’s been a tremendous partner and public servant full of integrity, courage, and character,” Biden said, shortly after Harris had publicly conceded the race to Trump in a speech to supporters in Washington DC.

The POTUS signalled that Harris would continue to champion the issues she had campaigned on. “Under extraordinary circumstances, she stepped up and led a historic campaign that embodied what’s possible when guided by a strong moral compass and a clear vision for a nation that is freer, more just, and full of more opportunities for all Americans,” Biden emphasised.

“As I’ve said before, selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became the nominee for president in 2020. It was the best decision I made. Her story represents the best of America’s story. And as she made clear today, I have no doubt that she’ll continue writing that story. She will continue the fight with purpose, determination, and joy,” he added.

Democratic presidential nominee US Vice President Kamala Harris and US President Joe Biden on stage with second gentleman Doug Emhoff, left, and first lady Jill Biden, right, during the Democratic National Convention, August 19, 2024, in Chicago, US. AP

While the results of the 2024 US presidential election have been called, President-elect Donald Trump won the three electorates from the state of Alaska. As of around 6 pm (local time), the Republican had secured 295 electoral college votes, compared to Kamala Harris’s 226.

It is pertinent to note that key swing states Arizona and Nevada are yet to be called, as votes are still being processed. However, both states appeared to be leaning toward Trump.

Donald Trump. Reuters File

Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren released a video, giving her take on President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 US Presidential Elections. “I will not ask you to look for any silver linings,” she began her video. “I will not ask you to feel anything but grief right now. Donald Trump won the election, and the consequences will be real and devastating,” Warren said, insisting that there will be “opportunities to fight back”.

“The far right wants us to feel powerless. Extremists are counting on apathy, cynicism, heartbreak, or all of the above as their rocket fuel. They are counting on us to point fingers at each other and to lose trust in our ability to ever, ever make change. I absolutely refuse to give them that satisfaction,” she added.

My message about the election results: pic.twitter.com/Z1X9F6jWik

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) November 6, 2024

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer called President-elect Donald Trump and extended “hearty congratulations” for the election victory. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to President-elect Donald Trump this evening to congratulate him on his historic victory.

“The Prime Minister offered his hearty congratulations and said he looked forward to working closely with president-elect Trump across all areas of the special relationship.”

“The Prime Minister also reflected on the situation in the Middle East and underscored the importance of regional stability … The leaders fondly recalled their meeting in September, and President-elect Trump’s close connections and affinity to the United Kingdom and looked forward to working with one another,” the No. 10 official furthered.

Former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, who had been rallying for Kamala Harris in the final stretch of the campaign, have issued a statement congratulating Donald Trump and JD Vance on their victory.

“This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for, given our profound disagreements with the Republican ticket on a whole host of issues. But living in a democracy is about recognizing that our point of view won’t always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power,” the couple said in the state released on Wednesday.

” America has been through a lot over the last few years – from a historic pandemic and price hikes resulting from the pandemic to rapid change and the feeling a lot of folks have that, no matter how hard they work, treading water is the best they can do. Those conditions have created headwinds for democratic incumbents around the world, and last night showed that America is not immune.”

“The good news is that these problems are solvable – but only if we listen to each other, and only if we abide by the core constitutional principles and democratic norms that made this country great,” the furthered.

Former US first lady Michelle Obama greets her husband, former US President Barack Obama, on stage during Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, US, August 20, 2024. Reuters

Harris said, ‘My heart is full today—full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country, and full of resolve…The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, but hear me when I say: the light of America’s promise will always burn bright.”

She further stressed to her supporters that they “must accept the results of this election.”

Watch Harris’s speech here:

The vice president is expected to concede the election in the speech.

House Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi, White House adviser Tom Perez and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser are among the crowd waiting for Harris to speak at Howard, AP reported.

Some Democrats are beginning to blame President Biden for not stepping away earlier. They are of the view that he constrained Harris to a truncated campaign.

Biden dropped his re-election bid in July this year following pressure from his own party. The push grew strong quickly following Biden’s presidential debate against Trump, where he fumbled quite a lot.

AP: President Joe Biden has called President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his election victory and to invite him to the White House to discuss the transition.

The White House said staff would coordinate a date “in the near future.” Biden plans to address the nation on the election results, which will have sharp implications for his legacy on Thursday. Biden also spoke with Vice President Harris to congratulate her on her campaign.

Elon Musk, SpaceX & Tesla head: “It is morning in America again,” posted Musk on X.

Sundar Pichai, Google & Alphabet CEO: “Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his decisive victory. We are in a golden age of American innovation and are committed to working with his administration to help bring the benefits to everyone.”

Tim Cook, Apple CEO: “Congratulations President Trump on your victory! We look forward to engaging with you and your administration to help make sure the United States continues to lead with and be fueled by ingenuity, innovation, and creativity.”

Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder: “Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love,” Bezos posted.

Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO: “congrats to President Trump. i wish for his huge success in the job. it is critically important that the US maintains its lead in developing AI with democratic values,” Altman wrote.

Harris called President-elect Trump on Wednesday afternoon to congratulate him on his election victory, AP quoted a senior aide of hers as saying.

The aide said Harris discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power with Trump ahead of her planned concession speech Wednesday afternoon.

The Associated Press has called the Swing state of Michigan for Trump. This means that the Republican and now President-elect, has done what he did back in 2016 once more– knocking down the Blue Wall that has typically supported Democratic candidates.

The race came down to the final results from Wayne County, where Harris wasn’t able to match Biden’s 2020 winning margin in the Democratic-dominated county that’s home to Detroit.

With Donald Trump’s victory in Michigan, he completes a sweep of the Great Lakes “Blue Wall” states that Kamala Harris had considered her smoothest path to victory.

Trump managed the same sweep of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania in 2016, when he defeated Hillary Clinton. President Joe Biden outpaced Trump in those states in 2020.

Unlike Clinton’s campaign in 2016, Harris campaigned heavily across the region through September and October. The vice president spent all day Sunday in Michigan, but she was unable to match Biden’s level of support

Donald Trump’s return to the White House, despite multiple criminal and civil charges, raises complex legal questions regarding presidential immunity and pardon powers. He faces significant cases across state and federal levels:

New York hush money case: Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. Since this is a state case, Trump cannot pardon himself if the conviction is upheld. A ruling on his presidential immunity argument is expected soon.

Federal election interference case: Trump is accused of attempting to block the 2020 election certification. He has vowed to dismiss Special Counsel Jack Smith, who leads the investigation. His lawyers argue that presidential immunity should narrow the charges, but the courts’ stance on prosecuting a sitting president remains unclear.

Federal classified documents case: This case involves Trump’s alleged retention of classified documents. Though initially dismissed, it could be reinstated if the appeal is successful. Trump may attempt a self-pardon, though this remains legally untested.

Georgia racketeering case: State prosecutors charged Trump with racketeering in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. As a state case, he cannot self-pardon here, and his legal team is working to delay proceedings.

Trump’s re-election provides him federal-level immunity for now, shielding him from immediate prosecution and allowing his legal team to leverage constitutional arguments to delay state cases.

Read about this in detail here.

Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024

Harris will deliver a concession speech Wednesday at 4 pm, her office has announced. She will speak at Howard University, her alma mater in Washington.

Apart from conceding as one of the two leading candidates in the race, Harris has a responsibility to verify the results of the election as the Vice President, too.

On his first day in office, Donald Trump has outlined several decisive actions he has said he would take (over the course fo many interviews and rallies). He claimed he would be a dictator on Day 1.

He plans to close the US border and increase domestic energy production by expanding drilling. He has also stated he would fire Special Counsel Jack Smith, who prosecuted two criminal cases against him, aiming to remove Smith “within two seconds” of taking office.

Trump intends to begin “the largest deportation operation in American history” to address immigration, aiming to reverse Biden’s border policies. Additionally, he would consider pardoning some individuals convicted in relation to the January 6 Capitol attack, whom he believes were wrongfully imprisoned.

Trump would cut off federal funds to schools that teach critical race theory or transgender-related topics and would also stop funding for schools that mandate masks or vaccines. Finally, he has expressed plans to repeal specific executive orders issued by President Joe Biden, including those involving artificial intelligence expansion and stricter background checks for gun purchases.

Vice President Kamala Harris has yet to formally concede the presidential race, despite Donald Trump securing over 270 electoral votes needed for victory.

Harris was scheduled to speak at Howard University, her alma mater, but canceled as results showed Trump’s clear path to the presidency. Her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, emphasised the importance of counting every vote, stating that the team remains focused on ensuring election integrity.

Interestingly, as the Vice President, Harris will have to verify the results of the electio.

The Constitution of the US names the vice president of the country as the president of the Senate. In addition to serving as presiding officer, the vice president formally presides over the receiving and counting of electoral ballots cast in presidential elections.

