Kamala Harris, Donald Trump In Tight Race That’s Too Close To Call
In this composite image, Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump. | Source: Getty Images / Getty
With votes still needing to be counted, political analysts said the presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was too close to call.
As of early Wednesday morning, Trump had won 248 Electoral College votes to Harris’ 214, according to the Associated Press. The first candidate to tally 270 Electoral College votes will be declared the winner.
Results from the swing states of Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin were not fully returned and are expected to decide the election. The New York Times estimated those states were leaning toward Trump.
Trump was the confirmed winner of key states including Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina. He also maintained a lead in the popular vote for most of the evening by a margin of at least four million.
Harris predictably got the majority of votes in blue states including Colorado, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, and the states in New England.
Trump was expected to declare victory at a rally in Florida early Wednesday morning even though the election had not been officially called yet.
Harris had a rally at her alma mater Howard University in Washington, D.C., before Harris-Walz campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond told attendees to leave because “we still have votes to count.”
Supporters listen as polling results come in during an election night event for Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at Howard University on November 5, 2024, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Brandon Bell / Getty
The race between Harris and Trump was tight from the moment she entered as a candidate following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the race.
Critics questioned the idea of Trump – who was convicted of 34 felonies – being allowed to run for president in the same country where many previously convicted felons are not allowed to vote even after they have paid their debt to society.
Harris faced scrutiny for her unwillingness to take a stand on the side of Palestine and openly say she would end the genocide if elected.
According to exit polls, the U.S. democracy, reproductive rights, the economy, immigration and foreign policy were the top issues Americans were concerned with as they headed to the voting – in addition to concerns about possible violence erupting in the aftermath of the election – no matter the result.
The BBC reports:
The portrait emerging from the exit poll showed sharp divisions between the two parties when it came to priorities, similar to findings in polls conducted before the election.
Among Harris supporters, about six in 10 said the state of democracy was their deciding issue, compared to just one in ten of those backing Trump.
By comparison, half of Trump supporters identified the economy as the most important issue, compared to just one in ten of those backing Harris.
But both sides conveyed concern about America’s democracy, with nearly three quarters of those asked said they felt democracy was “very” or “somewhat” threatened, including similar percentages among both parties.
No matter the outcome of this election, this country will be changed forever.
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