- Donald Trump wins 2024 US presidential election
- Trump performs well in battleground states
- Republicans win control of Senate but House still up in the air
- World leaders congratulate Trump
06 Nov 2024, 04:43 PM
Donald Trump wins US presidency
Donald Trump was elected president, capping a remarkable comeback four years after he was voted out of the White House and ushering in a new American leadership likely to test democratic institutions at home and relations abroad.
Trump, 78, recaptured the White House on Wednesday by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency, Edison Research projected, following a campaign of dark rhetoric that deepened the polarisation in the country.
The former president's victory in the swing state of Wisconsin pushed him over the threshold.
"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," Trump said early on Wednesday to a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida.
Trump’s political career had appeared to be over after his false claims of election fraud led a mob of supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a failed bid to overturn his 2020 defeat.
But he swept away challengers inside his Republican Party and then beat Democratic candidate Kamala Harris by capitalising on voter concerns about high prices and what Trump claimed, without evidence, was a rise in crime due to illegal immigration.
Harris did not speak to supporters who had gathered at her alma mater Howard University. Her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, briefly addressed the crowd after midnight, saying Harris would speak publicly later on Wednesday.
"We still have votes to count," he said.
Republicans won a US Senate majority, but neither party appeared to have an edge in the fight for control of the House of Representatives where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 04:41 PM
Trump wins Alaska: Edison Research
Republican candidate Donald Trump is projected to win the state of Alaska in the 2024 US presidential election, according to Edison Research.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 04:39 PM
AP calls Wisconsin for Trump, giving him the win
Donald Trump won the key state of Wisconsin on Wednesday, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a critical battleground, the Associated Press says.
The win delivers 10 electoral college votes to Trump, taking him past the 270-mark needed to win the presidency.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 04:34 PM
Inside Trump's plan for mass deportations
Donald Trump is expected to mobilise agencies across the US government to help him deport record numbers of immigrants, building on efforts in his first term to tap all available resources and pressure so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions to cooperate, according to six former Trump officials and allies.
Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest, telling supporters America had given him an "unprecedented and powerful mandate".
Trump backers - including some who could enter his second administration - anticipate the Republican president-elect will call on everyone from the US military to diplomats overseas to turn his campaign promise of mass deportations into a reality. The effort would include cooperation with Republican-led states and use federal funding as leverage against resistant jurisdictions.
Trump recaptured the White House vowing a vast immigration crackdown. The centrepiece of his re-election bid was a promise to deport record numbers of immigrants, an operation Trump’s running mate JD Vance estimated could remove 1 million people per year.
Immigrant advocates warn that Trump’s deportation effort would be costly, divisive and inhumane, leading to family separations and devastating communities.
Source: Reuters
Read more here:
06 Nov 2024, 04:31 PM
Trump victory to reverberate through global economy
Donald Trump's victory in the race to become the next US president will, if confirmed, have economic consequences for the rest of the world that are likely to be deep and quite immediate.
As congratulations poured in from world leaders, Trump claimed on Wednesday he had been given a "powerful mandate" to rule.
If he enacts just a fraction of his pledges - from higher trade tariffs to deregulation, more oil drilling and more demands on America's NATO partners - the strain on government finances, inflation, economic growth and interest rates will be felt in every corner of the world.
Source: Reuters
Read more here:
06 Nov 2024, 04:26 PM
Trump must tackle a 'world on fire'
While campaigning to regain the US presidency, Donald Trump said that he would be able to end Russia's war in Ukraine in 24 hours, warned that Israel would be "eradicated" if he lost the election and vowed sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports.
Now that Trump has claimed victory, many at home and abroad are asking an urgent question: will he make good on his long list of foreign policy threats, promises and pronouncements?
The Republican has offered few foreign policy specifics, but supporters say the force of his personality and his “peace through strength” approach will help bend foreign leaders to his will and calm what Republicans describe as a "world on fire".
Source: Reuters
Read more here:
06 Nov 2024, 03:15 PM
It was inflation, not just the economy
US presidential elections are all about "the economy, stupid", said Bill Clinton's strategist James Carville in 1992.
And for American voters who cared more about the economy than other issues - and the nearly half who said they are worse off financially than four years ago - their choice for the next president appeared resoundingly clear: Republican Donald Trump.
Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest after Fox News projected that he had defeated Democrat Kamala Harris after he won in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia.
He was leading in each of the remaining four battleground states, any one of which would push his Electoral College total above the 270 needed to win.
About 31% of voters said the economy was their top issue, ranking second behind the 35% who said the state of democracy mattered most to them, according to national exit polling data from Edison Research. And the voters who identified the economy as their primary concern voted overwhelmingly for Trump over Harris - 79% to 20%.
Meanwhile, the high inflation of the last couple of years and the toll that has taken on perceptions of financial well-being stood out as clear concerns that also steered voters toward Trump.
More than half of voters said inflation had caused them a moderate hardship in the last year, while nearly one in four said it had caused a severe hardship. Those saying it had caused a moderate difficulty leaned somewhat more to Trump, 50% to 47%, but 73% of those calling it a severe hardship voted for the former president.
Edison's exit polling data showed 45% of voters across the country said their family's financial situation was worse today than four years ago, compared with just 20% in 2020. Those voters favored Trump over Harris 80% to 17%.
The results dovetail with surveys that have shown consumers giving the economy poor ratings even though unemployment is near historic lows, growth overall has been largely above trend, consumer spending remains robust, and overall household wealth is at a record high.
The University of Michigan's twice-monthly Consumer Sentiment Index, for instance, plunged to a record low in the summer of 2022 when inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index peaked at 9.1% year-over-year - the highest since the early 1980s.
While it has improved in the two years since as stiff interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve have brought inflation back to near the central bank's 2% target, sentiment remains well below the levels that prevailed during Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021.
06 Nov 2024, 03:03 PM
'Market volatility is likely to pick up': investors, economists
Mohit Kumar, economist, Jefferies, London:
"Our view for the coming weeks would be: to be long US equities, be long US over Europe, see continued grind tighter in credit, use any sell-offs in rates to buy - 4.50% in USTs, Bunds around current levels - and remain long peripherals."
Stephen Dover, chief market strategist, Franklin Templeton, San Mateo, California:
In the event of a Republican ‘clean sweep’, the extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts is assured. It is probable that the statutory and effective corporate tax rates will be lowered - the former to perhaps 15% - and that sweeping changes to business regulation will follow. What is less certain is whether tariffs will be increased on the scale and scope matching Trump’s campaign rhetoric.
Ken Peng, head of Asia investment strategy, Citi Wealth, Hong Kong:
"A lot of this (market reaction) is based on investors' view that Trump would cut taxes or at least keep tax rates low. Now that it's likely to be looking like a red sweep - additional cuts are possible."
"Deregulation is another major positive for the economy and markets, particularly for the financial, energy and tech sectors. The negatives are tariffs. That's going to be negative for global growth... particularly in China, Asia (and) Europe."
Rong Ren Goh, portfolio manager, Eastspring Investments, Singapore:
"With Trump, market volatility is likely to pick up, so trading-wise, it does open up opportunities. The volatility comes from uncertainty surrounding how he intends to follow through on some of his campaign promises.
Matt Orton, chief market strategist, Raymond James Investment Management, St Petersburg, Florida:
"I start to worry when (10-year US Treasury) yields cross the 4.50% mark. If we don't reverse that upward trend, I would be more reticent to add too much more risk until we hear from the Fed or get a little bit more guidance with respect to where terminal rates might lie."
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 02:46 PM
More world leaders congratulate Trump
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
"Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise."
MARK RUTTE, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF NATO
"I just congratulated Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO", he said in a post on X.
GIORGIA MELONI, PRIME MINISTER OF ITALY
In a post on X Meloni offered her "most sincere congratulations" to Trump, and said Italy and the United States had an "unshakeable alliance". "It is a strategic bond, which I am certain we will now strengthen even further," she said.
DMITRY MEDVEDEV, FORMER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
"Trump has one useful quality for us: as a businessman to the core, he mortally dislikes spending money on various hangers–on and stupid hanger-on allies, on bad charity projects and on voracious international organisations," Medvedev, now a senior security official, posted on his official Telegram account.
DICK SCHOOF, DUTCH PRIME MINISTER
"Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on winning the presidential election. The United States is an important ally for the Netherlands, both bilaterally and in international contexts such as NATO. I look forward to our close cooperation on the shared interests between the USA and the Netherlands," he posted on X.
KARL NEHAMMER, AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR
"Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on the election victory. The United States is an important strategic partner for Austria. We look forward to further expanding and strengthening our transatlantic relations to successfully address global challenges together."
VIKTOR ORBAN, HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER
"The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!" Orban posted on X.
PETR FIALA, CZECH PRIME MINISTER
"Congratulations to Donald Trump on winning the presidential election. Our shared goal is to ensure that the relations between our countries remain at the highest level, despite changes in administration, and that we continue to develop them for the benefit of our citizens," Fiala said on X.
MARCEL CIOLAC, PRIME MINISTER OF ROMANIA
"Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on this historic victory! Romania stands ready to work together to enhance our Strategic Partnership. Under your new leadership we hope for peace and prosperity for all our citizens! Looking forward to a fruitful collaboration!" he posted on X.
ULF KRISTERSSON, PRIME MINISTER OF SWEDEN
"I congratulate Donald Trump on being elected the next president of the United States. I look forward to working together and continuing the excellent US-Sweden relations as friends and allies."