Experts warn that Trump’s return to the White House and his protectionist trade policies could harm the global economy, leading to new trade wars, inflation, and reduced growth. Trump’s proposed tariffs—60 per cent on Chinese imports and 10 per cent on other imports—could trigger retaliations from major economies like the EU and China, potentially costing the US $749 billion, the EU $533 billion, and China $827 billion by 2029. While emerging markets like India and Brazil may feel less impact, the global economy could shrink by 0.75 per cent, with global trade down 3 per cent by 2030.

Oxford Economics forecasts minor short-term impacts but expects slight growth boosts in 2026-2027 due to U.S. fiscal policy changes. However, international cooperation could weaken, further dampening trade and growth, according to Tara Varma of the Brookings Institution.

Trump’s policies could also drive inflation higher. The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates an inflation increase of 2-4 per cent in China, with US inflation rising due to potential labor shortages if unauthorised immigrants are expelled, impacting 8.3 million workers. This inflation spike could disrupt central banks’ plans to cut interest rates, which were expected to support economic recovery.

A potential US-China trade war could further stifle growth, with the IMF warning that Asia, responsible for 60 per cent of global growth, would suffer.

Vice President Kamala Harris is likely to address the country and her supporters at her alma mater Howard University on Wednesday afternoon, according to an NBC News report, citing a campaign co-chair.

Kamala Harris hosted her election night watch party at Howard University on Tuesday, which served as her campaign headquarters.

While she did not address her supporters last evening, her campaign co-chair assured them she would speak on Wednesday.

Experts suggest Trump’s return to power could favour Israeli interests, though some caution that his unpredictable nature could pose challenges, AFP reported.

Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were quick to congratulate Trump, with polls showing broad support among Israelis. Trump’s past policies, like recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, supporting Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and backing West Bank settlements, bolstered Israeli support for his re-election.

Analysts anticipate a second Trump term might include tougher policies on Iran, which could benefit Israel’s security, as well as continued US military support without the conditions imposed under President Biden. However, Trump’s volatile approach could complicate matters, as seen in past disputes with Netanyahu.

Some experts, like Mairav Zonszein, note that Trump may not fully endorse Israel’s policies toward Palestinians and West Bank annexation, pointing to his mixed views on the Abraham Accords and previous reservations about Israel’s annexation plans.

Wall Street surged to record highs, the dollar strengthened, and Bitcoin reached a new peak on Wednesday as the world prepares for another Trump presidency.

The Republican candidate made a remarkable political comeback by defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to reclaim the White House, four years after losing it to Biden.

The Dow rose by three percent, while both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite gained two per cent in early trading.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for the presidency faced challenges from the start, marked by her attempt to rally the support of working-class voters and labor unions. In a critical meeting with the Teamsters, traditionally aligned with Democrats, Harris struggled to assure union leaders of her commitment to their interests, leading to the union’s decision not to endorse her.

After President Joe Biden’s sudden withdrawal from the race, Harris quickly launched her campaign with an emphasis on democracy, reproductive rights, and economic fairness, gaining historic fundraising support and endorsements. However, her populist message on economic recovery clashed with rising inflation and voter anxieties over the economy, issues that polls indicated benefited her opponent, Donald Trump.

Harris’ campaign also battled a wave of misinformation and political attacks, especially from Trump’s camp, who amplified false narratives on issues like immigration and disaster response after Hurricane Helene. This, combined with persistent economic concerns, weakened her standing among crucial demographics, particularly working-class and non-college-educated white voters.

The campaign’s efforts to solidify the Democratic “Blue Wall” in states like Michigan were complicated by Harris’ stance on foreign policy, specifically her alignment with Biden’s support of Israel during the Gaza conflict, which alienated many Arab-American and Muslim voters. Attempts to offset this loss through outreach to Black voters and union workers in Detroit fell short in swaying enough support.

Despite some momentum in the polls and a notable debate performance that rattled Trump, Harris was unable to overcome economic pressures and voter skepticism. Her final appeal to protect democracy and stabilise living costs resonated with her base but failed to convince enough undecided and moderate voters.

By Election Day, inflation, immigration, and union frustrations had undercut her populist message, and Trump’s appeal to blue-collar and conservative voters ultimately secured his victory, reflecting a continued shift in American politics toward Republican support among traditionally Democratic-leaning working-class voters.

Trump has committed to reinstating the policies from his first term aimed at curbing illegal border crossings and plans to implement significant new restrictions. He has promised to limit access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border and to initiate the largest deportation effort in American history, which is expected to face legal challenges and opposition from congressional Democrats.

He has indicated that he will deploy the National Guard and, if necessary, federal troops to achieve his goals and has not ruled out the possibility of establishing internment camps to process individuals for deportation.

Additionally, Trump has stated he would seek to end automatic citizenship for children born to immigrants, a proposal that would contradict the longstanding interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He has also suggested revoking protected legal status for certain groups, such as Haitians and Venezuelans, Reuters reported.

Furthermore, Trump plans to reinstate the so-called “travel ban,” which restricts entry into the United States for individuals from several predominantly Muslim countries—an action that previously sparked numerous legal battles during his first term.

AP: Brazil’s far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro said on the social platform X that Trump’s imminent return to the White House marked “the triumph of the people’s will over the arrogant designs of an elite who disdain our values, beliefs, and traditions.”

He said Trump’s victory was historic and would empower right-wing and conservative movements across the globe, and he hoped it would inspire Brazil to “follow the same path.”

Trump is likely to dial back some of the antitrust policies pursued under the Biden administration, potentially including a bid to break up Google over its dominance in online search.

Trump is expected to continue cases against Big Tech, several of which began in his first term, but his recent skepticism about a potential Google breakup shows the power he will hold over how those cases are executed, Reuters reported.

“If you do that, are you going to destroy the company? What you can do without breaking it up is make sure it’s more fair,” Trump had said at an event in Chicago in October.

Trump could begin the process of choosing a cabinet and selecting other high-ranking administration officials in the coming weeks.

Here’s a brief overview of each candidate:
**
Jamie Dimon:** CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Dimon is considered for treasury secretary. Known for opposing excessive regulations, he would likely push for deregulation. Dimon previously reportedly favoured Harris in the presidential race.

Scott Bessent: A hedge fund investor and Trump’s economic adviser, Bessent is a contender for treasury secretary, supporting Trump’s use of tariffs despite his generally laissez-faire stance.

John Paulson: Billionaire hedge fund manager and Trump donor, Paulson supports deregulation and targeted tariffs, and has shown interest in the treasury secretary role.

Larry Kudlow: Former director of the National Economic Council, Kudlow aligns closely with Trump’s economic policies and has an outside shot at treasury secretary.

Robert Lighthizer: Trump’s former US Trade Representative, Lighthizer, a strong advocate for tariffs, may reprise his old role or potentially take the treasury secretary position.

Richard Grenell: A close Trump adviser, Grenell served as U.S. ambassador to Germany and acting DNI. Known for controversy, he’s likely to be tapped as national security adviser, a role not requiring Senate confirmation.

Robert O’Brien: Former national security adviser to Trump, O’Brien is in contention for secretary of state and maintains a hawkish stance on issues like Ukraine.

Bill Hagerty: Tennessee senator and former U.S. ambassador to Japan, Hagerty, is a top contender for secretary of state, aligning closely with Trump’s policies and enjoying strong Republican ties.

Marco Rubio: Florida senator and foreign affairs expert, Rubio is also a potential secretary of state pick, with deep party relationships and a focus on Latin America.

Mike Waltz: Former Army Green Beret and congressman from Florida, Waltz is a strong China critic and is in the running for secretary of defense.

Mike Pompeo: Former CIA director and secretary of state, Pompeo could be considered for defense secretary or other national security roles, although his support for Ukraine sets him apart from Trump’s usual allies.

Tom Cotton: Senator from Arkansas and military veteran, Cotton represents the hawkish wing of the party and is a serious contender for secretary of defense.

Keith Kellogg: A retired lieutenant general and former NSC chief of staff, Kellogg may hold a national security role and has proposed a Ukraine peace plan.

Tom Homan: Former acting ICE director, Homan is a hardliner on immigration and a leading contender for secretary of homeland security.

Chad Wolf: Trump’s former DHS acting secretary, Wolf is a contender for the DHS role but may face scrutiny due to his resignation after the January 6 Capitol attack.

Mark Green: House Homeland Security Committee chair and former Army surgeon, Green is known for his hardline immigration stance and is a DHS contender.

John Ratcliffe: Former congressman and director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe could become attorney general, known for his staunch loyalty to Trump.

Mike Lee: Utah senator and former prosecutor, Lee is a contender for attorney general and is known for supporting Trump’s attempts to contest the 2020 election.

Susie Wiles: Trump’s co-campaign manager, Wiles is the top choice for White House chief of staff, credited with running an efficient campaign.

