The Republican candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, won in the first "toss-up" state of North Carolina.
Trump is leading in Utah (6), Wyoming (3), and Missouri (10). Democrat Kamala Harris received 10 votes in Colorado and 3 in the District of Columbia.
In total, the former U.S. president has already secured 230 electoral votes, while Harris has 187.
Trump is also ahead in the key state of Pennsylvania. After counting 77% of the votes, over 51% voted for Trump, while 48% supported Harris.
UPD. Donald Trump has achieved the necessary 270 electoral votes and has become president of the United States for the second time.
Presidential Candidates
In 2024, the Democratic Party nominated 60-year-old Kamala Harris as its presidential candidate after Joe Biden declined to run for re-election. This provided her the opportunity to make history as the first Black woman in this position. Her main opponent, 78-year-old Donald Trump, was fighting to return to the White House.
Also participating in the elections were 39-year-old Chase Oliver (a lesser-known candidate from the Libertarian Party), 74-year-old Jill Stein (running from the Green Party), and Cornel West (an independent candidate).
Traditionally, Democrats have succeeded by leveraging the "blue wall" of states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Trump focused on garnering support from rural voters and aimed to win the loyalty of conservative citizens. Polls indicated a close race, making it essential for candidates to secure voter support in key states such as Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada.
Issues surrounding abortion rights, economic reforms, democracy protection, and immigration became central themes. Kamala Harris endorsed an initiative allowing women safe access to abortions at the national level. Meanwhile, Trump, who had previously opposed such an initiative, adopted a less rigid stance, insisting that abortion issues should be resolved at the state level.
0
Regarding the economy, Harris's plans included tax cuts for most Americans, a ban on price increases, more affordable housing, and a new child tax credit, along with efforts to stimulate domestic production. Trump, for his part, promised to lower taxes, impose steep tariffs on imported goods, and protect Social Security and Medicare.
On immigration, Trump took a hardline stance, vowing to carry out the "largest deportation operation" in U.S. history, referring to undocumented immigrants as "animals" and "poison for the country." Harris adopted a moderate position, supporting a bipartisan initiative to increase the number of border agents and enhance oversight of the weekly cap of 5,000 crossings per day.
1
Paths to Victory
For Donald Trump, the path to victory involved mobilizing conservative voters, especially in states where Republican support has traditionally been strong. Crucial for Trump were the so-called "swing states" (that is, states that could support either Republicans or Democrats), where he received support in 2016 but lost in 2020.
Kamala Harris aimed to unite all progressive and moderate voters. The Democratic camp hoped that voters would remain loyal to their platform and continue to support the humanitarian and economic programs promoted by the administration.
Voting Process and Results
Americans vote not only on Election Day. Thanks to mail-in ballots and early voting, millions of voters expressed their opinions even before November 5. In Georgia, for instance, the first day of early voting set records for turnout.
Depending on the state, mail-in ballots are counted either on Election Day or after the polls close. This can delay the announcement of results. The final declaration of the winner will only be possible after all legal procedures are completed, sometimes requiring a wait until December.
2
Candidates' Stance on Ukraine
The war in Ukraine was one of the key foreign policy issues of the election campaign. Kamala Harris clearly stated her support for Ukraine, continuing the Biden administration's policy of financial and military assistance. The Democratic Party justified this by asserting that aid to Ukraine is essential for maintaining stability in Europe and protecting democracy.
Donald Trump, however, advocated for ending the war and reducing aid to Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of conserving American resources for domestic needs. The politician made bold claims that he could end the war in 24 hours, but for that, Ukraine would have to make territorial concessions and freeze the conflict without joining NATO.