JONAS GAHR STOERE, PRIME MINISTER OF NORWAY
"I would like to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election. The US is Norway's most important ally and we work closely together in many areas. I look forward to continuing our cooperation with the US under Mr. Trump's leadership."
METTE FREDERIKSEN, PRIME MINISTER OF DENMARK
"Congratulations to Donald Trump on the election. The United States is our most important ally. We must maintain the close cooperation between the United States and Denmark and continue to strengthen the transatlantic bond that has endured through generations."
NAYIB BUKELE, PRESIDENT OF EL SALVADOR
"Congratulations to the President-Elect of the United States of America, @realDonaldTrump. May God bless and guide you," Bukele posted on X.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 02:20 PM
Trump: 'God spared my life for a reason'
Donald Trump, who dodged two assassination attempts, said during his victory speech: "Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason...the task before us will not be easy."
He spoke of attempting to unify the divided country. "It's time to put the divisions of the past behind us."
Trump, whose rally speeches routinely lasted 90 minutes or longer, ended his victory speech at about 25 minutes with his signature closing song, YMCA, blared over the loudspeakers.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 02:17 PM
World leaders react to Trump’s victory declaration
US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson: We have saved America. The American people have spoken, and President Trump and Senator JD Vance are going to the White House. We are ready to get to work for the American people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy: Congratulations to Donald Trump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-US strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine. I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the “peace through strength” approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations. Ukraine, as one of Europe's strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies. I am looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's strategic partnership with the United States.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Heartiest congratulations my friend Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.
Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu: Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship, yours, Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban: The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!
French President Emmanuel Macron: Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we did for four years—with your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer: Congratulations to Donald Trump on the election victory. The United States is an important strategic partner for Austria. We look forward to further expanding and strengthening our transatlantic relations to successfully address global challenges together.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: I just congratulated Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO.
Abandon Harris, a Muslim-led movement that opposed U.S. support for Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon, took a dig at the Democratic Party over its Middle East policy: "Did we not warn you that you cannot commit genocide and walk away unscathed? Did we not tell you, without a hint of doubt, that a reckoning was on its way and that we’d be the ones to rip the ground out from under you?" the group wrote on X. The group had opposed Trump as well and had urged its supporters to vote third party.
The American American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), a civil rights group, called on the incoming administration to leverage US influence to end the devastation inflicted on Palestinians and Lebanon, and to protect civilians. "For many voters, especially those affected by foreign policy decisions, this election was a referendum on the costs of prolonged conflicts abroad," executive director Abed Ayoud said.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 02:12 PM
Israel's Netanyahu congratulates Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday on what he hailed as an "historic return" to the White House.
"Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America," Netanyahu said on X after Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 02:09 PM
Far-right Israeli ministers celebrate as Trump claims victory
Far-right ministers in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government celebrated on Wednesday as Donald Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election.
"Yesssss, God bless Trump," National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on X.
Bezalel Smitrich said: "God bless Israel, God bless America."
Another member of the government, Culture Minister Miki Zohar, said: "We are looking forward to the next four years."
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 01:59 PM
Harris wins Minnesota: AP
The Associated Press projects a win for Kamala Harris in Minnesota, continuing a Democratic winning streak in the state that spans more than five decades.
Running with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris brought a Midwestern leader and military veteran to her ticket, known for his support of unions and progressive policies, including strong protections for abortion rights and family aid programmes.
Minnesota has consistently voted Democratic in presidential elections since Richard Nixon's win in 1972, though Donald Trump came close in 2016, losing to Hillary Clinton by just 1.5 percentage points.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 01:43 PM
Trump claims election win
Republican Donald Trump has claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest after Fox News projected that he had defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House.
"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," he said early on Wednesday to a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
He promised that he would “not rest until we have delivered the strong safe and prosperous America”.
“Every single day,” Trump said, “I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.”
Source: Reuters, AP
06 Nov 2024, 01:29 PM
Trump needs 4 more electoral votes to win presidency: CNN
CNN projects that Republican nominee Donal Trump is just four electoral votes away from clinching the presidency as Vice President Kamala Harris’ route to victory narrows.
Former president Trump currently holds 266 electoral votes, while Harris has 188, leaving Trump only four votes short of the 270 needed to win.
CNN has already projected Trump’s wins in several key battleground states, including North Carolina, Georgia, and the critical swing state of Pennsylvania.
Source: CNN
06 Nov 2024, 01:27 PM
Trump takes the stage
06 Nov 2024, 01:20 PM
Trump backstage
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) November 6, 2024
06 Nov 2024, 12:48 PM
Fox News calls Pennsylvania for Trump
Fox News projected that Republican Donald Trump has won the battleground state of Pennsylvania, which would all but close off Democrat Kamala Harris' chances of winning the US presidency.
Other networks and data providers had yet to make a call in the state.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 12:39 PM
Republicans set to flip Senate
Republicans have secured a majority in the US Senate, according to CNN projections, marking a significant shift in Washington's power dynamics.
With 51 seats confirmed and several races still pending, the GOP is poised to influence the legislative agenda and potentially bolster a Trump presidency or challenge a Harris administration, depending on the presidential election outcome.
The new Congress will convene in January under Republican leadership, with the party's leader yet to be determined. The Senate victory represents a major triumph for Republicans, even as the presidential race remains undecided and the battle for control of the House of Representatives continues.
Source: CNN
06 Nov 2024, 12:32 PM
RFK Jr joins Trump watch party in Palm Beach
Former presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has arrived at the Palm Beach Convention Center, walking briskly through a crowd of supporters near the stage.
Trump has hinted that Kennedy could play a role in shaping health policy if he returns to the White House, though details remain unspecified.
Kennedy, who initially ran as an independent before ending his campaign and endorsing Trump, appeared alongside him at multiple rallies in the final days of the race.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 12:25 PM
AP calls New Hampshire for Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris claimed victory in New Hampshire early Wednesday, extending the state’s 20-year trend of supporting Democrats in presidential races, according to the Associated Press.
New Hampshire has now backed a Democratic candidate in seven of the last eight elections. The win follows a notable move by the Democratic National Committee, which recently shifted New Hampshire from its traditional position as the first presidential primary state.
This marks the third time that former president Donald Trump has won New Hampshire’s GOP primary only to lose it in the general election.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 12:22 PM
Echoes of 2016 in Harris' 2024 election night
For many Democrats, Kamala Harris’ election night in 2024 likely felt like a déjà vu of Hillary Clinton’s in 2016.
Both Clinton and Harris had entered election day with confidence in a win over Donald Trump. Yet, neither appeared at their election night gathering to address supporters as results trickled in. Instead, both campaigns sent senior aides to deliver somber updates to crowds brimming with anticipation.
“We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted,” Harris’ campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond told the audience Tuesday night.
“So you won’t hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow.”
In 2016, Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, shared a similar message. “We’re still counting votes,” he told supporters at the Javits Center. “Several states are too close to call. So we’re not going to have anything more to say tonight.”
The mood at each event unfolded in a near-identical fashion. Both started as lively celebrations: Clinton’s team had prepared a confetti display meant to symbolise breaking the glass ceiling, while Harris’ event at Howard University was more of a dance party.
But as the night wore on, the joy faded, and by the time Richmond and Podesta took the stage, the gatherings had quieted, with many supporters gone and those remaining looking visibly disheartened.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 12:06 PM
Trump set to speak
06 Nov 2024, 11:50 AM
Trump campaign takes swipe at Harris’ watch party
A Trump campaign spokesperson has commented on the shifting mood at Kamala Harris’ election night watch party.
“Sounds like the joy has left the building,” Karoline Leavitt, a campaign spokeswoman, posted on X.
As midnight neared, the Harris campaign cut off the CNN broadcast at its watch party at Howard University, and some attendees began to leave the venue.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 11:47 AM
Trump to win Georgia: CNN
Former president Donald is set to win the key battleground state of Georgia and secure its 16 electoral votes, CNN projects.
Georgia, historically a Republican stronghold, emerged as a pivotal swing state in 2020, helping President Joe Biden secure his White House win with a narrow margin of just 11,779 votes.
The state has remained in the national spotlight since 2020. After Biden's victory, Trump urged state officials, including Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, to "find" enough votes to overturn the outcome in his favour.
Trump and several advisors now face legal indictments over their actions related to the 2020 election in Georgia.
Source: CNN
06 Nov 2024, 11:45 AM
US independent turnout tops Democrats, ties Republicans
Self-identified independents accounted for a larger share of voters in Tuesday's US presidential election than Democrats and were tied with Republicans, Edison Research exit polling data showed.
It was the first time since Edison began exit polling in 2004 that independents' share of the vote has exceeded one of the two major US political parties.
The independent share stood at 34% in the latest update of Edison's exit poll, compared with 34% for Republicans and 32% for Democrats.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 11:37 AM
Harris not expected to speak tonight
Vice President Kamala Harris has no plans to make a public address tonight, according to a source close to the White House, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 11:30 AM
Trump on way to watch party
Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump is en route to his watch party from Mar-a-Lago and is expected to speak to his gathered supporters, reports the Associated Press.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 11:26 AM
Where things stand in House and Senate races
Republicans and Democrats are locked in a close battle for control of Congress, according to CNN's latest projections.
In the Senate, Republicans hold 49 seats, while Democrats have secured 40. A majority requires at least 51 seats.