Brooke Rollins: Former acting director of Trump’s Domestic Policy Council, Rollins, a moderate adviser, is also a chief of staff contender with a background in criminal justice reform.

Kash Patel: Former House staffer and high-ranking Trump aide, Patel is seen as a loyal Trump ally, potentially vying for CIA director, although Senate confirmation could be challenging.

With inputs from Reuters

The US’ last bellweather county has fallen.

Clallam county in Washington, which has voted for the winning presidential candidate in every US election since 1980, broke its record on Wednesday. Results show that the county voted overwhelmingly for Harris (54.1 per cent) against her rival Trump (43.7 per cent).

However, as is clear now, the popular vote as well as the electoral votes in the rest of the US, has gone to Trump. The Republican is set to be the next president of the US.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, addressing a news conference on Wednesday, said, “We respect the choice of American people,”  said at a

Fico said the result of the election is “certainly a defeat of liberal and progressivist ideas because the new American President is a conservative. We think he’ll focus on the economy issues in the United States,” according to AP.

Fico, known for his pro-Russia views, said what’s of importance is that “everybody is waiting for the first steps in regards of the war in Ukraine.”

AP: The International Rescue Committee, a large humanitarian aid organization, urged the Trump administration to “continue America’s traditions of humanitarian leadership and care of the most vulnerable.”

The New York-based nonprofit also urged the new administration and Congress to “reject policies that demonize immigrants and asylum seekers,” and noted that the US program to resettle refugees has saved lives and strengthened the fabric of the United States.

In the run up to the US elections, Donald Trump had claimed that he would end Russia’s war in Ukraine in 24 hours, warned that Israel would be “eradicated” if he lost the election and vowed sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports.

Now that Trump has secured a historic second term, the world is asking: Will he follow through on his foreign policy threats and promises?

According to Reuters, though Trump has provided few specifics, his supporters believe his “peace through strength” approach and forceful personality will restore order to a world they see as “on fire,” blaming global instability on President Joe Biden’s perceived weakness.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory.

According to the official Saudi Press Agency the duo sent cables to Trump, with King Salman hailing “close relations between the two friendly countries and peoples, which everyone seeks to strengthen and develop in all fields”

During his previous presidency, the Republican leader cultivated strong relations with Saudi.

AFP: Shares in Tesla soared in pre-market trading Wednesday after Donald Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election and hailed the electric car company’s boss Elon Musk as a “genius”.

Tesla shares were up more than 15 percent at $289.44 in after-hours deals before the opening bell on Wall Street.

Investors welcomed the prospect of a Trump victory as Wall Street futures — bets on what the price of a stock will be at a later date — jumped as the former president appeared poised to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris.

Musk shared a photo on his social media platform X showing him with Trump at an election watch party in Florida, and the Republican candidate singled him out during a celebratory speech.

“We have a new star, a star is born: Elon,” Trump said, marvelling at Musk’s SpaceX rocket and the deployment of the Starlink satellite internet service during Hurricane Helene.

“He’s an amazing guy,” Trump said. “He’s a character, he’s a special guy, he’s a super genius.”

Musk staunchly supported Trump during the campaign through America PAC, a political action committee that contributed tens of millions of dollars and doled out $1 million giveaways to registered voters in key states.

“Tesla shares are rising … due to his special ties with Donald Trump,” Andrea Tueni, analyst at Saxobank, told AFP.

Trump, Tueni said, “owes him a lot”.

Investors are betting that their closeness “will turn into something positive for Tesla”, Tueni added.

Trump said during the campaign that, if he won the White House, he would install the tech billionaire at the head of a government efficiency commission to eliminate “trillions” of dollars in wasteful spending.

Donald Trump has won the key state of Wisconsin defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a critical battleground.

The win has provided the Republican leader with enough votes to clear the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.

Both Harris and Trump made Wisconsin a central focus of their campaigns. In 2020, Trump attempted to overturn his loss in the state through lawsuits and recounts, but failed.

The Kremlin has said that it is not aware if Russian President Vladimir Putin would congratulate Donald Trump over his victory.

“We will draw conclusions based on concrete steps and concrete words,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, adding that he was “not aware of the president’s plans to congratulate Trump on the election”, since the US is an “unfriendly country”.

AFP: China said it hoped for “peaceful coexistence” with the United States as Donald Trump neared a decisive victory over Kamala Harris in the country’s presidential election.

“We will continue to approach and handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing.

“Our policy toward the United States has been consistent,” she added.

Mao did not comment directly on the possibility of Trump’s re-election, but said “the United States presidential election is an internal affair of the United States”.

“We respect the choice of the American people,” she said.

“After the US election results are released and officially announced, we will handle related matters in accordance with usual practice,” she added when asked if Chinese President Xi Jinping would call Trump to congratulate him.

Former US President Donald Trump hit the magical number of 270 in the 2024 presidential election which was touted as the closest race in the country’s history. US Vice President Kamala Harris’s hopes to be the first female president of the United States were crushed after Trump managed to make a significant dent in the blue wall.

What makes this race so significant is the fact the future Trump administration is expected to be stronger than the one which was in power from 2016 to 2020. There are plenty of reasons for that, but at the heart of it is the fact that Trump will be able to place his strongest allies in almost every US government institution.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte congratulated Donald Trump on his victory, saying that his comeback would make the alliance “stronger”.

“His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO,” Rutte said.  

I just congratulated @realDonaldTrump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through #NATO.

— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) November 6, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron said he and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will work on “a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe” after the US presidential election.

“It was agreed to coordinate closely with each other on this issue,” Scholz’s spokesman Steffen Hebestreit told AFP.

Italian President Giorgia Meloni congratulated Donald Trump, calling the US and Italy “sister” countries.

“On behalf of myself and the Italian Government, my most sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump. Italy and the United States are “sister” nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship,” she said.

A nome mio e del Governo italiano, le più sincere congratulazioni al Presidente eletto degli Stati Uniti, Donald #Trump.

Italia e Stati Uniti sono Nazioni “sorelle”, legate da un’alleanza incrollabile, valori comuni e una storica amicizia.

È un legame strategico, che sono certa…

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) November 6, 2024

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory. Starmer said that he looks forward to working with Trump as the UK and the US are the “closest of allies”.

“As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise,” the prime minister said.

Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory.

I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. pic.twitter.com/QYHLd4k4EG

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 6, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted Donald Trump’s resolve to bring “peace through strength” as he congratulated the Republican on his landslide victory.

“I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine. I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the “peace through strength” approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together,” Zelenskyy said.

He added under Trump’s leadership, Ukraine will continue to rely on the United States’ support and look forward to “an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership.”

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory!

I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Donald Trump for winning the elections.

He said, “Heartiest congratulations my friend Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.”

Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together,… pic.twitter.com/u5hKPeJ3SY

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron has congratulated Donald Trump.

He said, “Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”

Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 6, 2024

Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk took to his social media platform where he said that the Americans have given Trump a “crystal clear mandate for change” tonight.

The people of America gave @realDonaldTrump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

About a couple of minutes later, Musk shared another post in which he claimed, “The future (of the US) is gonna be fantastic.”

The future is gonna be fantastic pic.twitter.com/I46tFsHxs3

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

Billionaire investor and a key Harris surrogate, Mark Cuban, congratulated Donald Trump on winning the 2024 US presidential election before the race was officially called.

“You won fair and square,” Cuban wrote in a post on X.

“Congrats to @elonmusk as well. #Godspeed,” he added.

Congrats @realDonaldTrump. You won fair and square.

Congrats to @elonmusk as well. #Godspeed

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) November 6, 2024

The time when Cuban shared the congratulatory post, Trump had 247 Electoral College votes but was on the verge of winning crucial swing state – Pennsylvania and it was clear he was favored to take the White House for the second time.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Donald Trump on winning a landslide win, calling it a “huge victory”.

“Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,” Netanyahu said.

Dear Donald and Melania Trump,

Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback!

Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.

This is a huge victory!

In true friendship,… pic.twitter.com/B54NSo2BMA

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 6, 2024

Donald Trump said he will stop all the wars, adding that there were no wars during his previous presidency.

His exuberant speech came despite the fact that only Fox News had declared him the winner, with no other US networks having made the call so far.

Trump has won 267 electorates while the Democrat candidate Kamala Harris has won 224.

Donald Trump said that a new star was born today in the form of Elon Musk.

Earlier today, Musk, who has endorsed Trump all along, shared a picture of himself with the Republican accompanied by a caption that read, “game, set and match”.

Addressing supporters, Trump said, “Incredible movement, it was a movement nobody has ever seen before.”

‘We are going to help our country heal,” Trump said.

“We made history for a reason tonight. I am your 47th president,” he further said.

