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November 5, 2024 – With 81% of votes counted, Donald Trump leads Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election, holding 230 electoral votes to Harris’s 205, according to the latest tally. Trump also leads in the popular vote, with 59.6 million votes (51.1%) against Harris’s 55.5 million (47.6%). Key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Michigan, remain in contention, keeping the path to 270 electoral votes open for both candidates.
Key swing states too close to call
In Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, Trump holds slim leads:
- Pennsylvania: Trump leads with 51.4% to Harris’s 47.7%, with 81% of votes counted.
- North Carolina: Trump holds 50.8% to Harris’s 48.0%, with 90% of votes counted.
- Georgia: Trump leads with 51.0% to Harris’s 48.3%, with 91% of votes tallied.
These states, where Trump’s campaign has focused heavily, are critical to his path, but remaining ballots in key districts could narrow his lead.
Tight races in Arizona and Michigan
Arizona and Michigan remain razor-thin contests. In Arizona, Trump holds a slight lead at 49.8% to Harris’s 49.4%, with 50% of votes counted. In Michigan, where only 40% of votes are reported, Trump leads with 51.5% to Harris’s 46.7%, potentially extending vote counting timelines.
Harris’s stronghold in Democratic states
Harris has secured strong leads in traditional Democratic states, including California, New York, and Illinois. In California, she leads by 26%, with 37% of votes counted. However, these solid blue states alone are insufficient to secure the presidency without additional wins in battlegrounds.
Nebraska’s split vote
In Nebraska’s second congressional district, Harris leads with 53.6% to Trump’s 45.2%, with 84% of votes counted. This single electoral vote could be crucial if the final count remains tight.
Potential delays in declaring a winner
With tight margins in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, the final results could take more time to confirm, especially if late-counted mail-in ballots shift current leads. Both campaigns remain on high alert, with Trump in Florida and Harris in Washington, D.C., as they await decisive outcomes from remaining swing states.
Both candidates retain possible paths to 270, underscoring the importance of ongoing counts in critical states for determining the final winner.
Source : AP