CNN projects that Republican Bernie Moreno will unseat Democratic Sen Sherrod Brown in Ohio, marking a significant GOP gain in this increasingly conservative state.
Additionally, Republicans gained a seat in West Virginia, with Gov Jim Justice expected to replace retiring Democrat-turned-independent Sen Joe Manchin.
In the House, Republicans have 178 seats compared to Democrats' 150. The GOP has flipped three seats so far as it works to protect its slim majority. One key flip is North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, where Republican Addison McDowell is projected to win.
Source: CNN
06 Nov 2024, 11:22 AM
Harris’s path to victory narrows
Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the battleground state of North Carolina in Tuesday's US presidential election, Edison Research projected.
It moves him one step closer to completing an improbable political comeback.
The outcome remained uncertain in six other states expected to determine the winner.
But Trump was showing strength across broad swaths of the country.
He had won 230 Electoral College votes to Harris' 169 as of midnight ET (0500 GMT on Wednesday). A candidate needs a total of at least 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency.
Decision Desk HQ projected Trump would also win Georgia. That would leave Harris with a narrow path to victory through the Rust Belt trio of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, though she was behind in all three states.
Republicans won a US Senate majority after flipping Democratic seats in West Virginia and Ohio. Neither party appeared to have an edge in the fight for control of the House of Representatives where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 11:20 AM
Harris’ Howard party cuts CNN, cranks up music amid tight race calls
As election results trickled in from battleground states, the Harris campaign decided to cut its CNN broadcast at the Howard University watch party, opting instead for upbeat remixes synchronised with flickering floodlights to energise the crowd.
With cheers growing less frequent as Trump picked up victories in key states and the race tightened, some attendees started to trickle out, though most remained.
It remains uncertain if Harris will make an appearance at her alma mater.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 11:14 AM
Harris wins one electoral vote in Nebraska: AP
Kamala Harris has secured the electoral vote for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District early Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
Known as Nebraska’s “blue dot,” the district has previously supported Democratic candidates, backing Barack Obama in 2008 and Joe Biden in 2020. Nebraska, along with Maine, is one of two states that divides its Electoral College votes by individual congressional district results.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 11:11 AM
Early takeaways from the US presidential election
The fight between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump remained tight as results rolled in Tuesday night, with a victor in the US presidential election unlikely to emerge until Wednesday or even later in the week.
Here are some takeaways as polls close across the country and votes are tabulated:
TREND LINES
As the evening progressed, Harris and Trump each prevailed in the early states they had been projected to win. Trump had the early lead in electoral votes.
The Associated Press and Edison Research projected Trump would win the battleground state of North Carolina, while Decision Desk HQ said Trump would win Georgia as well as North Carolina. Edison Research had yet to call the two races, or any of the other swing states that will decide the election.
While it was still too early to suggest which candidate might be in the best position to win the contest, there were some emerging trends that could prove determinative.
VOTERS OF COLOUR
The Trump campaign put a great deal of effort into persuading Black and Latino voters to defect from the Democratic Party – and there were some early indications those efforts were paying off.
In North Carolina, exit polls showed Trump boosting his share of the Black vote to 12 percent, from 5 percent in 2020. He garnered the support of 20 percent of Black male voters, the poll said.
According to the Edison national poll, Trump's support among Latino male voters jumped 18 percentage points from four years ago.
A GENDER GAP?
Harris’ campaign was looking to exploit a large gender gap in the electorate, with the hope that legions of women voters would flock to the vice president because of issues such as abortion rights.
But so far, Trump seemed to be holding onto the support of at least white women voters, according to exit polls. Black women overwhelmingly supported Harris.
AN AGE GAP
The national exit poll showed Trump slightly edging Harris among men between the ages of 18 and 44 and beating her solidly with men 45 and up.In Michigan and Wisconsin, Trump was up five percentage points with overall voters under 45 compared with four years ago. In Nevada, he jumped six points with those voters.
But at the same time, Trump appeared to be losing ground with older voters.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 11:09 AM
Markets lean on 'Trump trade' as former president leads
Global investors were increasingly pricing in a win late on Tuesday for Republican Donald Trump, as the former president took a lead in US presidential elections, with some battleground states yet to post results.
US stock futures and the dollar pushed higher while Treasury yields climbed and bitcoin rose - all flagged by analysts and investors as trades that favour a Trump win over Democrat Kamala Harris.
"Our county by county analysis in key states suggests that Harris is lagging vs 2020, and on this basis it is logical that the market is starting to price a Trump win, as seen in bonds, and the dollar," said Jens Nordvig, CEO at analytical firm Exante.
The results so far underscore how one of the most unusual - and tightest - presidential elections in modern US history could have far-reaching implications for tax and trade policy, as well as US institutions.
The results affect assets globally and determine the outlook for US debt, the strength of the dollar and a host of industries that make up the backbone of Corporate America.
Leading into Tuesday, polls showed a dead heat between the former president and the current vice president. But by 11pm ET, Trump had won 211 Electoral College votes compared with 145 for Harris, with a third of the vote counted.
Republicans also won control of the US Senate, ensuring they will dominate at least one chamber of Congress next year.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 11:05 AM
Trump to win 3 electoral votes in Nebraska: CNN
CNN projects that former president Donald Trump will secure three of Nebraska's five electoral votes.
Nebraska, along with Maine, is one of the two states that splits its electoral votes rather than adopting a winner-takes-all approach.
In Nebraska, two electoral votes are awarded to the statewide popular vote winner, while each of the state's three congressional districts provides one electoral vote to its district’s popular vote winner.
To clinch the presidency in 2024, a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes.
Source: CNN
06 Nov 2024, 11:03 AM
Kamala wins Hawaii: AP
Kamala Harris has won Hawaii and the state’s four electoral votes, according to the Associated Press.
Hawaii, a solidly Democrat state, has gone blue for 10 consecutive presidential elections now.
The last time it voted Republican for president was 40 years ago, when Ronald Reagan swept to victory in 1984.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 10:56 AM
Musk vows to shrink govt if Trump wins
Elon Musk pledged to downsize federal agencies if Republican nominee Donald Trump returns to the White House and involves him in the administration.
Speaking from Mar-a-Lago on Tucker Carlson’s online show, Musk expressed his desire to streamline government operations, calling it an opportunity to increase efficiency.
As a prominent Trump supporter, Musk -- CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and owner of X (formerly Twitter) -- said, “We’ve got a gigantic bureaucracy, we’ve got overregulation. We need to let the builders of America build.”
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 10:54 AM
Democrats feeling anxious
Democrats at a North Carolina watch party in Raleigh were feeling anxious about Harris’ prospects to beat Trump nationally, and some were already moving past hope that the state would be called in Harris’ favor.
Trump is projected to win North Carolina with its 16 electoral votes, according to AP. Edison Research has yet to make a call.
“I hate we didn't win it (North Carolina) for Kamala, but it's what it is,” said Joe Sam Queen, a former state senator and representative, who counseled and helped Democrats raise money this election cycle. “I thought we could win. I really… I worked hard to win, and so I'm disappointed.”
Still, nationally, Queen was hanging onto hope that Harris could best Trump nationally. “I'm nervous, but I'm still optimistic. I'd still rather be us than them.”
JB Smiley Jr, chairman of the Memphis City Council in Tennessee, who attended the watch party, said he was surprised the race between Trump and Harris was so close. “We’ll see what happens in Pennsylvania, then I kind of know what's up tonight.”
06 Nov 2024, 10:52 AM
Enthusiasm grows at Trump party
The crowd at the Trump election night watch party in Bucks County, a Philadelphia suburb, is growing more enthusiastic as the votes roll in and continue to show a strong night for the former president. Every new update from Fox News projected on a large screen brings a round of cheers from a crowd decked out in their finest Trump gear, including at least two woman wearing garbage bags in a playful nod to President Joe Biden’s recent comments.
“I feel good,” said Jane Glass, a 48-year old marketing professional. “I think we're seeing a landslide Trump victory."
The party is hosted by Trump supporter and donor Jim Worthington, a wealthy health club owner who provided free food for the crowd of several hundred.
The menu included a Trump cake that featured his signature MAGA hat, the US Constitution and other details.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 10:50 AM
Trump favoured in Wisconsin: WaPo
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds a slight advantage in Wisconsin, but Harris remains within striking distance, according to The Washington Post's election forecast.
With roughly 65 percent of the votes counted, Trump leads Harris 51 percent to 48 percent. Wisconsin has seen narrow margins in recent elections -- Trump won it by less than a point in 2016, while Biden carried it by a similar margin in 2020.
Source: The Washington Post
06 Nov 2024, 10:48 AM
Republicans win control of Senate but House still up in the air
Republicans won control of the US Senate with victories in West Virginia and Ohio on Tuesday, ensuring that Donald Trump's party will control at least one chamber of Congress next year.
Neither party appeared to have a clear advantage in the battle for the House of Representatives, which Republicans now control by a narrow margin.
But Tuesday's results ensured Republicans would be able to help Trump appoint conservative judges and other government personnel if he wins the presidential race, or block much of Democrat Kamala Harris's agenda if she prevails.