“This will be a truly golden age for America,” Trump said as he makes his way to the White House for the second

Donald Trump has won in Pennsylvania, securing 19 Electoral College votes in the crucial among seven swing states and the most hotly contested battleground.

Trump’s victory over Democrat Harris is just the second by a Republican in a presidential race in Pennsylvania since 1988. Trump was the only other Republican nominee to carry the state when he won it in 2016.

Republican candidate Donald Trump is set to create a history of being the first US president in more than 130 years to win back the White House after an electoral defeat, a rare accomplishment last achieved by Grover Cleveland in 1892.

Cleveland’s unique presidency spanned from 1885 to 1889, and then again from 1893 to 1897, making him the only US president to date to be elected for two terms that did not follow each other consecutively.

Read More: Donald Trump set to join Grover Cleveland as second president to reclaim White House post-defeat

Kamala Harris said she will not address supporters tonight but is expected to speak tomorrow.

Harris’ campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, said that she will return not only to address her supporters but also the nation.

During a gathering, Richmond emphasised that votes are still being counted and some states have yet to be called.

“We still have votes to count, and we still have states that have not been called yet,” he said.

The mood at US election watch parties shifted significantly as results began to show a swing towards Donald Trump in a number of key states early Wednesday.

With networks calling North Carolina and Georgia — two of seven swing states — for the Republican candidate, Kamala Harris’s path to victory appeared to be narrowing.

“I am scared, I am anxious now,” Charlyn Anderson told AFP as she left Harris’s election night HQ at Howard University in Washington.

“We won’t give up until it’s done but I’m scared.”

Others expressed bafflement, as news filtered in that Harris would not address the crowd during the night.

“He’s a terrible candidate, so it just doesn’t make sense,” said Ken Brown, a former student, of Trump’s successes so far.

“I don’t know who’s voting for him.”

In Pennsylvania, perhaps the most significant of all the swing states, Democrats at a watch party in the western county of Erie were despondent.

“I’m just pissed off,” said Lynn Johnson, 65, as she watched cable news channels.

Trump supporters gathered at his election night watch party were hugging one another, making calls, jumping up and down, and throwing their MAGA hats in the air every chance they got to celebrate as results continued to trickle in.

Guests are still arriving at the convention center in West Palm Beach.

Polls closed in Nevada nearly three hours late after voters waited in long lines to cast ballots, the state’s top election official said, and initial election results began to be posted just before 10 p.m. PST.

Polls had been scheduled to close at 7 p.m., but state law allows anyone in line at that time to cast a ballot.

Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar acknowledged Nevada’s position as an electoral battleground and promised to keep updating results as the counties receive “and cure” additional ballots.

Mailed ballots are accepted and counted until Saturday, and thousands of voters whose ballots were set aside to allow for signature verification, or “curing,” have until 5 p.m. Nov. 12 to validate their vote with election officials.

Even as key swing states are yet to be called, betting markets have already declared Republican candidate Donald Trump as the winner of US presidential election.

As per the latest Associated Press tally, Trump has won 246 Electoral College votes against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’ 210. He has swing states of North Carolina and Georgia.

Jubilant Donald Trump supporters gathered in Florida on election night, expecting the ex-president to speak after he notched key wins in the race for the White House.

Men donning formal suits and women in dresses mingled at the Palm Beach County Convention Center event, where they rubbed shoulders with a die-hard Trump fan sporting their political hero’s name emblazoned on a leather vest.

Whether dressed in formal attire or more casual wear, many of the attendees wore Trump’s signature red “Make America Great Again” baseball caps.

“I feel like Trump has won this election. This is over, and I feel like the world’s about to be much greater,” said Moses Abraham, 22.

Trump pushed closer to victory over Kamala Harris on Wednesday, leaving the Democrat the narrowest of remaining paths to stop him scoring a stunning political comeback.

For Kamala Harris or Donald Trump to be declared the 47th president of the United States, they need to achieve the magic number of 270 in the all-important Electoral College. And that’s what everyone is looking at as almost all states, barring Alaska and Hawaii, have closed their polling stations now, including states on the West Coast.

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have already notched wins in reliably Republican and Democratic states, respectively, as a divided America makes its decision in a stark choice for the nation’s future.

The Indian rupee hit an all-time low of 84.23 against the US dollar on Wednesday after the early trends from the 2024 US Presidential election results signaled a lead for Republican candidate Donald Trump over Democrat Kamala Harris.

The early US election results boosted the dollar and weighed on the Indian currency.

The Indian rupee, or INR, fell to 84.23 against the US dollar, down 14 paise from its previous close at 84.09.

With Trump’s victory in Georgia, the state becomes the first to flip from the 2020 results.

Trump lost Georgia four years ago to Democrat Joe Biden by 11,779 votes — a number that became memorable after he pleaded with Georgia election officials to help him find one more vote than that to overtake Biden’s victory.

He was later charged criminally in Georgia in a sweeping racketeering indictment and has pleaded not guilty.

Harris’ campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, told the audience gathered at what was planned to be the Democratic nominee’s election night party at Howard University that the vice president would not speak tonight, but that the campaign was not giving up the fight against Trump.

“We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken,” said Richmond. “So you won’t hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow.”

Richmond said Harris would return to Howard “not only to address her supporters but to address the nation.”

The event, which began as a jubilant celebration of Harris and the prospect of a new presidency, began to sour as the Democrat’s path to victory narrowed.

Elon Musk appeared gleeful about the prospect of gaining influence over the federal government during a potential Donald Trump presidency.

He posted a photoshopped image of himself carrying a sink into the Oval Office, adding, “Let that sink in.” It’s a reference to when he took over Twitter, now X, and began shaking up operations at the social media company.

Let that sink in pic.twitter.com/XvYFtDrhRm

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

Vice President Harris will not address supporters tonight at Howard University, per two aides. Campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond is about to speak to the crowd and tell them to head home as results keep rolling in.

— Monica Alba (@albamonica) November 6, 2024

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as House speaker, has been reelected to a 20th term serving a San Francisco-based congressional district.

Pelosi has had two stints as House speaker, both lasting four years. In the second stint, she agreed to limit herself to two terms as the lead House Democrat as part of a compromise to secure the votes needed for her to gain the gavel.

She has the ceremonial title of speaker emerita and continues to hold sway even as Democratic members turn to a new generation of leadership.

Voted for the first time - for his dad! #18yearsold #presidentialelection #proud pic.twitter.com/kTzMFNn1AS

— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) November 6, 2024

Republicans are set to capture the Senate, ending a four-year majority held by the Democratic Party, Decision Desk HQ projected on Wednesday. This comes amid a strong show by Donald Trump in the early-to-mid stage of the counting of votes in the US presidential election.

This marks a significant change for the grand-old-party, which witnessed two disappointing election cycles — losing run-off elections in Georgia to lose their majority in 2020, and failing to win back the majority in 2022 despite observers favouring the party.

Republicans on Tuesday captured the Senate, Decision Desk HQ projects, ending their painful four-year stretch in the minority.

The victories come as a welcome relief to Republican senators after two disappointing election cycles. They lost two run-off elections in Georgia to lose their majority in 2020 and failed to win back the majority in 2022 despite early projections.

Jen O’Malley Dillon, the Harris campaign’s chair, informed staffers in an email late Tuesday that she did not anticipate the race to be resolved quickly since she believed Vice President Kamala Harris still had a chance of winning.

While the email did not rule out any paths to 270 electoral votes, O’Malley Dillon emphasised the “Blue Wall” of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, which the campaign has long seen as the most likely path to win, over Sun Belt states such as Arizona.

Republican former president Donald Trump is projected to win North Carolina, the first of seven battleground states called in Tuesday’s election, US networks said.

CNN, NBC and ABC News all called the race in Trump’s favor in the southeastern state, which he also won in the 2020 election.

Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure and Security Agency, told reporters late Tuesday night that the election process endured “minor disruptive activity throughout the day” but that that activity was anticipated and planned for.

“At this time, we’ve seen no evidence of malicious activity impacting the integrity … of election infrastructure,” she said.

Kamala Harris has won the Connecticut contest, NBC News projects, and secured the state’s seven Electoral College votes. In 2020, Biden won Connecticut with 59% of the vote to Trump’s 39%.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton won Connecticut with 55% to Trump’s 41%.

US Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein says she’s riding a wave of support unlike anything she’s experienced in past campaigns — and is unfazed by warnings that her run could tip the scales in Donald Trump’s favor in a tight race.

Speaking to AFP after polls closed in Michigan, where her outspoken criticism of US support for Israel has struck a chord with the battleground state’s large Muslim and Arab-American communities, the 74-year-old took aim at Democrats for branding her a “spoiler.”

“This is self-serving propaganda,” said Stein at a watch party in Dearborn, home to the United States’ largest concentration of people of Middle Eastern heritage.

