Former President Donald Trump catapulted closer to a stunning return to the White House early Wednesday as he took North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania, three critical swing states.
The so-called “blue wall” states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan were Vice President Kamala Harris’ best path of winning the White House after Trump claimed Georgia and North Carolina. Without Pennsylvania, Harris doesn’t appear to have a path to the White House, and NBC News and Fox News called the commonwealth for Trump.
In addition to North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania Trump quickly picked up Florida, Ohio and several Southern Republican strongholds, including Texas. Harris has won a group of states in the Northeast, stretching from Vermont to Maryland, as well as New York and her home state of California.
Republicans have also picked up control of the Senate, adding to what could be a very good night for Trump.
As results come in from battlegrounds, keep up with the USA TODAY Network’s live coverage and check back here for results.
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Trump: ‘God spared my life for a reason’
Trump’s victory speech lasted about 25 minutes, praising his aides and supporters, and marveling at a wild campaign that included two assassination attempts.
“Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason,” Trump said at one point. “And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness. And now we are going to fulfill that mission together.”
Trump gave shout-outs to campaign aides and his some of his most prominent supporters, including billionaire businessman Elon Musk, Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who previously ran as an independent presidential candidate but dropped out and backed Trump.
Often echoing parts of his campaign stump speech, Trump said his campaign put together diverse coalitions with similar views on immigration and the economy, forming what he called “a common core of common sense.”
“This campaign has been so historic in so many ways,” Trump said.
– David Jackson
Harris wins Minnesota
Democrat Kamala Harris has won the state of Minnesota. She is awarded 10 electoral votes.
Tim Walz, Harris’ vice presidential running mate, serves as governor of the state. The North Star State has been a reliable Democratic stronghold. However in 2016, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton barely eked out a win in the state over Republican Donald Trump by 1.5 percentage points.
– Rebecca Morin
Trump on Vance: ‘I took a little heat at the beginning’
Donald Trump praised his vice presidential candidate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
“I took a little heat at the beginning but I knew the brain was a good one,” he joked about the senator, who stirred controversy early in the campaign by calling Democratic women “childless cat ladies.”
Political analysts raised concerns that Trump has made a mistake in picking the young up-and-coming Republican.
– Riley Beggin
Trump: ‘We made history’
Trump sounded as surprised as anybody in declaring victory, citing the many obstacles he faced during a volatile campaign.
“Look what happened – is this crazy?” Trump told a screaming crowd at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, also telling supporters that his campaign “made history.”
Echoing comments he made on the campaign trail, Trump credited his political movement for winning a second term in office. Trump also praised Vice President-elect JD Vance and members of the Trump family, including first-lady-to-be (once again) Melania Trump.
Addressing the crowd, Vance said Trump pulled off “the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.”
With some states still out, the president-elect predicted he would wind up with at least 315 electoral votes. He also noted that Republicans would win the U.S. Senate and likely the House.
Trump also pledged to “help our country heal” after a divisive election.
– David Jackson
Trump praises Senate wins, Speaker Mike Johnson
Donald Trump praised Senate Republicans for retaking the upper chamber Tuesday night, and expressed his support for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who plans to run to retain his leadership role during an internal election next week.
Johnson is expected to face leadership challenges if Republicans lose the House, and it is unclear if challengers will emerge if Republicans keep the House. But Trump has been supportive of the speaker in public.
“I think he’s done a terrific job,” Trump said of Johnson early Wednesday morning.
– Riley Beggin
Trump wins Pennsylvania, flipping must-win swing state
Donald Trump has won the coveted state of Pennsylvania – flipping a state seen as a must win in the 2024 election cycle.
Trump is awarded 19 electoral votes. Trump eked out a win in the state in 2016 by less than a percentage point. But he lost the state to President Joe Biden in 2020.
Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris were locked in a close race in the critical battleground state. Pennsylvania was one of three critical “blue wall” states – which includes Michigan and Wisconsin – that helped catapult both Trump to the White House in 2016 and Biden to the White House in 2020.
Trump campaigned heavily in the state, zeroing in on the Western part of the state while also appealing to voters in the Philadelphia suburbs.
– Rebecca Morin
Trump notches critical Maine district
Donald Trump has won Maine’s 2nd congressional district. He is awarded one electoral vote.
Maine’s results are different than other states because it awards its electoral votes via statewide tally, in addition to congressional districts. Trump in both 2016 and 2020 won the state’s 2nd congressional district, which is largely more conservative and rural than other parts of the state.
– Rebecca Morin
Trump to address supporters
Trump is expected to address supporters soon at the Palm Beach Convention Center.
No one knows if he will explicitly declare victory – he still doesn’t have the required 270 votes to earn another term in the White House – but he will at least come close.
– David Jackson
Harris picks up New Hampshire
Democrat Kamala Harris has won the state of New Hampshire. She will be awarded 4 electoral votes.
The state has voted for Democrats in the presidential race since 1992, with the exception of former President George W. Bush in 2000. New Hampshire keeps a lower profile in general elections, but during primary seasons it often plays a key role in determining the presidential nominee for both parties.
– Rebecca Morin
Harris won’t speak at watch party
Kamala Harris will not address supporters gathered at Howard University in Washington for her election night party and plans to instead speak later Wednesday morning.
Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Harris campaign, delivered that news around 12:45 am ET at the watch party as Harris’ prospects to defeat Trump appeared grimmer.