Republican Jim Justice was projected to win an open Senate seat in West Virginia shortly after polls closed, taking over the seat previously held by Joe Manchin, a Democrat-turned-independent. In Ohio, multiple US media outlets projected that Republican Bernie Moreno would defeat incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown. Those two victories ensured Republicans will hold at least a 51-49 majority in the Senate, with further gains possible as results in other competitive races come in.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 10:45 AM
AP calls Virginia for Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris has added 13 electoral votes to her tally by winning the state of Virginia, according to the Associated Press.
It marks the third time Donald Trump has lost the Old Dominion state.
The Democratic nominee for president has won Virginia in every election since 2008.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 10:43 AM
AP projects Harris win in New Mexico
Kamala Harris has secured New Mexico, adding five electoral votes to the Democrats' count, according to the Associated Press.
The Democratic Party’s stronghold in New Mexico has continued to strengthen over the past 20 years, with former president George W Bush being the last Republican to carry the state in 2004.
While Harris did not personally campaign in New Mexico, support from the state’s more populous areas outweighed votes from conservative regions.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 10:39 AM
Pennsylvania county conducts hand count after software glitch
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt revealed that Cambria County was conducting a hand count of ballots that could not be scanned earlier today due to a software malfunction, noting that the process “may take some time”.
According to Schmidt, the hand-counting is typically carried out by “partisan teams of two” working collaboratively, and the process is open to observation by candidates and their authorised representatives.
Voting hours in Cambria County were extended following the software issue, which disrupted the ballot-scanning process, the Office of County Commissioners reported.
The county’s chief election official Scott Hunt explained that the issue stemmed from a printing error. New ballots were being sent to polling sites, and ballots that were already submitted but couldn’t be scanned would undergo a hand count, he added.
Source: CNN
06 Nov 2024, 10:34 AM
AP calls Oregon for Harris
Kamala Harris has secured victory in Oregon on Tuesday, earning the state’s eight electoral votes, according to the Associated Press.
Oregon’s electoral vote count increased by one this cycle after gaining a congressional seat in the 2020 census. The state has consistently supported Democratic presidential nominees since 1988.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 10:31 AM
Harris’ Howard night energy turns from festive to fretting
The mood at Harris’ election night party at Howard University shifted from electric to anxious as race calls began rolling in. The musical performances and triumphant speeches on display earlier in the evening have been replaced by occasional DJ mixes and broadcast race calls.
Anxious faces and hushed talk spread through the crowd as the night stretched on and the tightness of the race became apparent.
The still-packed crowd periodically went quiet as attendees watched returns come in on a giant projection of CNN. Rallygoers cheered and waved American flags as solidly blue states like Harris’ native California were called in her favour.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 10:28 AM
Trump campaign feeling increasingly optimistic
Donald Trump’s campaign is riding a wave of growing optimism as early results arrive on Tuesday night.
The optimism has been fuelled by outcomes in Virginia and Iowa, where the numbers seem to challenge a poll that had jolted the campaign on Saturday night.
Supporters at Trump’s convention centre are cheering enthusiastically with each favourable call, and a few guests from Mar-a-Lago’s Florida event have started to join the gathering.
There is still uncertainty about if — or when — Trump will make an appearance.
Source: CNN
06 Nov 2024, 10:27 AM
AP projects Trump win in North Carolina
Former president Donald Trump claimed victory in the key battleground state of North Carolina on Tuesday, securing its 16 electoral votes over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, according to the Associated Press.
While Trump previously won North Carolina in both 2016 and 2020, Democrats had hoped to flip the state this election cycle, investing in campaign ads, canvassing, and Harris rallies.
Efforts to connect Trump to embattled Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson were also part of their strategy. However, Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, made numerous appearances in the state throughout the fall, promoting a protectionist economic stance and pledging to address illegal immigration and secure the southern border.
The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 11:18pm EST.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 10:23 AM
Watchdog reports "smooth" voting day, warns of delays in close races
Common Cause, a nonpartisan watchdog overseeing elections across the US, said that Tuesday’s voting process ran "relatively smoothly", though they cautioned that the results in many close races might take days to finalise.
“We need to prepare the public of this and that it is not abnormal – this only became abnormal when people made claims that everything should be available on election nights,” said Virginia Solomón, the president and CEO of Common Cause.
The group provided an update on the election process in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia, as well as the large states of Texas and California.According to Common Cause, voters faced several issues:
- Long lines, with wait times of 90 minutes to several hours, especially in districts with large student populations and on university campuses.
- Problems with printed ballots and scanners, leading some counties to extend polling hours.
- Voter intimidation tactics in California and Texas, such as improper ID requests, disruptions in voter lines, and unlawful electioneering in Michigan.
Source: CNN
06 Nov 2024, 10:21 AM
Trump set to carry Idaho
Former president Donald Trump is on course to win Idaho for the third consecutive election on Tuesday, adding four electoral votes to his tally.
Idaho is deeply red, and the Republican presidential nominee has carried the state with more than 60 percent of the vote for the last several elections. The last time a Democratic presidential nominee won Idaho was 60 years ago, when Lyndon Johnson beat Republican Barry Goldwater by a narrow margin of just over 5,300 votes.
The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 11:00pm EST.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 10:20 AM
Harris wins Washington: AP
Vice President Kamala Harris won Washington’s 12 electoral votes on Tuesday, besting former President Donald Trump in a state where he is not popular. Washington has not gone for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984. President Joe Biden carried Washington in 2020 with 58% of the vote to Trump’s less than 39%. The Associated Press declared Harris the winner at 11:00pm EST.
Vice President Kamala Harris claimed Washington’s 12 electoral votes on Tuesday, defeating former president Donald Trump in a state where he remains unpopular, according to the Associated Press.
Washington hasn’t backed a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan’s 1984 victory. In 2020, President Joe Biden won the state with 58 percent of the vote compared to Trump’s 39 percent.
The Associated Press announced Harris’s win at 11:00pm EST.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 10:12 AM
Pennsylvania 'slightly favours' Trump
Pennsylvania, a key state that could secure Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s path to victory, is leaning slightly in his favour.
According to The Washington Post, which has started tracking Pennsylvania’s results, Trump holds a narrow lead with 51 percent of the vote compared to Harris’s 48 percent, with over half the ballots counted. Projections suggest he may finish with around 52 percent.
As the largest swing state, Pennsylvania is vital to both candidates’ paths to the presidency. If Trump also wins Georgia and North Carolina, he would only need Pennsylvania and Maine’s 2nd Congressional District—where he has previously won twice—to clinch the victory.
Trump is performing better than he did in 2020 across most areas with significant reporting. However, returns from the Philadelphia suburbs, which lean heavily Democratic and are critical for Harris, are still limited.
Source: The Washington Post
06 Nov 2024, 10:07 AM
Harris wins California, the biggest electoral vote prize
06 Nov 2024, 09:59 AM
Group run by Musk’s super PAC collects voter fraud claims on X
A group on X, dedicated to sharing claims of voter fraud, saw a surge in activity on Tuesday as users circulated unfounded claims about malfunctioning voting machines, pre-marked ballots, and threats at polling locations.
The group, announced by Elon Musk just six days ago, has quickly grown to over 64,000 members. It is managed by Musk’s super PAC, which has openly pledged support for former president Donald Trump.
Dozens of posts appeared each minute, with members sharing videos and screenshots they claimed were evidence of fraud. Many users echoed Trump’s statement on Truth Social, alleging “massive CHEATING” in Philadelphia -- though he provided no specific examples. The city’s district attorney swiftly refuted the claim.
The X group is part of a broader wave of platforms urging voters to report perceived irregularities. The Republican National Committee, for example, launched a portal called Protect the Vote, inviting users to submit reports of “voter suppression, irregularities, and fraud”.
Source: The New York Times
06 Nov 2024, 09:55 AM
AP projects Trump wins in Iowa, Kansas
Donald Trump is set to carry both Iowa and Kansas on Tuesday, capturing a total of 12 electoral votes.
In Iowa, a former swing state, Trump’s continued appeal among Republican voters shone through. After a majority of Iowans voted for Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, Trump decisively carried the state in 2016 and 2020 and has now claimed it for a third time, solidifying his influence in the GOP.
The Associated Press declared him the winner in Iowa at 10:40pm EST.
In Kansas, a traditionally Republican state since 1964, Trump’s strong support in rural areas kept him on top, even as Kansas City-area suburbs have shifted toward the Democrats in recent years.
The Associated Press announced his Kansas win at 10:39pm EST, marking Trump’s third consecutive victory in the state.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 09:51 AM
Race closer than expected in Virginia
Virginia was not initially expected to be highly competitive this election day, nor is it one of the key swing states. Still, the race is turning out to be closer than anticipated.
According to The Washington Post's election forecast, Harris is favoured to win Virginia by a slim margin, but Trump remains in contention. With roughly 64 percent of the votes tallied, Trump currently leads Harris by 50 percent to 49 percent. However, remaining uncounted ballots, particularly from Democratic-leaning areas, may allow Harris to narrowly edge out a victory.
Historically, Virginia has leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections, with Hillary Clinton winning by five points in 2016 and Joe Biden by ten points in 2020. The last Republican to carry Virginia was George W Bush in 2004.
Source: The Washington Post
06 Nov 2024, 09:47 AM
Arizona passes measure enshrining abortion rights
An Arizona ballot measure passed enshrining abortion rights in the state's constitution, Edison Research projected. It overturns a 15-week abortion ban in the state.