The manicured lawns of the august institution, nicknamed the “Black Harvard,” were packed on Tuesday night with people ready to celebrate: nervous but hopeful for good news.

Thunderous music keeps the crowds entertained while people dance.

All the while, big screens show results dribbling in from all over the country.

Harris is expected to give a speech at the school later.

Those gathered desperately hope it will be to claim victory.

Republican Bernie Moreno, a onetime car dealer who was born in Colombia, flipped an additional Senate seat for his party Tuesday, besting a Democratic incumbent who has held the post since 2007, US media reported.

Moreno beat Democrat Sherrod Brown in the toss-up race, NBC and Fox News reported, dealing a blow to the outgoing senator’s party, which is fighting tooth and nail to maintain its advantage in the chamber.

Harris’ campaign chair stressed patience and resolve in a message to all campaign staff obtained by The Associated Press, arguing that the “closeness of the race is exactly what we prepared for” and predicting the race won’t “come into focus until the early morning hours.”

The message from campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon was meant for an audience beyond campaign staff, too, as nervous Democrats nationwide watch the race between Harris and Trump narrow to a handful of key battleground states.

“As we have known all along, this is a razor thin race,” wrote O’Malley Dillon, citing turnout in Philadelphia and early vote totals in suburban Bucks County, Pennsylvania; outstanding votes in Detroit; and uncounted vote in Dane and Milwaukee counties in Wisconsin, two Democratic strongholds.

While the longtime Democratic operative noted forthcoming counting in Nevada and Arizona, the memo highlighted how central the so-called “blue wall” states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania are to Harris’ path to victory.

By winning North Carolina, Trump maintains options to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold.

Trump can reach the magic number by carrying Georgia and Pennsylvania or by carrying Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. He also can win by carrying Wisconsin and Arizona, as well as other combinations involving Nevada.

But that would require him to crack the blue wall of northern states Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Trump blitzed North Carolina in the final days of the campaign, stopping in four cities over four days and finishing his North Carolina campaign in Raleigh on Monday.

Kamala Harris won California on Tuesday, giving her the largest prize in the presidential election – 54 electoral votes.

The outcome in the heavily Democratic state where Harris previously served as a U.S. senator and attorney general was expected. A Republican candidate hasn’t won a presidential contest in the nation’s most populous state since 1988, and the GOP hasn’t seriously contested California in a presidential election since 2000.

Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in California by about 2-to-1, and the party holds every statewide office and dominates the Legislature and congressional delegation. The Associated Press declared Harris the winner at 11:00 p.m. EST.

Democratic Rep. Andy Kim wins New Jersey’s U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican Curtis Bashaw following a historic battle to replace former Sen. Bob Menendez.

Kim’s victory makes her the state’s first Asian American senator. In his first interview after his triumph was announced, Kim stated that he was still processing everything.

Kim won a fight for a seat held by Bob Menendez, a long-time Democratic senator who resigned in August after being convicted in July of accepting bribes in exchange for official government activities. Kim stated that he wants constituents regard him as “somebody who’s trying to usher in a new era of politics.”

Voters in Maine’s 1st Congressional District, which is comprised of wealthy coastal communities, delivered an electoral vote to Democrat Kamala Harris on Tuesday.

Maine is one of two states that divide electoral votes with two votes going to the statewide winner and one apiece to the winner of each congressional district. Harris won the vote in the state’s more liberal district.

The rural, conservative 2nd District voted for Republican Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.

The Associated Press declared Harris the winner of Maine’s 1st District at 10:45 p.m. EST.

Americans faced a long night of agonizing suspense Tuesday as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s historically close battle for the White House went down to the wire.

Republican former president Trump won strongholds including Florida and Texas, while Democratic vice president Harris took several eastern states including New York as results started to flow in.

But there were no major surprises or breakthroughs, leaving the seven crucial battleground states likely to determine who becomes the 47th US president.

A final result could still take hours or even days to materialize if the margins in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona and the other swing states come down to a few thousand votes at a time.

Millions of Americans lined up throughout Election Day — and millions more voted early — in a race with momentous consequences for the United States and the world.

Colorado voters approved a state constitutional amendment on Tuesday enshrining protections for abortion.

The measure repeals a ban on state and local funding for abortion and allows Medicaid and other government health insurance programs to cover abortion.

Abortion already is legal in Colorado at all stages of pregnancy.

Democratic Gov. Jared Polis in 2022 signed into law a bill guaranteeing access to reproductive care before and after pregnancy and banning local governments from imposing their own restrictions. Amending the state constitution requires the support of 55% of voters.

Vice President Kamala Harris won the District of Columbia on Tuesday, securing the capital’s three electoral votes.

Harris’ win in D.C. is no surprise – the District is a longtime Democratic stronghold whose government repeatedly feuded with Republican Donald Trump when he was the president.

The Associated Press declared Harris the winner at 10:20 p.m. EST.

Kamala Harris won Colorado on Tuesday, picking up the state’s 10 electoral votes.

Colorado was once a purple state, flipping between Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, but it has shifted blue in the past two decades.

The Associated Press declared Harris the winner at 10:08 p.m. EST.

Former President Trump has won Montana, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ.

He carried the state in 2020 over President Biden  by 16 points, and won it by 20 points over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  in 2016.

Republican Donald Trump won the reliably conservative state of Missouri on Tuesday.

Missouri voters overwhelmingly favored Trump over Democrats in the 2016 and 2020 elections, and he was favored to win again this year.

The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 9:49 p.m. EST.

New Yorkers voted an amendment to enhance the state constitution’s antidiscrimination provision in a way that advocates claim will safeguard the civil rights of those seeking or having abortions.

The state constitution already prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, or religion. Opponents said that the proposal would grant transgender athletes the constitutional right to participate on girls’ and women’s sports teams. This is another success for Harris and Democrats nationwide, who see abortion as a critical electoral issue.

After a difficult start to Election Day that featured broken equipment and a shortage of printed ballots, a judge in an eastern Arizona county has ordered polling stations to stay open for an additional two hours in nine precincts.

Apache County Superior Court Judge Michael Latham agreed to keep the polls open at the request of the Navajo Nation, which had filed a lawsuit seeking extended hours owing to the issues.

Meanwhile, bomb threats at polling stations in neighbouring Navajo County forced some schools to close temporarily and one to evacuate and send children home for the day.

Republican Donald Trump won the electoral vote tied to Nebraska’s vast, rural 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday.

The former president easily won the state’s most conservative of its three districts, covering 80 counties and two time zones.

The district is also one of the most conservative in the country and supported Trump by about 3-to-1 in both 2016 and 2020.

The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 9:25 p.m. EST.

Democrat Kamala Harris won Delaware’s presidential contest Tuesday, easily defeating Republican Donald Trump.

Harris’ victory in solid-blue Delaware was a foregone conclusion, given the stranglehold Democrats have held on the state’s three electoral votes for decades.

Delaware’s congressional delegation for years has been composed entirely of Democrats, who also control both chambers of the state legislature. The Associated Press declared Harris the winner at 8:34 p.m. EST.

Former President Donald Trump won Texas for the third consecutive election on Tuesday, adding 40 electoral votes to his tally.

Texas gained two more electoral votes this cycle after the 2020 census.

The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 9:12 p.m. EST.

In the face of high voter turnout across the state and a spate of disruptive bomb threats at polling places and government buildings, state officials are preaching calm and patience during the vote counting process.

Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, stated at a Tuesday night press conference that every lawful, eligible vote will be counted. He says it takes time, and the state’s purpose is to do it correctly and accurately.

Al Schmidt, the state’s senior elections officer, stated that in-person turnout data would not be available Tuesday night.

He stated that the state’s counties could not even begin processing and receiving the millions of returned postal ballots until 7 a.m. EST Tuesday, and that the last of them would not have been received until 8pm EST.

Republican Donald Trump carried Ohio for a third time on Tuesday taking the state’s 17 electoral votes.

Support for the former president helped turn Ohio from a presidential bellwether to reliably Republican in recent years.

Ohio voters supported him by wide margins in 2016 and 2020, and they delivered for him again this year.

The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 9:08 p.m. EST.

Former President Donald Trump won North Dakota and South Dakota’s three electoral votes each on Tuesday.

His victory in North Dakota continues a decadeslong streak of Republican presidential wins in the conservative state known for its agriculture and energy production.

The Republican nominee had been expected to prevail comfortably in South Dakota where GOP voters outnumber Democrats by more than 2-to-1. No Democratic nominee has carried South Dakota since President Lyndon Johnson won in 1964.

Former President Donald Trump won Louisiana, Wyoming on Tuesday, increasing his electoral vote tally by 11.

In addition to voter support in Louisiana, Trump has various powerful political allies in and from the Bayou State, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Gov. Jeff Landry.

