Republicans are on track to win the popular vote in a presidential election for the first time in 20 years, with Donald Trump winning the Electoral College earlier in the day Wednesday night by 72.5 million votes to about 68 million votes. He is leading Kamala Harris in the polls.
Although vote counting is still incomplete, Trump is expected to reach the 74 million votes he received in 2020, while Harris is expected to fall far short of the 81 million votes her predecessor Joe Biden received in 2020. is.
Harris conceded on Wednesday afternoon, calling on Americans devastated by the outcome “not to despair” but to remain vigilant and join the fight to protect American democracy. You can read Harris’s concession speech in full here or watch it here.
Harris called Trump to congratulate him earlier Wednesday, and Biden similarly invited his former opponent to meet him at the White House. Barack and Michelle Obama issued a statement congratulating the Republican Party and praising Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, as “extraordinary public servants who ran an outstanding campaign.”
Here’s what else happened Wednesday.
US presidential election news and updates
The special counsel plans to conclude the criminal case before Trump takes office, as his elevation to the presidency means the case cannot proceed to trial. Other cases against him face an uncertain future.
Trump spent his first day as president-elect avoiding the national spotlight after addressing supporters in Florida early Wednesday morning. His campaign said it plans to select someone to serve under his leadership in the coming days and weeks. Here’s a look at some of the cabinet candidates.
House Republican leaders outlined plans for President Trump’s first 100 days. In his letter, Steve Scalise said the federal government would “lock in Trump tax cuts” to fight illegal immigration, “unleash America’s energy” and “surge resources to our southern border.” Scalise and Mike Johnson are running for re-election to the posts of House Majority Leader and Speaker of the House, respectively.
Control of the House remained uncertain Wednesday, with Republicans leading but falling short of a 218 majority, according to the Associated Press. Republicans had hoped to increase their majority in the Senate.
More women voted for Harris, but the margin was smaller than for her Democratic predecessor, and Trump gained more support among young Americans than he did in 2020. Read more about exit poll key points here.
When a particular policy proposal makes it to the ballot, “red” states in the U.S. pass progressive laws, such as minimum wage protections, while “blue” states pass conservative policies, such as tough-on-crime approaches. I voted for. Abortion access policies won in seven states but fell short in three.
Wall Street and Bitcoin hit record highs and the dollar soared, while renewable energy stocks fell as experts warned that Trump’s victory would set back global climate action. Analysts continue to expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Thursday as inflation slows.
Mexico’s president has reassured his country that there is “nothing to worry about” despite Trump’s threats of punitive tariffs, mass migrant deportations and U.S. military strikes against organized crime groups in Mexican territory.
Leaders from around the world, including Britain, Australia and Europe, congratulated Trump, as did far-right groups around the world.
While Harris’ supporters expressed shock, sadness and disillusionment while listening to her confession on the Howard University campus in Washington, D.C., Democrats across the country are reflecting on what went wrong. Around the world, Americans living in Britain and Australia are grieving and celebrating the outcome with friends and sympathizers back home.
US pollsters are under fire heading into a third presidential election after they once again underestimated support for Mr Trump and failed to predict his strong victory at the ballot box.
Read more of the Guardian’s 2024 US election coverage