A Florida ballot measure on abortion failed to pass, keeping a six-week ban in place, Edison Research projected earlier.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 09:40 AM
AP calls District of Columbia for Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris has won the District of Columbia, securing its three electoral votes.Harris' victory in DC is unsurprising, as the capital has long been a Democratic stronghold and frequently clashed with Republican Donald Trump during his presidency.
Trump has often painted modern Washington as a hub of crime and chaos, with some Republican allies in Congress pushing to further limit the District’s autonomy. The Associated Press called the race for Harris at 10:20pm EST.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 09:16 AM
US stock futures, dollar climb amid tight race
US stock futures and the dollar climbed in Asia on Wednesday as early results from the US presidential election suggested the race remained too close to call, leaving investors jumping at shadows.
Treasury yields climbed as some betting sites swung to favour Trump, while futures markets were still confident the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday.
Analysts generally assume Trump's plans for restricted immigration, tax cuts and sweeping tariffs if enacted would put more upward pressure on inflation and bond yields, than Harris' centre-left policies.
Trump's proposals would also tend to push up the dollar while potentially restricting how far the Fed might ultimately be able to cut rates.
"As the early results come in, even though none of them are that surprising, we are seeing Treasury yields rising a little bit, the dollar strengthening, bitcoin up; kind of a classic Trump trade," said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management.
The Mexican peso slid against the US dollar on as results started to roll in. The peso was trading as high as 20.3920 per greenback, nearly 1.5% weaker than its closing price on Tuesday and its weakest since September 2022.
China's yuan weakened in early Asian trades on Wednesday and Hong Kong stocks fell, while Indian government bond yields are expected to trend higher in opening deals.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 09:05 AM
Harris wins New York with its 28 electoral votes
New York has supported Democratic presidential candidates for the past nine elections. Despite being the state where Donald Trump was born and built his business empire, New York voted for Joe Biden in 2020 by a 23-point margin.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 09:03 AM
Sarah McBride wins as first openly transgender person to Congress
Democrat Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to the US House of Representatives, Edison Research projected on Tuesday, winning election to Delaware's at-large seat.
McBride, a 34-year-old state senator, won a competitive primary for Delaware's at-large congressional district, considered safely Democratic, in September.
She became the first openly transgender person to serve as a state senator when she was elected in 2020, first to speak at a US national political party convention in 2016, and first to intern at the White House in 2012, under Democratic former President Barack Obama.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 08:32 AM
Morning Update
Good morning, everyone! Here is an update on how things stand at 8:30am Bangladesh time in the 2024 US presidential election.
Republican Donald Trump won 14 states in Tuesday's US presidential election while Democrat Kamala Harris captured four states and Washington, DC, Edison Research projected, but the contest remained undecided with critical battleground states unlikely to be called for hours or even days.
The early results were as anticipated, with the contest expected to come down to seven swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Opinion polls showed the rivals neck and neck in all seven going into Election Day.
As of 9pm ET (0200 GMT on Wednesday), polls had closed in 41 states and Washington, DC Trump had 154 electoral votes to Harris' 30 electoral votes, but both still had multiple paths to victory. A candidate needs a total of 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency.
In Georgia, Trump had opened up a 52.7% to 46.6% lead with 69% percent of the estimated vote tallied, according to Edison.
Control of both chambers of Congress is also up for grabs. Democrats had only a narrow path to defend their Senate majority after Republican Jim Justice flipped a West Virginia seat on Tuesday. The House of Representatives looked like a toss-up.
In Florida, a ballot measure that would have guaranteed abortion rights failed to reach the 60% threshold needed to pass, according to Edison, leaving a six-week ban in place. Nine other states have abortion-related measures on the ballot.
Nearly three-quarters of voters say American democracy is under threat, according to national exit polls from Edison, underscoring the depth of polarisation in a nation where divisions have only grown starker during a fiercely competitive race.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 08:28 AM
Florida measure to enshrine abortion rights fails to pass
A Florida ballot measure on abortion has failed to pass, keeping a six-week ban in place, Edison Research projected. The measure, which would have barred the state from restricting abortion before about 24 weeks of pregnancy, needed to garner 60% of the vote to pass.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 08:13 AM
Trump takes Texas, Wyoming
Edison Research has projected wins for former President Donald Trump in Texas, with its 40 electoral votes, and Wyoming, with its 3 electoral votes.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 08:08 AM
Trump projected to win in Dakotas, Louisiana
Republican nominee Donald Trump has picked up the states of North Dakota (3 electoral votes), South Dakota (3 electoral votes) and Louisiana (8 electoral votes), according to the Associated Press.
The wins are expected as no Democrat has won the Dakotas since President Lyndon B Johnson in 1964.
His win in Louisiana is his third consecutive one in the state. The GOP currently holds each statewide elected office and controls every legislature.
The Republican nominee for president has won the state in every election since 1996.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 07:57 AM
More wins projected for Harris
US-based site Decision Desk HQ has called the states of Virginia, with its 13 electoral votes, and the state of New Hampshire, with its 4 electoral votes, for Kamala Harris. AP has also projected her as the winner in Illinois, with its 19 electoral votes.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 07:50 AM
Republicans pick up one seat in battle for US Senate
Republicans took a step toward winning control of the US Senate with a victory in West Virginia on Tuesday, while neither party appeared to have an edge in the battle for the House of Representatives.With both chambers of Congress at stake, the results will determine how successfully the next president - Republican Donald Trumpor Democrat Kamala Harris - will be able to govern over the next two years.
Republican Jim Justice was projected to win an open seat in West Virginia shortly after polls closed, which would put the party at 50-50 parity with Democrats in the 100-seat chamber. The seat was previously held by Joe Manchin, a Democrat-turned-independent.
The balance of power could shift over the night as results from other races come in.
Nonpartisan analysts say Republicans stand a good chance of taking back the Senate, where Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority. But Republicans could also lose their grip on the House, where Democrats only need to pick up four seats to take back control of the 435-seat chamber.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 07:01 AM
Democrat Stein wins North Carolina governor's race
Democrat Josh Stein won the North Carolina governor's race on Tuesday, Fox News projected, defeating Republican Mark Robinson, whose candidacy imploded following a CNN report that he had called himself a "Black Nazi" and made other offensive remarks on a pornographic website.
Stein, the state's attorney general, will be the first Jewish governor of North Carolina. He has said he will prioritise helping the western part of the state recover after Hurricane Helene devastated the region in September, and has proposed investing more in public education.
Like his Democratic predecessor, Roy Cooper, who was term-limited, Stein is likely to face a Republican-controlled legislature, limiting his ability to push through policies.
North Carolina is also one of seven battleground states in the closely fought presidential race between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris. Some Republicans had expressed concern that Robinson's candidacy could damage Trump's chances of carrying the state.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 06:47 AM
Trump claims fraud in Philadelphia, Detroit without evidence
Trump wins Indiana and Kentucky, Harris takes Vermont as first polls close in US presidential race
Republican Donald Trump won Indiana and Kentucky in Tuesday's presidential election while Democrat Kamala Harris captured Vermont, Edison Research projected, as polls closed in the first six US states including the critical state of Georgia.
Georgia is among seven battleground states likely to decide the winner of the contest, with opinion polls showing the rivals neck and neck in all seven - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - going into Election Day.
Nearly three-quarters of voters say American democracy is under threat, according to preliminary national exit polls from Edison, reflecting the nation's deep anxiety after a contentious campaign.
Democracy and the economy ranked by far as the most important issues for voters, with around a third of respondents citing each, followed by abortion and immigration. The poll showed 73% of voters believed democracy was in jeopardy against 25% who said it was secure.
The data underscored the depth of polarisation in a nation where divisions have only grown starker during a fiercely competitive race. Trump employed increasingly apocalyptic rhetoric while stoking unfounded fears that the election system cannot be trusted. Harris warned that a second Trump term would threaten the underpinnings of American democracy
The figures represent just a slice of the tens of millions of people who voted, both before and on Election Day, and the preliminary results are subject to change during the evening as more people are surveyed.
Hours before polls closed, Trump claimed on his Truth Social site without evidence that there was "a lot of talk about massive CHEATING" in Philadelphia, echoing his false claims in 2020 that fraud had occurred in large, Democratic-dominated cities. In a subsequent post, he also asserted there was fraud in Detroit.
"I don't respond to nonsense," Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey told Reuters.
A Philadelphia city commissioner, Seth Bluestein, replied on X, "There is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure."
Trump, whose supporters attacked the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, after he claimed the 2020 election was rigged, voted earlier near his home in Palm Beach, Florida.
"If I lose an election, if it's a fair election, I'm gonna be the first one to acknowledge it," Trump told reporters.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 03:11 AM
Harris arrives at DNC premises
Vice President Kamala Harris has arrived at the premises of the Democratic National Committee, or DNC, in Washington, DC, making her first public appearance on Election Day.
She emphasised the importance of people’s participation while on call with some of the voters and also thanked everyone who was phone banking for her campaign.
Source: The Guardian, CNN
06 Nov 2024, 02:44 AM
Gas leak causes polling centre to close in Michigan
Voters have been sent to polling stations in Detroit after officials shut down a polling centre due to a natural gas leak in Northville, Michigan.
Consumers Energy was probing the leak.
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 02:11 AM
FBI says fake bomb threats made to US polling stations linked to Russia
Phony bomb threats that appeared to originate in many cases from Russian email domains targeted polling locations across several US states on Tuesday, the FBI said.
"None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," the FBI said in a statement, adding that election integrity was among the bureau's highest priorities.