One of the most Republican states by almost any measure, Wyoming gave Trump his widest margins of victory in any state in the 2020 and 2016 elections. Trump made at least one fundraising visit to Wyoming in 2024 but did not campaign in the state.

Vice President Kamala Harris won New York’s presidential election on Tuesday, receiving the state’s 28 electoral votes.

Since Ronald Reagan’s landslide victory in 1984, New York has voted for Democrats in every presidential election.

Former President Donald Trump has historically struggled to attract support in his home state, losing New York in each of his three presidential campaigns.

New York’s electoral vote total is the fourth highest, trailing only California, Texas, and Florida, but it has one fewer vote than four years ago owing to population fluctuations. The Associated Press pronounced Harris the victory at 9:00 p.m. EST.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said there have been many bomb threats made to voting places across the state, but there is “no credible threat” to the public.

Shapiro, a Democrat, addressed at a press conference. In a statement, the Pennsylvania State Police said they were coordinating with local partners to respond if necessary.

Neither Shapiro nor police provided additional information regarding who might be behind the bomb threats or why Shapiro concluded there was no threat to the public.

Here are the states where polls will close at 9 p.m. EST:

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

The FBI warned Tuesday evening of three fake messages purporting to be from the bureau that “promote false narratives surrounding the election,” including one video about malfunctioning voting machines.

“Today the FBI was made aware of three instances of its name and insignia being misused to promote false narratives surrounding the election,” the bureau said in a statement, calling the videos “the latest in a series of fabricated videos and statements falsely attributed to the FBI designed to mislead the American public.”

The bureau did not say who was behind the fake messages, or where they were circulated.

One of the fake videos, the FBI said, claims that the FBI received “9,000 complaints about malfunctioning voting machines” that were submitting votes for a “specific candidate.” The claim mirrors debunked claims circulating last week about machines switching votes.

The voting for the 2024 US Presidential election has started to close in most states with people now waiting to know who between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris will make it to White House. Ahead of the result, the exit polls for the US election is being closely monitored which is giving a clearer view about the issues on which Americans’ vote were based.

An aggregate of national surveys compiled by Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) showed Harris and Trump evenly tied at 48.4 per cent each.

As millions rush to polling stations to cast their votes in the intense US presidential elections, pollsters predict that the momentum is slightly tilted towards Vice President Kamala Harris. However, the analysts warned that the Democratic presidential nominee needs a strong showing in key states to get to 270 electoral votes.

The analysis was delivered by the Decision Desk HQ, based on their forecast model. The body concluded that the 2024 race would be extremely close and either side could pull off a win, but they noted that Harris’s prospects seemed to tick up a little in the final days of the campaign.

Republican candidate former President Donald Trump has won the Red State of West Virginia, the AP and CNN have called.

With this, Trump has won four more electoral college votes.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is investigating a text message from a local Republican representative that was sent on Tuesday urging voters to incorrectly vote on Wednesday, the day after Election Day.

The text in support of Michigan Republican House Rep. Kathy Schmaltz told voters in Jackson, Michigan, on Tuesday that “polls will open tomorrow at 7:00am,” according to a copy of the message shared with CNN.

Shortly after the message circulated, Michigan Democratic State Sen. Sue Shink filed a complaint with the Secretary of State’s office.

The secretary of state office’s spokesperson Angela Benander told CNN “we have received the complaint and we are investigating.”

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice won his state’s Senate seat, flipping it for Republicans in US elections Tuesday, media reported.

Conservatives had been nearly certain to take retiring moderate Joe Manchin’s seat and Justice did just that, beating Democrat Glenn Elliott, a former mayor, in one of the night’s first announced Senate races, CBS and Fox News projected.

Republican former president Donald Trump is projected to win in West Virginia, a state he won in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, US networks said Tuesday.

West Virginia has four electoral votes, putting Trump at a projected 23 so far. The magic number to win the presidential election is 270.

An enthusiastic DJ blared out pop tracks Tuesday, urging voters to bop along with dancers in multi-colored sequined shorts — one small effort outside an Arizona polling station to soothe Election Day nerves running high across the United States.

“I definitely think there’s a lot of anxiety around the election,” said Elyssa Bustamante, who was producing the event in the key swing state’s largest city, Phoenix, along with organization Joy to the Polls.

Clad in all pink at her stage in Phoenix’s central park, the 36-year-old Bustamante called out frequent reminders to young people from the nearby university.

“Polls close at 7:00 pm, make sure you get your vote in!” she shouted.

Very few people leaving the nearby voting location stopped to enjoy the impromptu concert.

But several at least raised a smile — an all-too-rare sight in an unprecedented presidential campaign that has seen rival candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris accuse each other of imperiling the future of US democracy.

On the Republican side, Trump has survived two assassination attempts, and frequently uses extremely violent rhetoric about immigrants.

Democrat Harris reminds voters the right to abortion is on the line with this election.

As an antidote to these anxieties, music “is a universal language,” said Bustamante.

Former President Donald Trump added eight electoral votes to his total after winning Kentucky.

Since Democrat Bill Clinton won the Bluegrass State in 1996, Kentucky has been won by the Republican presidential candidate each time.

Mitch McConnell, the Senate GOP leader and Kentucky’s most influential Republican, once referred to Trump as “morally responsible” for the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.

In a stunning reversal, however, McConnell supported Trump’s run for reelection. The two collaborated to enact a tax reform package and appoint three conservative justices to the Supreme Court during Trump’s administration.

Vermont, a Democratic stronghold, was won by Kamala Harris on Tuesday.

In the last eight presidential elections, the state has supported Democratic candidates.

Republican governor of Vermont Phil Scott has criticised Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and supported Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 race. At 7:00 p.m. EST, Harris was proclaimed the winner by the Associated Press.

Donald Trump emerged victorious in Tuesday’s Indiana presidential election.

Trump won 11 electoral votes against Democrat Kamala Harris in the dependable conservative state, where Republicans have controlled the governorship for 20 years.

In all three of his presidential contests, Indiana has supported Trump.

Trump received 57% of the Hoosier state vote in 2016, the year he was elected president, and again in 2020. At 7:00 p.m. EST, the Associated Press announced Trump as the victor.

Billionaire Elon Musk stated that his pro-Trump super PAC will carry on its efforts following the election, concentrating on local prosecutorial contests and the 2026 midterm elections.

During a live event on his social media platform X, Musk talked about the future of his America PAC.

Musk reaffirmed his backing for Trump and claimed that a Trump win would be indicative of a populace ready for reform.

Polls in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia will close at 7 p.m. EST.

Polls in West Virginia, Ohio, and North Carolina will close at 7:30 p.m. EST.

The FBI warned of bomb threats at polling stations in “multiple” US states on a tense Election Day, adding that none were credible but many appeared to originate from Russia.

The statement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation came as authorities in the US state of Georgia said hoax bomb threats had briefly disrupted voting there Tuesday.

The 2024 US presidential campaign has been a particularly volatile one, and security for Election Day has been ramped up given concerns over possible civil unrest, election chicanery and violence against poll workers.

Philadelphia’s city commissioner has disputed the Republican presidential candidate’s unsupported assertion, which was made in a brief post on his Truth Social social media website.

There is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure. pic.twitter.com/wMiPnAgO17

— Seth Bluestein (@SethBluestein) November 5, 2024

Approximately 8.7 percent of votes have been counted.

In 2020, Donald Trump (R) won Indiana by 16.1 points.

Just under three-quarters of those polled believed democracy was “very” or “somewhat” threatened in the United States.

According to current data, around seven in ten voters were concerned about election-related violence.

According to CBS, this is the first time in its history, dating back to the 1970s, that the exit poll has queried respondents about the possibility of violence during a US presidential election.

Seven in ten voters were confidence that the election was being handled fairly and accurately, although this was split along party lines, with Harris supporters far more confident and Trump supporters evenly divided.

Democratic contender Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump are both seeking to win over Black voters in the crucial southern state — its largest minority voting bloc –- in a race that could be decided by razor-thin margins.

Among early voters in the state, women have outpaced male voters by double digits, according to Georgia Votes, a data aggregation site.

Among Black people in Georgia, the gap between female and male voters is even more pronounced, the data shows.

The gender gap suggests that Black men “don’t feel that their vote counts,” South Fulton’s Mayor Kobi told AFP at a polling station that temporarily halted voting due to a bomb threat.

“I would ask elected officials: What policies have they enacted for Black men to make them feel like their vote has counted?”

Election surveys have shown Harris winning women by large margins — who are driven in part by anxiety over reproductive rights — while struggling with men.

Donald Trump sought to undermine Tuesday the credibility of voting in the biggest city of must-win US state Pennsylvania, an unsupported claim quickly and firmly denied by top Philadelphia officials.

Amid reports of exceptionally high voter turnout in a soundly Democratic area, Trump said there was “a lot of talk about massive cheating” in the city.

