Donald Trump has won two critical battleground states in the race for the U.S. presidency, tightening his lead and making it increasingly challenging for Democrat Kamala Harris to secure a
path to victory.
The Republican candidate is projected to win in North Carolina and Georgia, both essential swing states where competition has been intense. These wins bring Mr. Trump closer to the 270 electoral votes needed to claim the presidency.
Kamala Harris’s campaign now faces an uphill battle, relying heavily on victories in five remaining battleground states: Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin. However, the odds appear increasingly difficult in several of these states.
Initially, the race was highly competitive, with voters turning out in record numbers across the country. However, Mr. Trump gained momentum as results rolled in from reliably conservative states, including Florida, Texas, and Alabama.
Ms. Harris found strong support along the East and West Coasts, with key wins in Democratic strongholds such as New York, Delaware, and California.
Mr. Trump’s projected victory in Georgia marks a comeback, reclaiming a state he lost to Joe Biden in the previous election.
Ms. Harris is not expected to address her supporters overnight, with campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond urging patience, saying, “we still have votes to count.”
The outcome of this election will have significant global implications, particularly for the UK, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government may face shifts in American defense and security policies if Mr. Trump secures a second term.
According to Associated Press projections, Mr. Trump now stands at 247 electoral college votes, while Ms. Harris holds 214. The U.S. electoral system requires 270 votes to win, making the remaining states crucial for both candidates. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.