Former US President Donald Trump has reclaimed the presidency, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, as reported by the Associated Press.

Millions of Americans cast their votes across the nation on Tuesday, participating in the presidential election as well as races for the US Senate, House of Representatives, gubernatorial positions, and other local measures.

In the lead-up to the election, polls had predicted a tight contest between Trump and Harris. However, even as votes continued to be counted in many states, a clearer picture of the outcome emerged, with five states still awaiting final results.

Here are the major takeaways from Election Day:

Trump and Harris: A Snapshot After Election Night

• Electoral College Votes: Trump secured 277 Electoral College votes, surpassing the 270 needed to win the election, according to the Associated Press. The AP has called results in 45 states and the District of Columbia, where Harris is projected to win. Trump emerged victorious in 27 states, while Harris won in 18.
• National Popular Vote: While the popular vote count is still ongoing, the AP reports that Trump currently holds 51% of the vote, compared to Harris’ 47.5%. Trump has garnered over 71.7 million votes, while Harris has received more than 66.9 million.
• Swing States: The election outcome was determined by the results in several key battleground states. According to the AP, Trump has been projected to win in North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Ongoing Counts in Remaining States

• The results are still pending in Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Michigan, and Nevada.
• Trump is leading in four of these states: Arizona by 5 percentage points, Michigan by 2, Nevada by 5, and Alaska by 15.
• Harris is currently ahead in Maine by 9 percentage points.

Trump Gains Ground Among Black and Latino Voters Traditionally, Black voters have overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party, but this time, Trump made significant strides with these communities. According to an AP exit poll, Trump captured 20% of the Black vote, an increase from the 12% he received in 2020. The poll also showed that Trump gained more support from Latino voters compared to the previous election.

Women’s Vote and Reproductive Rights This election was the first since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which removed federal protections for abortion rights. Trump has taken credit for this decision, as it was facilitated by his appointments of conservative justices to the Court. Meanwhile, Harris’ campaign focused on contrasting her stance on reproductive rights with Trump’s record in an effort to appeal to female voters.

Early exit polls revealed that Harris secured 54% of the female vote, which is lower than the 57% support Biden received from women in 2020.

Shifts in Younger Voter Support Support for Harris among younger voters showed a slight decline compared to 2020. About 50% of voters under 30 backed Harris, down from 60% in 2020. Trump’s support among younger voters rose, with more than 40% of those under 30 voting for him, compared to one-third in the previous election.

In key swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin, Trump saw a 5 percentage point increase in support from voters under 45 compared to 2020.