“Law enforcement coming!!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

A city official promptly denied the claim, calling it “yet another example of disinformation,” while Philadelphia police and the district attorney’s office also rejected the unsubstantiated allegation.

“There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation,” said District Attorney Larry Krasner.

“If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now,” he added.

According to the preliminary results of CNN’s national exit survey, two-thirds of voters in this year’s election are at least somewhat optimistic that the election will be handled fairly and accurately, but opinions are sharply divided.

Approximately 9 out of 10 voters who support Vice President Kamala Harris think they are confident, compared to only roughly half who back former President Donald Trump.

This year, around three-quarters of voters say democracy in the United States is under threat, with only approximately one-quarter claiming it is secure. Nearly four in ten people believe democracy is under threat.

A large majority of voters, around seven in ten, are concerned about violence as a result of the election.

As the battle for the White House grabbed the limelight Tuesday, an equally nailbiting fight for control of the US Congress was underway that will determine how much of the next president’s agenda gets enacted.

Voters in hundreds of congressional districts were deciding if Democrats or Republicans will hold the gavel in both chambers come January, and whether the incoming leader gets a unified government or bureaucratic deadlock.

The US Capitol is divided into the House of Representatives, where all 435 seats are up for grabs — and a 100-member Senate, which has 34 seats at stake this year.

As with polling in the presidential contest, the congressional election looks close, with Republicans well-positioned to wrest the Senate back from the Democrats but control of the House a toss-up.

Democrats hold a tiny 51-49 advantage in the Senate but Republicans are certain to flip retiring moderate Joe Manchin’s seat in West Virginia, leaving them needing just one more gain to take back the chamber after four years in the minority.

Their top targets are Montana — their next most vulnerable state — Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

There are very few lawn signs backing Donald Trump in Miami, Texas. They aren’t necessary.

This speck of a town of around 500 souls — a world away from its glamorous namesake in Florida -– is known as the most vehemently pro-Trump town in the United States: 96 percent of its voters backed the Republican in the 2020 election.

And it was about the same proportion in 2016 when Trump won the White House, defeating Hillary Clinton.

As Americans voted on Tuesday, this time in the race between Trump and Kamala Harris, the support for the former president seeking an astonishing comeback from political isolation is alive and well.

“Trump’s going to be the president,” said Julian Huff, 68, a former truck driver who was the fourth person in line to cast his ballot at the local community center.

Nearly three-quarters of voters in Tuesday’s presidential election believe American democracy is under threat, according to national exit poll data from Edison Research, reflecting the deep anxiety that the nation faces after a contentious campaign between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

Democracy and the economy ranked by far as the most important issues for voters, followed by abortion and immigration, the data showed. The poll showed 73% of voters believed democracy was in jeopardy, against just 25% who said it was secure.

Fayette County in Pennsylvania has gone to court to block a local judge of elections from doing a unilateral hand count of ballots in violation of the Pennsylvania election code.

Marybeth Kuznik, director of the Fayette County Bureau of Elections, said in a court filing that Washington Township Judge of Election Vincent Manetta “reported that after polls close today, he intends to remove the ballots from the ballot box and audit or hand count the votes cast for each presidential candidate.”

Completed ballots are supposed to be run through tabulating equipment. Kuznik asked a judge to order Manetta to comply with state election law. The judge has yet to rule.

Retail stores, hotels and office fronts in Washington are boarded up in anticipation of potential violence.

The White House and Lafayette Square, a public park, are also fenced off with tall metal gates. Officials say they will not tolerate violence or unlawful behavior.

Pamela Smith, the chief of the Metropolitan Washington Police Department, said Monday: “We will hold all offenders accountable. We will not tolerate the destruction of property, and we will not tolerate threats to public safety, as well as this election process.”

While the condition of democracy and the economy were the most important issues for all voters, Trump and Harris supporters saw things differently.

Among those who voted for Kamala Harris, the state of democracy was the top problem for nearly six in ten Americans, according to CBS. This was followed by abortion for one in every five, and the economy for slightly more than one in ten.

Among Donald Trump supporters half of respondents prioritised the economy, one out of five prioritised immigration and just over one out of ten respondents were concerned with the state of democracy.

Kerstin Emhoff, the ex-wife of second gentleman Doug Emhoff, posted a video in which she votes for Harris.

Kerstin Emhoff has been an outspoken supporter of Harris’ campaign, even attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

I’ve been so moved by watching emotional videos posted by people after voting for Kamala & Tim. Voting for our daughters, wives, sisters, from red and blue states. This is that moment. I proudly cast my vote for my friend and family Kamala Harris 💙🇺🇸😭! Here we go!!!!! pic.twitter.com/ISEe1A5DW0

— Kerstin Emhoff (@keprettybird) November 5, 2024

As millions cast their votes, the US Capitol Visitor Center was closed on Tuesday afternoon after police arrested a man who was carrying a torch and flare gun during their security screening process. Following the arrest, the authorities closed the visitors’ tour at the centre for the day.

The Capitol police said that the man is being questioned and investigation over the matter is currently underway. However, the police noted that as of now there is no indication that the incident has anything to do with the ongoing presidential polls.

Nearly three-quarters of voters in Tuesday’s presidential election believe American democracy is under threat, according to national exit poll data from Edison Research, reflecting the deep anxiety that the nation faces after a contentious campaign between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

Democracy and the economy ranked by far as the most important issues for voters, followed by abortion and immigration, the data showed. The poll showed 73% of voters believed democracy was in jeopardy, against just 25% who said it was secure.

The figures reflect just a slice of the tens of millions of people who have voted, both before and on Election Day, and the preliminary results are subject to change through the course of the night as more people are surveyed.

The two rivals were hurtling toward an uncertain finish after a dizzying campaign as millions of American voters waited in calm, orderly lines on Tuesday to choose between two sharply different visions for the country.

Authorities in the Denver area are investigating after election officials discovered “discrepancies” with signatures on several mail ballots sent from an adult day care facility in the city.

That’s according to Denver clerk and recorder Paul Lopez in a statement.

Election workers in Colorado check the signatures on mail ballots against voter signatures on file to make sure they’re submitted by the voter the ballot was sent to. Lopez said his office notified law enforcement and the Denver district attorney’s office was investigating. He also said law enforcement in nearby counties were also investigating but did not explain why.

Denver’s KMGH-TV, which first reported the investigation, said ballots from the facility were sent to six counties.

Colorado overwhelmingly votes by mail.

In Central Iowa’s Story County, home to about 100,000 people and the city of Ames, voting machines at some precincts malfunctioned, portending possible delays to reporting results.

“We are aware of technical issues regarding tabulators in some precincts in Story County,” said Ashley Hunt Esquivel, a spokesperson for Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. “The auditor is working with the vendor and our office to resolve it. It is not stopping anyone from casting a single ballot. It may impact how quickly we can report results.”

Story County Auditor Lucy Martin told the Des Moines Register that machines did not read “certain ballot styles” at about 12 of the county’s 45 polling locations. Election workers would have to count ballots at those locations by hand, according to local Democratic and Republican Party officials. The machines were tested and the cause of the technical difficulties was unknown, Martin added.

According to a Georgia official, Fulton County would most likely request that a judge extend polling hours at select places hit by non-credible bomb threats until 7:30 p.m. ET.

That same official also told CNN that two polling stations in Cobb County can stay open until 7:20 p.m. ET, while one in Gwinnett County can request an extension until 8 p.m. ET.

Extending polling hours would push back the one-hour deadline for precincts to report results, while most precincts are still expected to submit results by the scheduled time of 7 p.m. ET.

CNN previously reported that numerous voting stations in the Atlanta area received non-credible bomb threats on Tuesday.

Technical issues at two precincts on Tuesday morning led the State Board of Elections to agree to prolong the closing of voting at those precincts, causing two counties in battleground North Carolina to postpone results by 30 minutes.

The board decided to move the closing time to 8 p.m. at one precinct in Wilson County and another in Burke County.

A printer required to create voter authorisation documents was not functioning, which prevented voters in the Wilson County precinct from casting ballots for over an hour and a half, according to election officials. Additionally, a precinct laptop computer containing the official pollbook malfunctioned, preventing voters in Burke County from casting their ballots for possibly thirty or forty minutes.

The state board won’t publish unofficial results from Burke and Wilson counties until voting ends at the precincts. Results in the state’s other 98 counties can be reported at the normal closing time.

Major stock markets mostly rose and the dollar remained under pressure Tuesday as Americans cast votes in a knife-edge presidential election.

Wall Street’s main indexes, which had fallen the previous day, rebounded after voting began in the world’s biggest economy.

In Europe, London dipped 0.1 percent as investors await an interest-rate decision by the Bank of England on Thursday while Paris and Frankfurt ended the day with modest gains.

Equities in Shanghai and Hong Kong won strong support from hopes over China’s economy.

