Donald Trump secures U.S. presidency with 279 electoral votes
Donald Trump, 78 years old, has been elected President of the United States. The Republican exceeded the required 270 electoral votes to secure the presidency, according to Edison Research projections. His decisive victory came in Wisconsin, bringing his total to 279 electoral votes, compared to 223 for his opponent, Kamala Harris, with vote counts still ongoing in several states, as reported by Reuters.
Trump claims victory, vote counting continues
"America has given us a powerful and historic mandate," Trump declared to a crowd of supporters on Wednesday morning at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
While Edison Research has projected Trump as the winner, other news outlets have not yet confirmed his victory. However, Trump appeared poised to win after securing Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, and maintaining a lead in the remaining four states.
Harris has not yet addressed her supporters, who gathered at Howard University, her alma mater. Her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, briefly addressed the crowd after midnight, informing them that Harris would make a public statement on Wednesday.
"There are still votes to count," he said.
With a lead of 230 Electoral College votes compared to the 210 of his rival, Democrat Kamala Harris, Trump is edging closer to a surprising political comeback. However, the results remain uncertain in six other battleground states that will ultimately decide the outcome of the race.
Trump has gained additional support from Hispanic voters and those with lower incomes, groups that have been particularly affected by the rising cost of living in recent years. According to exit polls, 45% of Hispanic voters backed Trump, reflecting a 13% increase from the 2020 election. Amid growing economic concerns, approximately 31% of voters indicated that the economy is their top priority, with 79% of them choosing Trump.
Harris faces a narrow path to victory, as she needs to win all three states in the so-called "Rust Belt" – Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – where she is currently trailing.
In addition to the presidential race, the Republican Party has secured a majority in the Senate, winning key seats in West Virginia and Ohio. The battle for control of the House of Representatives remains tight, although Republicans currently hold a narrow majority.
The election has been tense, with Trump accusing fraud in major cities controlled by Democrats, such as Philadelphia and Detroit.
The final result of the election is expected to set a historic precedent, either by electing the first woman and the first person of colour and South Asian origin to the presidency, or by bringing Trump back, who would become the first president in the last century to be elected for non-consecutive terms.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