At least two polling sites targeted by the hoax bomb threats in the election battleground state of Georgia were briefly evacuated on Tuesday.
Those two locations in Fulton County both re-opened after about 30 minutes, officials said, and the county is seeking a court order to extend the location's voting hours past the statewide 7pm deadline.
Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger blamed Russian interference for the Election Day bomb hoaxes.
"They're up to mischief, it seems. They don't want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election, and if they can get us to fight among ourselves, they can count that as a victory," Raffensperger told reporters.
The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The FBI did not elaborate on which states received the threats, though one official told Reuters that Georgia alone received more than two dozen, most of which occurred in Fulton County.
The phony bomb threats mark the latest in a string of examples of alleged interference by the Russians in the 2024 election.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 12:33 AM
How election day has gone so far
Polls are now open nationwide as Americans vote for either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in a race that has been widely billed as a dead heat.
Ahead of election day, over 80 million Americans had already cast their votes, with nearly 5 million voting early in person and around 38 million submitting their ballots by mail.
In Dixville Notch, New Hampshire -- a town known for traditionally kicking off election day -- both Trump and Harris received three votes each.
Trump and his wife, Melania, voted in Florida, where he expressed confidence about winning the vote. When asked to address potential violence among his supporters, Trump responded, “I don’t have to tell them that there will be no violence,” adding that his supporters “are not violent people”.
Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, cast his ballot in Cincinnati, Ohio, telling reporters that the the best way to "heal the rift in the country is to try to govern as well as we can”.
Harris, who voted by mail ahead of election day, said that her top priority if elected would be “bringing down the cost of living for folks”.
Meanwhile, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger reported that "non-credible" bomb threats from Russia briefly closed two polling sites in Fulton County.
The FBI also cautioned Americans about two fake videos falsely bearing the agency’s name and logo, which are being used to spread misinformation about the election.
A bipartisan coalition of 51 attorneys general from across the US issued a joint statement encouraging calm and condemning any potential violence related to election results.
Source: The Guardian
06 Nov 2024, 12:31 AM
Wall Street rallies on election day
Wall Street's main indexes rose on Tuesday in a broad rally, but investors still braced for volatile trading over the next few sessions as voting began in a tightly contested US presidential election.
The final outcome could take days as opinion polls in the campaign's final days showed the contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris was too close to call.
The former president's odds improved in betting markets, which many investors have been following for any indication on the election outcome.
On the voting day, volatility was more noticeable in bonds and currency markets. Equity markets were largely calm against the backdrop of an optimistic long-term outlook underpinned by corporate earnings and economic data.
The VIX, an index of Wall Street volatility, eased to 20.24, well below levels seen during the 2020 election and the two-month high it hit last week.
All 11 sectors in the S&P 500 gained, with Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology adding more than 1.3 percent.
Source: Reuters
06 Nov 2024, 12:27 AM
Trump says he won’t challenge election result -- as long as it’s fair
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has suggested that he won't challenge the results of the election as long as there aren't any indications of foul play.
“If it’s a fair election, I’d be the first one to acknowledge the results," Trump said, without specifying his criteria for fairness.
Trump added that he had no plans to tell his supporters to refrain from violence should he lose as they are "not violent people".
Source: AP
06 Nov 2024, 12:20 AM
Harris to host election night watch party at alma mater
Vice President Kamala Harris will hold her election night watch party at Howard University in Washington, DC -- a historically Black university she credits as the springboard for her political journey.
Discussing her choice on Atlanta's V-103 Big Tigger Morning Show, Harris said, “The first office I ever ran for was freshman class representative at Howard University. And to go back tonight to Howard University, my beloved alma mater and be able to hopefully, you know, recognise this day for what it is, is really full circle for me.”
Howard University students have shown strong enthusiasm for this election, energised by having an alumna on the ballot and by Harris's multiple visits to campus throughout her campaign.
Source: CNN
06 Nov 2024, 12:00 AM
Voting hours extended in Pennsylvania county after software glitch
A Pennsylvania state judge ordered polls in Cambria County to stay open for an additional two hours on Tuesday after a software glitch impacted ballot-scanning machines.
County officials reported that the malfunction led to voter confusion, with some voters leaving without casting their ballots and others experiencing long lines. Both county and state officials emphasised that no voters were being turned away and assured that all ballots would be counted.
Source: AP
05 Nov 2024, 11:59 PM
Man held in New York after threatening to burn down polling site
Authorities have detained a man went to vote in the town of Fowler in upstate New York on Tuesday morning after he threatened to burn down a polling station.
The man, previously convicted of a felony, was informed he couldn’t vote due to failing to re-register after his release from prison, the New York State Police said.
According to police, the man reacted angrily, making threats to return with a gun or to set the location on fire.
He fled the scene but was later apprehended by state police and taken in for questioning. Charges against him are currently pending.
Source: AP
05 Nov 2024, 11:58 PM
Biden lays low at White House on election day
US President Joe Biden will be watching the election results from the White House residence alongside first lady Jill Biden and his aides.
Biden does not have any public appearances scheduled for Tuesday and his Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre won’t be holding her typical daily briefing either.
Biden made his final campaign appearance on Saturday, addressing a crowd of labourers in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in support of the Harris-Walz campaign.
Since last Tuesday, when he briefly spoke with reporters at an event in Baltimore, Biden hasn’t fielded any questions from the press. That evening, he stirred controversy in remarks to Latino activists, responding to offensive comments made at a Trump rally by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who disparaged Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”
Source: AP
05 Nov 2024, 11:56 PM
Trump 'very confident' after casting ballot in Florida
Donald Trump has cast his vote in Palm Beach, Florida alongside his wife, Melania.
Trump told reporters he was 'very confident' about his chances of winning the vote and praised the turnout.
"We want to bring everybody in, we want to be very inclusive. We have a great country but we have a country that's in trouble ... we have to straighten it up," he said.
"I feel very confident. It looks like Republicans have shown up in force, so we'll see how it turns out."
Source: Reuters
05 Nov 2024, 10:54 PM
Foreign election interference issues quiet so far
The US Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA) is not currently monitoring any major incidents affecting the security of the country's election infrastructure on election day, according to an official.
"While we are tracking extreme weather and other temporary disruptions in certain areas, these are generally routine events that we have anticipated and planned for," Cait Conley, senior adviser to the director of CISA, said during a briefing on Tuesday.
Conley added that CISA, along with the FBI and intelligence agencies, had expected attempts by foreign actors to influence the election both later today and in the weeks to come.
Source: AP
05 Nov 2024, 10:53 PM
False bomb threats halts voting at two Georgia polling locations
Two polling locations in Fulton County, Georgia, were briefly evacuated Tuesday morning after they received false bomb threats, county election officials said.
The threats, which were deemed to be non-credible, targeted five polls in total, Fulton County Director of Registration and Elections Nadine Williams told the media.
Of the threats, two places were evacuated for about 30 minutes, but were up and running again by 10am.
The county is seeking a court order to extend the two polling locations’ hours for 30 minutes past the statewide 7pm deadline to compensate for the disruption, officials said.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told the media that the threats in Fulton County, which includes Atlanta, originated in Russia but did not elaborate.
“They’re up to mischief, it seems,” he said according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “They don’t want us to have smooth, fair and accurate elections.”
Source: Reuters
05 Nov 2024, 10:50 PM
Harris unmoved by insults
Vice President Kamala Harris responded to criticism from her opponents, saying she was undeterred by their insults that are “meant to distract” her.
During a radio interview in Atlanta on Tuesday, she added: “I’m not going to get distracted by that noise.”
Harris made Election Day radio appearances in key battleground states, aiming to deliver a final message to voters in places like Georgia and Pennsylvania.
On Atlanta’s 'Big Tigger Morning Show' on V-103, host Big Tigger asked Harris about the “disrespect and vitriol thrown at you by your opponents”.
Former president Donald Trump frequently labels Harris with derogatory terms such as “low-IQ”, “incompetent” and “stupid”. On Monday, his running mate, JD Vance, referred to her as “trash”.
Harris said she was clear about her focus and purpose.
“For me, it’s about uplifting people and giving them access to opportunity,”
Source: Washington Post
05 Nov 2024, 10:49 PM
Musk pushes ‘ballot curing’ in Pennsylvania
In the final days of the presidential race, Elon Musk's super PAC, America PAC, is heavily investing in a 'ballot curing' strategy to secure additional votes in what appears to be an extremely close election.
According to two sources with direct knowledge, America PAC has deployed a last-minute field team to Pennsylvania, with one source describing it as an 'emergency' squad. America PAC’s spokesperson declined to comment on the move.
Much of the voter turnout efforts for former president Donald Trump have been outsourced to America PAC, with canvassers from Musk’s organisation reportedly knocking on nearly 10 million doors nationwide.
In Pennsylvania, voters who make mistakes on their mail-in ballots — such as forgetting a signature or entering an incorrect date on the outer envelope — can 'cure' these errors by casting a provisional ballot in person on election day. Unlike some other states that allow extended time to fix ballot errors, Pennsylvania’s deadline for curing is strictly set for 8pm on election day.
Source: The New York Times
05 Nov 2024, 10:45 PM
Why Trump can vote despite his felony convictions
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will face no obstacles voting for himself in Florida on election day, despite the state's typically strict laws for felons.