The dollar weakened against the euro, the British pound and the yen.

Forecasters have for weeks pointed to a neck-and-neck contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris called into Atlanta’s V-103 radio station on The Big Tigger Morning Show to encourage Georgia voters to head to the polls on Election Day.

“We’ve got to get it done. Today is voting day, and people need to get out and be active,” CNN quoted Harris as saying to the voters.

US presidential elections 2024 are underway. It’s a tight race between Democrat candidate Vice President “Kamala Harris” and her Republican rival former President “Donald Trump”. The air is filled with excitement and anxiety about the “2024 US election results”.

All those words in double quotes are being searched heavily on Google in the US– as is expected. But there is one more prominent trend that is quite an outlier. That’s the search for “Robert Kennedy” (Jr).

Across the US battleground states, voters voiced anxiety about Tuesday’s election finale, divided – like the country at large – by starkly different visions of the future.

The solemn nature of the voting process provided a contrast to the hyper-charged campaign cycle, marked by Kamala Harris’s late entry, two assassination attempts on Donald Trump, and often vicious rhetoric.

Shares of former President Donald J. Trump’s social media company went on a wild ride on Election Day. The stock had surged nearly 15 percent for much of the day before suddenly falling and giving up much of that gain about an hour before the end of the trading day. The volatile trading in the company, Trump Media & Technology Group, led to several brief trading halts in the shares to allow the market to calm down.

Trump Media, the parent company of the Truth Social platform, has been a volatile stock ever since it made its Wall Street debut in March. The stock often serves as proxy for Trump’s election prospects. Trump is the largest shareholder with a stake worth about $4 billion. With a half-hour left in the trading day, the stock was up about 1 percent to around $35 a share.

Donald Trump is refusing to say how he voted on Florida’s abortion measure — and getting testy about it.

The former president was asked twice after casting his ballot in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday about a question that the state’s voters are considering. If approved, it would prevent state lawmakers from passing any law that penalizes, prohibits, delays or restricts abortion until fetal viability — which doctors say is sometime after 21 weeks.

If it’s rejected, the state’s restrictive six-week abortion law would stand.

The first time he was asked, Trump avoided answering. He said instead of the issue that he did “a great job bringing it back to the states.” That was a reference to the former president having appointed three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court who helped overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 2022.

Pressed a second time, Trump snapped at a reporter, saying they “should just stop talking about that.”

The polls do not directly forecast election results, but rather provide an overview of voter beliefs and motivations, as well as a breakdown by age, gender, education, and other demographics.

Edison Research collects statistics for a coalition of news media by asking thousands of voters nationwide, including swing states, to fill out surveys as they leave polling stations.

They combined this with phone surveys to get the opinions of people who voted early, which over 80 million Americans did.

The data trickles in at 17:00 US Eastern Time (EST) and is updated.

Groups backing Trump have mobilised on Telegram, organising to challenge the vote count in Democratic-leaning areas. These groups, including far-right organisations like the Proud Boys, have used the platform to rally supporters, calling on them to become poll watchers, dispute absentee ballots, and report perceived irregularities, New York Times reported.

Some messages posted images of armed men, accompanied by statements about “standing up for their rights,” urging followers to be prepared for potential conflict on Election Day if Trump doesn’t win. Organisers, spread across various battleground states, have encouraged followers to attend local election meetings, monitor polling stations, and participate in “election integrity” activities that often carry an underlying tone of confrontation.

Telegram has become a prime tool for these groups, amplifying conspiracy theories and claims of election fraud, fuelling a broader movement to challenge the credibility of the electoral process.

The spending includes congressional contests. It has surpassed the $15.1 billion spent in 2020 and more than double 2016’s $6.5 billion, OpenSecrets, a nonprofit company said.

In the tight race to the White House, Harris emerged as the fundraising leader, with her campaign directly raising over $1 billion.

Donald Trump’s campaign raised $382 million directly, according to AFP.

According to the Associated Press, here’s when the results of the races in key swing states is expected:

• Georgia: 7 pm Tuesday, local time (5:30 am Wednesday, IST)
• North Carolina: 7:30 pm Tuesday, local time (6 am Wednesday, IST)
• Michigan: 8 pm Tuesday, local time (6:30 am Wednesday, IST)
• Pennsylvania: 8 pm Tuesday, local time (6:30 am Wednesday, IST)
• Wisconsin: 8 pm Tuesday, local time (7:30 am Wednesday, IST)
• Arizona: 8 pm Tuesday, local time (8:30 am Wednesday, IST)
• Nevada: 7 pm Tuesday, local time (8:30 am Wednesday, IST)

Note that the differences in time of poll results among separate states is partly that there are multiple timezones within the

Haunted by the daily violence ravaging West Asia, and disillusioned by the Biden-Harris administration’s unwavering support for Israel, Muslim voters in swing state of Michigan are shunning the Democrat party this election.

Instead, they have chosen to vote for Jill Stein– the fringe Green Party’s candidate.

Stein, a Jewish physician and the Green Party’s perennial left-wing candidate is predicted to do well among Muslims, as well as progressives and youth voters nationwide — potentially acting as a spoiler for Harris, AFP reported.

The FBI has stated that its name and insignia are being misused to spread disinformation about the US election.

In one instance, the bureau reported that a fabricated news video claimed to be an FBI-issued terrorist warning, falsely urging Americans to “vote remotely” due to a heightened “terror” threat at polling stations.

Another video included a fake FBI press release alleging that the management of five prisons located in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona—key swing states—had “rigged” inmate voting and “colluded” with a political party.

“This video is also not authentic,” the FBI said regarding both the clips.

“Attempts to deceive the public with false content about FBI threat assessments and activities aim to undermine our democratic process and erode trust in the electoral system.”

Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, announced that as of Tuesday morning, voter turnout in Michigan has reached record levels.

During a press conference, she reported that 3.3 million people in the state had already cast their ballots in this election, which accounts for 45.8% of active registered voters in Michigan, even before the polls opened today.

“We’re on track to break turnout records,” Benson stated.

She also mentioned that unofficial election results from Michigan will begin to be reported shortly after 9 pm ET on Tuesday (7:30 am Wednesday, IST).

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, as well as astronauts Butch Wilmore and Don Pettit voted early for the presidential election from the International Space Station, CNN reported citing data from the Harris County Clerk of Court’s Office in Texas.

An Instagram post featuring the astronauts read, “It doesn’t matter if you are sitting, standing, or floating – what matters is that you vote!”

The US Capitol police says it has arrested a man who “smelled like fuel” and had a “flare gun” at the Capitol visitor centre in US’ capital, Washington DC.

In a post on social media platform X, the police said “The man smelled like fuel, had a torch and a flare gun.” He was stopped during screening process.

The US Capitol is where the legislative arm of the federal government, Congress, sits.

In Fulton County in the key swing state of Georgia, as many as five Russian-origin, non-credible bomb threats were reported during polls. They lead to a temporary evacuation at two Fulton County locations.

US intelligence officials are examining an email account using a Russian internet domain as the potential source of the threats made likely to discourage voters in Georgia, CNN quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying.

There are as many as 161.42 million registered voters in the United States. However, the voter turnout is extremely unlikely to be 100%. Therefore, it is difficult to surmise how many of the over 160 million potential votes will actually be cast and, therefore, need to be counted.

“If I lose an election, if it’s a fair election, I would be the first one to acknowledge it. So far I think it’s been fair,” Trump, repeating a caveat that he has used many times on the campaign trail, told reporters after voting in Florida.

He still raised concerns about the use of electronic voting machines in the US elections.

There is fear that Trump and his supporters will deny election results if they are not in the Republican’s favour.

“We have the fairest, the freest, the safest elections. We have a free press that moderates the elections, make sure things are done right,” Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz told a crowd during his campaign stop in Harrisburg.

His statement can be seen as an effort to preemptively counter any claims of rigging of elections or unfair practices that Trump might later use to deny the election result (if they’re not in his favour).

Trump, speaking in Florida amid ongoing voting, said “I feel very confident,” adding that “it looks like Republicans have shown up in force” for voting in the US elections.

Read more about what Trump said in his address at Florida here.

Eric Ham, a US-based political analyst, has said that he thinks “the X factor in this race is what it has always been, and I think that’s women.”

“We are seeing women who are powering both of these candidates, and I think whoever can win that key demographic, especially among white women, will actually be the last person standing tonight,” Al Jazeera quoted him as saying.

Together, we are fighting for the promise of America — a promise of freedom, opportunity, and equality for all. pic.twitter.com/zPLxzzbMpW

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) November 5, 2024

It is now officially ELECTION DAY! This will be the most important day in American History.

Voter enthusiasm is THROUGH THE ROOF because people want to Make America Great Again. That means lines are going to be long!

I need you to deliver your vote no matter how long it takes.…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2024