Big Wins for Donald Trump Narrow the Gap in the 2024 Presidential Race
As the 2024 U.S. presidential election results roll in, Donald Trump has picked up some important victories, winning two major battleground states along with more than 20 Republican strongholds. This puts more pressure on his opponent, Kamala Harris, as votes are still being counted in other key states that could decide the final winner. Let’s break down what’s happening so far!
Trump’s Important Wins
According to early projections, Trump has secured big wins in the states of Georgia and North Carolina—both crucial battlegrounds that he and Harris were counting on. Several other swing states are still waiting for their final tallies, including Arizona and the “blue wall” states of Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. These closely watched states are expected to play a huge role in deciding the outcome of the election.
Even though the counting is still going on, many are already seeing the path narrow for Harris. So far, she has not made any public statements, keeping a low profile as she waits for all the votes to come in. Her team, however, remains hopeful. Her campaign advisor, Cedric Richmond, has shared that they are still feeling “very confident” about the results.
While Harris is waiting, Trump plans to speak to supporters and key Republican leaders in West Palm Beach. As of early in the morning, Fox News even declared that Trump had won.
Where the Votes Stand Right Now
Here’s a quick breakdown of everything we know right now, based on early vote projections:
- States Trump Has Won:
- Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, Ohio, and Oklahoma.
- States Harris Has Won:
- California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington (state), and the District of Columbia.
- What’s Still Pending:
- Results are still to come from Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, which are all considered crucial to winning the election.
Harris did manage to secure some electoral votes from Maine and Nebraska. These states have a different system, where they split their electoral votes between candidates rather than giving them all to just one person.
The Goal: 270 Electoral Votes
In this election, both Trump and Harris are fighting to gain 270 electoral votes—the magic number they need to officially win the presidency. The seven remaining swing states account for 93 electoral votes in total. Without winning these states, neither candidate can claim victory.
Experts say that the overall outcome depends on how close the vote is in each state and how they handle their voting rules. For example, some states might have required recounts, which could delay the final results.
When Will We Know for Sure?
While the media is making predictions, the official results won’t be certified until January 6, 2025. Certified results are the ones Congress will recognize as final. So even though we’re seeing a lot of projections right now, nothing is locked in yet.
Republicans Take Control of the Senate
In separate major news, the Republicans have also won enough key races to take control of the Senate. This is the first time in four years that Republicans hold a Senate majority, flipping several seats that were previously held by Democrats.
- Key Senate Wins for Republicans:
- In Ohio, Republicans won an important Senate race, ousting Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown. Republican Bernie Moreno, who had some strong words for Trump in the past, is now fully on board with his agenda.
- In West Virginia, Republican Governor Jim Justice won a Senate seat, replacing outgoing Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.
- Florida’s Republican Senator Rick Scott also defeated his Democratic opponent, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
Meanwhile, Democrats did score a major victory in Maryland, with Angela Alsobrooks winning her Senate race against Larry Hogan. Alsobrooks will become the state’s first Black Senator, making history in the process.
Only 34 out of the 100 Senate seats were up for grabs this year. Among these, 18 were held by Democrats, making it tough for them to keep control. But while their Senate majority is slipping, Democrats still have hope in the House of Representatives races as every single House seat is up for election this year.
History Made in the House
Speaking of the House of Representatives, there came a truly historic win! Voters in Delaware made Sarah McBride the first-ever openly transgender member of Congress. She’s making history as the state’s only House representative.
What’s Next?
Votes are still being counted and new results are coming in live. This election is definitely one to watch, with significant impacts on the future of U.S. politics. In particular, the results of the seven remaining swing states will play a decisive role in determining whether Trump or Harris will reach that all-important 270 electoral votes.
Be sure to check back for updates as news continues to pour in!