Kamala Harris seems poised to face defeat in her quest to become the first female president of the United States, with projections indicating that her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, is likely to dominate in several crucial battleground states.
Despite projections from CBS, the BBC’s U.S. partner, the vice president has not yet conceded, indicating that Trump is on the verge of a historic victory.
Harris has called off her anticipated election night appearance at Howard University in Washington, D.C., her alma mater, following Trump’s surge as initial results started to emerge.
According to projections from CBS, the Republican candidate has successfully secured crucial battleground states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.
Trump appears poised to secure victories in other key battleground states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
In a predictable turn of events, Trump has claimed decisive victories in conservative bastions ranging from Florida to Idaho. At the same time, Harris has secured wins in liberal strongholds, including New York and California, according to projections from CBS.
Surprisingly, the Democratic nominee was scheduled to speak to her supporters. Still, campaign co-chairman Cedric Richmond revealed shortly after midnight that she would be absent.
The celebratory mood that had enveloped Howard just hours before quickly dissipated as two swing states were declared in favor of Trump.
At Harris HQ, Democratic fundraiser Lindy Li conveyed to the BBC that the situation is currently “pretty grim.”
Vice-President Harris, 60, secured the Democratic Party nomination in July following President Joe Biden‘s withdrawal from the race amid mounting pressure from party members. Had she claimed victory, the former California senator would have made history as the first black woman and South Asian-American to hold the presidency.
However, CBS exit poll data indicates that the Democratic nominee, who focused extensively on advocating for abortion rights, might have fallen short in garnering support from women voters.
According to the data, approximately 54% of female voters supported her by casting their ballots. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden garnered the backing of 57% of female voters.
According to exit poll data from the Associated Press, Black and Latino voters showed a marginally lower inclination to support Harris than their backing of Biden four years prior.
Approximately 86 million voters participated in early voting amid one of the most tumultuous election campaigns in recent American history.
The Republican party seems to be experiencing a revival nationwide, securing victories in several important congressional contests in pivotal states. On Tuesday night, the U.S. House and Senate balance of power was at stake.
CBS forecasts that Republicans are poised to take control of the Senate, having secured two seats in West Virginia and Ohio from the Democrats while successfully fending off a strong challenge in Texas.
The balance of power in the House remains uncertain, with Republicans holding a slim majority but lacking a clear advantage over the opposition.
Should the party reclaim control of both chambers, it would facilitate Trump’s efforts to advance his agenda, which encompasses mass deportations of illegal migrants and extensive tax cuts.
Both parties were prepared with teams of legal experts ready to address any challenges that might arise on or after election day.
Law enforcement agencies across the country remained vigilant in anticipation of possible violence.
On Tuesday, approximately 30 hoax bomb threats were directed at election-related sites across the country, with over half occurring in Georgia, according to CBS reports.
Elon Musk, recognized as the world’s wealthiest individual, announced his intention to spend election night alongside Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, as stated on X/Twitter.
Mr. Musk, the proprietor of Tesla and X, has actively supported the Republican candidate in pivotal states nationwide.
Trump’s campaign is organizing a watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, expecting to draw thousands of supporters.
A prominent tech billionaire has positioned himself as a critical supporter of Trump, contributing over $119 million (£91.6 million) during this election cycle to America PAC, a political action committee he established to bolster the former president’s campaign.
Earlier this year, Mr. Musk publicly expressed his support for the former president, a notable shift from his 2022 statement in which he suggested it was time for Trump to “hang up his hat and sail into the sunset.”
On Tuesday, he shared a photo of himself casting his vote in Cameron County, Texas, where several of his companies are based, before his departure for Florida.
In the evening, he took to X to declare, “Game, set and match.”
Supporters congregated at Trump’s headquarters in the Palm Beach convention center late on Tuesday, exuding confidence as they awaited the campaign’s results. The atmosphere shifted dramatically as the crowd erupted into a lively dance celebration, performing to the iconic tune of the YMCA.
As the results came in, the crowd erupted in huge cheers upon the projection of Florida as a win for Trump, a victory that had long been anticipated.
Former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard entered the party, having previously participated in a more exclusive watch gathering hosted by Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
She informed the BBC that “there’s a lot of really excited people there” who were “cautiously optimistic.”
Steve Witkoff, a longtime associate of Donald Trump, was present alongside him at Mar-a-Lago. He expressed that there was a palpable sense of excitement and purpose.
The gathering featured Blake Marnell, known for his distinctive brick-patterned suit. He is a staple at Trump events as he champions the former president’s unverified commitment to constructing a wall along the southern border. He expressed a strong sense of optimism regarding his candidate’s prospects.
Sergio Ramirez, a businessman from El Salvador, asserted that Trump could only face defeat if the Democrats resorted to cheating. He expressed skepticism about Kamala Harris‘s chances, stating, “I don’t see how she can win — Kamala wasn’t a popular candidate.”
Michael wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase “Blacks for Trump 2024.” “We surpassed them in early voting, and we continue to do so now,” he asserts.
During a formalwear event at the Hilton hotel, Iowa Republican delegate Deborah Yanna expressed that the atmosphere felt akin to “Christmas morning.” “When President Trump returns to the White House, he will restore a sense of brilliance to America,” she stated.
In a notable event tonight, Steve Bannon, who previously served as chief strategist in the Trump administration, is set to host an election watch party at the Willard Hotel. This prestigious five-star establishment in Washington DC was previously utilized as the “command center” by Trump supporters aiming to contest the outcomes of the 2020 election.
Steve Bannon has recently completed a four-month sentence in federal prison for contempt of Congress, having been released just one week ago.
On election night, Kamala Harris is set to return to her roots at Howard University, the historically black institution in Washington DC, where she completed her studies.