Earlier this year, Trump became the first former president to be convicted as a felon when a New York State Court found him guilty of falsifying records. In Florida, felons are generally barred from voting until they have completed their sentences or had their rights restored by the State Clemency Board.
However, these restrictions don’t apply to Trump thanks to a Florida law that allows residents convicted out of state to follow the voting rules of the state where their conviction occurred. Under a 2021 New York law, felons can vote as long as they are not currently incarcerated.
Though Trump’s conviction came in May, his sentencing has been delayed until after the election. The judge, citing the case’s “unique time frame”, postponed sentencing to Nov 26, when Trump could face either probation or a prison sentence of up to four years.
Initially, Trump indicated plans to vote early but later chose to cast his ballot in person on election day.
Source: The New York Times
05 Nov 2024, 10:27 PM
Election day off to a smooth start in battleground Michigan
Election day in the key battleground state of Michigan is running smoothly, according to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's office.
Officials have indicated no major voting issues, long lines, or weather-related disruptions affecting polling stations.
So far, 8,000 absentee ballots have been returned on Tuesday, and over 820 new voters have registered through Michigan's same-day registration option.
As of now, more than 3.3 million Michigan voters -- representing a turnout rate of 45.8 percent among active registered voters -- have already cast their ballots through early in-person voting and absentee ballots, according to the secretary of state’s office.
Source: CNN
05 Nov 2024, 10:19 PM
FBI debunks 'bogus' videos claiming terror threat at polling stations
The FBI has rubbished videos purportedly released by the bureau urging people to “vote remotely” due to high terrorism threats at polling stations.
In a statement, the bureau clarified that although FBI insignia is seen in the videos, they were not produced by the agency and their contents are bogus.
“This video is not authentic and does not accurately represent the current threat posture or polling location safety,” the statement said.
Source: Washington Post
05 Nov 2024, 10:10 PM
Vance casts his ballot in Ohio
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance cast his vote in person at his local polling station in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The senator seemed upbeat as he arrived at St Anthony of Padua Church alongside his wife, Usha, and their children, according to CNN.
“We do expect to win,” Vance told reporters outside the polling station. “But obviously no matter who wins, half the country is gonna be at least partially disappointed, I think my attitude is the best way to heal the rift in the country is to try to govern the country as well as we can.”
Source: CNN
05 Nov 2024, 09:57 PM
Voting underway in most of US
Voting is underway across most states in the US.
As of 9am ET, polling stations are now open in Arizona, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Nebraska, Arkansas, New Mexico, Utah, Mississippi, and parts of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
These states join others where polls opened earlier this morning, including Alabama, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wyoming.
Polling places in California and Idaho were scheduled to open an hour later, followed by Washington and Alaska at 11am ET, and Hawaii at noon ET.
Source: The Guardian
05 Nov 2024, 06:12 PM
Ten counties to watch
Seven battleground states -- Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- are expected to play a decisive role in Tuesday's US presidential election between Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump.
Here are ten counties to watch in those states. Early results based on partial returns may not be predictive of the final vote tallies in the counties.
MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA
Home to Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, is key to winning the southwestern state as it makes up about 60% of the statewide vote. In the 2020 election, President Biden won this county by 2.2 percentage points while former President Donald Trump won the county by almost 3 percentage points in 2016.
COBB COUNTY, GEORGIA
Large and racially diverse Cobb County in Atlanta's northern suburbs is a spot Democrats could pick up the large number of votes needed to win the state, as Democratic President Joe Biden did in 2020 when he won the county by about 14 percentage points. In 2016, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton carried Cobb county by just 2 percentage points and lost the state to Trump.
BALDWIN COUNTY, GEORGIA
In central Georgia, Baldwin County is much smaller than Cobb but an indicator of Black voter turnout, as about 40% of voters in this county are Black. This is one place in Georgia where Biden's 2020 margin was narrower than Clinton's in 2016.
WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Home to Detroit's 1.7 million residents, Wayne County, Michigan, is about 40% Black. Biden in 2020 won this county with more than 68% of the vote, helping him clinch the state.
WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA
In the northwest corner of Nevada around Reno, Washoe County is less racially diverse than the Las Vegas area, but has been trending more Democratic in recent elections. Biden won this county by more than 4 percentage points in 2020 over Trump.
WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
The city of Raleigh in Wake County, North Carolina, has boosted statewide turnout for Democrats in recent elections, as was the case when Biden in 2020 won 65% of the vote in the area. That was not enough to keep Trump from carrying the state in 2020.
ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Erie County in northwest Pennsylvania has voted for the winning presidential candidate in the last four elections, including Biden in 2020 when he won the county by 1 percentage point. In 2016, Trump won this county by 2 percentage points.
BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
North of Philadelphia, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is another highly competitive county due to its large population of working class voters -- a demographic group where Trump has made major inroads in his eight years on the national political stage. Trump is looking to win back the state -- as he did in 2016 -- but Biden won this county in 2020 by 4 percentage points, which helped him clinch the state.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The suburbs of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital, have supported Trump in the last two elections. But Democrats could cut those gains in Cumberland County by attracting the area's growing population of white collar workers. In 2020, Trump won this county by 11 percentage points.
WAUKESHA COUNTY, WISCONSIN
The populous western suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have been another stronghold for Trump in his past two campaigns and the Republican won Waukesha County by more than 20 percentage points each time. Voters here will need to vote for Trump again at similar levels in order for Republicans to win back the state that Biden carried in 2020.
Source: Reuters
05 Nov 2024, 05:25 PM
Trump vs Harris: US voters head to polls as turbulent campaign concludes
The dizzying presidential contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris hurtled toward an uncertain finish on Tuesday as millions of Americans headed to the polls to choose between two sharply different visions for the country.
A race whipsawed by unprecedented events - two assassination attempts against Trump, President Joe Biden's surprise withdrawal and Harris' rapid rise - remained too close to call, even after billions of dollars in spending and months of frenetic campaigning.
Trump's campaign has suggested he may declare victory on election night even while millions of ballots have yet to be counted, just as he did four years ago. The former president has repeatedly said any defeat could only stem from widespread fraud, echoing his false claims from 2020. The winner may not be known for days if the margins in key states are as slim as expected.
No matter who wins the White House, history will be made.
Harris, 60, the first female vice president, would become the first woman, Black woman and South Asian American to win the presidency. Trump, 78, the only president to be impeached twice and the first former president to be criminally convicted, would also become the first president to win non-consecutive terms in more than a century.
Opinion polls in the campaign's final days have shown the candidates running neck and neck in each of the seven states likely to determine the winner: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Reuters/Ipsos polling shows a significant gender gap, with Harris leading among women by 12 percentage points and Trump winning among men by 7 percentage points.
The contest reflects a deeply polarized nation whose divisions have only grown starker during a fiercely competitive race. Trump has employed increasingly dark and apocalyptic rhetoric on the campaign trail, while Harris has warned that a second Trump term would threaten the very underpinnings of American democracy.
Control of both chambers of Congress is also up for grabs. Republicans have an easier path in the US Senate, where Democrats are defending several seats in Republican-leaning states, while the House of Representatives looks like a toss-up.
The candidates spent the final weekend barnstorming the swing states in search of every available vote. Trump staged his final rally on Monday evening in Grand Rapids, Michigan, while Harris held twin rallies in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
More than 80 million Americans had already voted before Tuesday, either via mail or in person, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.
05 Nov 2024, 05:08 PM
New president to inherit mixed legacy
Americans head to the polls on Tuesday in a mood of discontent and division, with opinion polls showing nearly two-thirds of voters believe the country has been heading in the wrong direction under President Joe Biden.
While the United States economy is the envy of the industrialized world, emerging from COVID shutdowns with strong job growth and wage increases, many Americans complain those gains were gobbled up by high grocery and housing prices.
Biden's promise of a return to a more humane immigration regime than under Republican former President Donald Trump soon collided with the reality of a spike in illegal border crossings.
The Supreme Court upended the legal landscape around abortion rights by overturning Roe v Wade, inflaming one of the most divisive issues in American politics.
And despite Biden's pledge that America would serve as a stabilizing force in the world, overseas conflicts have overshadowed his presidency.
Whoever triumphs in the election - Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris - will inherit the legacy of a Biden administration that made good on some promises, saw others swept off-course by events, and others still only partially fulfilled.
Source: Reuters
05 Nov 2024, 05:04 PM
How the Electoral College works
When Americans vote today, they aren't directly choosing the president and vice president. Instead, they're voting for slates of 'electors' who will ultimately cast the official ballots for these offices on Dec 17. Collectively, these electors from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia make up the 'Electoral College'.
The candidate who wins the most votes nationwide doesn't necessarily win the presidency. To secure the White House, a candidate must obtain a majority in the Electoral College.
Here’s an overview of how the Electoral College operates:
- The Electoral College consists of 538 electors representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Each state has between three and 54 electoral votes, based on its total number of US senators and representatives (Washington, DC, has three electoral votes, the same as it would if it were a state and the minimum for any state).
- A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
- In 48 states and DC, all electoral votes go to the candidate who wins the most votes in that state, a process known as “winner-take-all.” Maine and Nebraska are exceptions; they split their electoral votes.
- Following the general election, electors meet in their respective states on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December -- this year on Dec 17 -- to cast separate votes for president and vice president. These meetings usually occur at the state capitol.
