Donald Trump claimed victory over Vice President Kamala Harris early Wednesday morning, winning a second term after one of the most contentious presidential elections in recent history.
So now the 45th president will be the 47th president, as well.
Trump was propelled by strong performances in several key battleground states, such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina. When news outlets began projecting Pennsylvania for Trump shortly after midnight, Trump was assured an Electoral College victory, as Harris no longer had a viable path to winning the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the election.
At a raucous victory party early Wednesday morning, Trump told supporters gathered at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida: “Look what happened! Is this great?”
“I will not rest until we have delivered a strong, prosperous America,” he said after taking the stage at 2:30 a.m. “This is a magnificent victory.”
He also vowed to help a deeply divided country move forward together after a testy, violent campaign in which Trump survived two assassination attempts.
He said he is committed to helping “our country heal … we made history tonight for a reason.”
Trump is also on pace to win the popular vote for the first time in his three presidential races.
While Trump over-performed in states like Pennsylvania, where he lost to President President Joe Biden in 2020, Harris struggled in states like Virginia, where her lead was narrower than Biden’s 2020 margin.
Earlier in the day, issues like delayed counting and technical challenges, especially in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, held up final tallies, extending uncertainty. Pennsylvania saw polling hours extended in certain areas due to glitches, with both campaigns preparing for a possible legal showdown over late results.
Exit polls indicated the economy and democracy as top concerns, with high dissatisfaction among voters over the country’s direction.
Harris’ appeal among women contrasted with Trump’s growing support from independent and Black male voters, notably in Georgia. As turnout surged among traditional Democratic blocs, particularly in urban areas, Republicans celebrated high turnout in their strongholds.
The tight race and heightened security concerns underscored the division and tension within the electorate.
A series of last-minute campaign rallies underscored the stakes, with both Trump and Harris making impassioned appeals in battleground states. Voters in those states cemented victory for Trump.
