Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States, winning decisively over Vice President Kamala Harris. His victory in Pennsylvania at 1:20 a.m. ET brought him just short of the 270 Electoral College votes needed. Soon after, Decision Desk declared the election for Trump at 1:21 a.m. ET by including Alaska’s votes. Winning any of the remaining states, including Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, could solidify his lead into a landslide. The New York Times projects Trump will also win the popular vote.
Trump built a broad coalition across demographics, particularly with young men and Hispanic voters. His unconventional campaign began almost two years ago, following Republican losses in the 2022 midterms. During the primaries, Trump defeated prominent GOP challengers Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, who struggled to gain momentum despite extensive donor support.
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Initially, Trump faced incumbent President Joe Biden, who performed poorly in an early debate. The race then shifted as Biden’s VP, Kamala Harris, replaced him. Along the way, Trump survived an assassination attempt and a second attempt thwarted by the Secret Service in September.
Despite Democratic efforts to tie Trump to the Project 2025 agenda from the Heritage Foundation, Trump’s campaign resonated with moderates, turning the election into a referendum on the administration’s handling of the economy, inflation, and the U.S.-Mexico border. Notable surrogates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Elon Musk, bolstered Trump’s appeal, especially among independent voters.
As Trump’s transition team begins vetting candidates for his administration, figures like Musk, Gabbard, and RFK Jr. are likely contenders for cabinet roles. The Democratic Party, meanwhile, is left to reflect on how they lost two out of three elections viewed as referendums on Donald Trump.