- Finally, the Electoral College results are officially counted and certified by a joint session of Congress on Jan 6
Source: CNN
05 Nov 2024, 04:53 PM
Control of US Congress at stake
Control of the US Congress is at stake on Tuesday in elections that could flip both the House of Representatives and the Senate, while still leaving Capitol Hill divided between Donald Trump's Republicans and Kamala Harris' Democrats.
The outcome will play an important role in determining how easily the winner of Tuesday's US presidential election will govern until the next congressional elections in 2026.
Nonpartisan analysts say Republicans stand a good chance of taking back the Senate, where Democrats hold a 51-49 majority. But Republicans could also lose their grip on the House, where Democrats only need to pick up four seats to take back control of the 435-seat chamber.
As in the presidential election, the outcome will likely be determined by a small slice of voters. The battle for the Senate hinges on seven contests, while fewer than 40 House races are seen as truly competitive.
"It's incredibly close," said Erin Covey, who analyses House races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Voters do not seem to be indicating a clear preference for either party. An October Reuters/Ipsos poll found 43% of registered voters would back the Republican candidate in their district, while 43% would back the Democratic candidate.
Democrats are playing defence as they try to retain their hold on the Senate, whose members serve six-year terms. Republicans only need to gain two seats to win control of the chamber, and they are expected to easily pick up one of those seats with a victory in West Virginia, where Joe Manchin, a Democrat-turned-independent, is retiring. The state's popular governor, Jim Justice, is forecast to easily capture Manchin's seat.
Republicans could secure their majority with a victory in Montana, where Democrat Jon Tester faces a difficult re-election battle, or Ohio, where Democrat Sherrod Brown likewise is locked in a close race.
Republicans stand a chance to widen their Senate majority further if they win races in several competitive Midwestern states. That would allow them to block many of Harris' initiatives and personnel appointments if she were to win the White House, or help Trump deliver on his promised tax cuts if he wins. But they are unlikely to end up with the 60-vote majority needed to advance most legislation in the chamber.
In Nebraska, Republican Senator Deb Fischer faces a surprisingly strong challenge from an independent candidate, Dan Osborn, who has not said whether he would line up with Democrats in the Senate if he were to win.
Source: Reuters
05 Nov 2024, 03:39 PM
Decision day is here
The presidential contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris hurtled toward an uncertain finish on Tuesday as millions of Americans headed to the polls to choose between two sharply different visions for the country.
A race whipsawed by unprecedented events - two assassination attempts against Trump, President Joe Biden's surprise withdrawal and Harris' rapid rise - remained too close to call, even after billions of dollars in spending and months of frenetic campaigning.
Trump's campaign has suggested he may declare victory on election night even while millions of ballots have yet to be counted.
The former president has repeatedly said any defeat could only stem from widespread fraud, echoing his false claims from 2020. The winner may not be known for days if the margins in key states are as slim as expected.
No matter who wins the White House, history will be made.
Harris, 60, the first female vice president, would become the first woman, Black woman and South Asian American to win the presidency.
Trump, 78, the only president to be impeached twice and the first former president to be criminally convicted, would also become the first president to win non-consecutive terms in more than a century.
Opinion polls in the campaign's final days have shown the candidates running neck and neck in each of the seven states likely to determine the winner.
Control of both chambers of Congress is also up for grabs. Republicans have an easier path in the US Senate, where Democrats are defending several seats in Republican-leaning states, while the House of Representatives looks like a toss-up.
Stay with us for live updates throughout Election Day.
SOURCE: REUTERS
05 Nov 2024, 03:39 PM
Podcaster Joe Rogan endorses Trump
Influential podcast host Joe Rogan has backed Republican candidate Donald Trump for president, citing Elon Musk as a key influence on his decision.
In a post on X, Rogan credited Musk for presenting "the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear" and voiced his agreement with the billionaire.
“For the record, yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump.”
Source: The Guardian
05 Nov 2024, 03:22 PM
Latest polling data from all seven swing states
For the past few weeks, leads in each battleground state have been so narrow that it’s difficult to determine who is truly ahead -- especially with a margin of error of about three to four percentage points.
The latest polling data indicated slight leads for Trump in Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona, while Harris held small leads in Wisconsin and Michigan. The two appeared to be neck and neck in Pennsylvania.
Source: BBC
05 Nov 2024, 03:17 PM
Texas, Missouri judges deny requests to block DOJ poll monitors
US judges have denied requests from the Republican-led states of Missouri and Texas to block the federal government from sending lawyers to their states on Election Day to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws.
Both states are among the 27 that the US Justice Department (DOJ) said it would send staff out to monitor at voting locations, as it has done regularly during national elections.
Federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ordered the DOJ early on Tuesday to confirm that "no observers" would be present in polling locations in Texas but denied issuing the restraining order the state had requested.
District Judge Sarah Pitlyk in Missouri also denied that state's request for a temporary restraining order, saying late on Monday, "the harms that the State of Missouri anticipates are speculative."
Source: Reuters
05 Nov 2024, 03:14 PM
Oil trades in tight range ahead of US election
Oil prices traded in a narrow range on Tuesday ahead of what is expected to be an exceptionally close US presidential election, after rising more than 2% in the previous session as OPEC+ delayed plans to hike production in December.
Brent crude futures ticked down 3 cents, or 0.04%, to $75.05 a barrel by 0600 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $71.43 a barrel, down 4 cents, or 0.06%.
"We are now in the calm before the storm," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said.
Oil prices were supported by Sunday's announcement from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies, a group known as OPEC+ to push back a production hike by a month from December as weak demand and rising non-OPEC supply depress markets.
Still, risk-taking remains limited with a busy week - including the US election, the Federal Reserve's policy meeting, and China's National People's Congress (NPC) meeting - keeping many traders on the sidelines, said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG.
For now, polls suggest the US presidential race will be closely contested, and any delay in election results or even disputes could pose near-term risks for broader markets or drag on them for longer, added Yeap.
"Eyes are also on China's NPC meeting for any clarity on fiscal stimulus to uplift the country's demand outlook, but we are unlikely to see any strong commitment before the US presidential results, and that will continue to keep oil prices in a near-term waiting game," Yeap said.
SOURCE: REUTERS
05 Nov 2024, 03:13 PM
'This is the last one' - Trump at final rally before election
Trump closed out his 2024 campaign with a rally before a packed arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the third presidential election in a row that he has used the city for his last event. It was also the last campaign rally of his career, since he has said he does not plan to run for president again should he fail to attain the high office in Tuesday’s election.
“This is the last one,” Trump said.
Trump cited poll numbers that give him optimism.
“If we get out our people, it’s over, there’s nothing they can do about it,” he said.
He added: “To make you feel a little guilty, we would only have you to blame.”
SOURCE: REUTERS
05 Nov 2024, 03:09 PM
Prayers for Kamala at ancestral Indian village
Residents in US Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris' ancestral village in southern India were preparing to hold prayers on election day on Tuesday in a Hindu temple more than 8,000 miles (13,000 km) from Washington.
Harris' maternal grandfather PV Gopalan was born more than a century ago in the leafy village of Thulasendrapuram in what is now southern India's Tamil Nadu state.
"There will be a special prayer on Tuesday morning at the temple," G Manikandan, a villager who runs a small store near the temple, said. "Celebrations will follow if she wins."
At the temple, Harris' name is engraved into a stone that lists public donations, along with that of her grandfather. Outside, a large banner wishes "the daughter of the land" success in the election.
Gopalan and his family migrated a few hundred miles to the coastal city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu's capital, where he worked as a high-ranking government official until his retirement.
The village received global attention four years ago, when its residents prayed for victory for Harris' Democratic Party in 2020 before celebrating her inauguration as US Vice President by setting off firecrackers and distributing food.
Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump were scrambling to get supporters to the polls in an historically close contest, which means it could take days for the winner to emerge.
SOURCE: REUTERS
05 Nov 2024, 02:44 PM
Dixville Notch kicks off election day with midnight vote
Voting in the US presidential election kicked off in the small town of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire, where all six residents of cast their votes right at midnight as polls opened. Since 1960, Dixville Notch has maintained its tradition of midnight voting, typically making it the first location in the country to report election results.
This year, a handwritten sign displayed a split result: three votes for Vice President Kamala Harris and three for former president Donald Trump. In 2020, President Joe Biden had won the hamlet with all votes in his favour.
Source: Washington Post
05 Nov 2024, 02:41 PM
The key points
Americans are casting their ballots today to elect their next president. Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump each need a minimum of 270 electoral votes to secure a win. Key battleground states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, are expected to play crucial roles in determining the outcome.
Out of around 240 million eligible voters, approximately 160 million have registered to vote in this election. Already, over 82 million voters have cast their ballots through early voting.
In keeping with a decades-old tradition, the vote kicked off in the small New Hampshire town of Dixville Notch, where the poll opened and closed just after midnight ET, resulting in a tie, with Harris and Trump each receiving three votes.
Both candidates wrapped up their final campaign rallies in battleground states. Harris concluded her 107-day campaign with an event in Pennsylvania, while Trump addressed supporters in Michigan, marking the end of three presidential campaigns there.
According to the latest polls, Harris holds a slight edge over Trump. However, the margin between the two candidates is slim in key battleground states.
Alongside the presidential election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate are also being contested.
05 Nov 2024, 02:37 PM
Welcome to our live blog!
Hello!
My name is Shoumik. Welcome to bdnews24.com's live blog for the 2024 US presidential election.