Here are the main highlights of the US election results
- Deadlocked race: Polls continued to show a close race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
- Voting issues: Long lines in several states, software glitches in Pennsylvania, and bomb threats in Georgia (deemed not credible) delayed voting.
- Divided communities: Arab, Muslim, and progressive Americans faced a tough decision between two candidates seen as unfriendly to Palestine.
- Global Watch: The world, from Gaza to Iran, closely monitored the US election, filled with trepidation, hope, and skepticism.
In their final rallies, Harris and Trump presented very different visions for the country. Harris spoke about unity and overcoming division, while Trump warned of a dark future under Democratic leadership.
The US has 50 states, most of which usually vote for the same party. A total of 538 electoral college votes are available, with a candidate needing 270 to win. If both candidates win the states that typically support them, Harris would still need 44 electoral votes, while Trump would need 51. This makes swing states, especially in the Rust Belt like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, crucial for both candidates.
In US politics, a swing state (also called a battleground state) is a state where both major parties—Democrats and Republicans—have equal or nearly equal support. This makes these states highly competitive during elections, especially in presidential races.
As the election results start coming in, Harris will be at Howard University in Washington, while Trump will have an election watch party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida. If she wins, Harris will make history as the first woman, first Black woman, and first person of South Asian descent to become President of the United States.
