Wednesday, Nov. 6 — The Day After

Overnight, many of the ballots were counted quicker than expected, and the results came pouring in as much of the country was fast asleep. It’s worth noting that the turnout is less than 2020, despite the last election being amid the pandemic.

As of noon on Wednesday, AP called the entire election for Donald Trump, making him the 45th and 47th president, with 277 electoral votes to Kamala Harris’ 224. Only five states are not called — Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Michigan, and Nevada. All but Maine are leaning towards Trump but within the margin of error.

Further, the Republicans took back the Senate, with 52 seats to the 42 Democrats still hold (plus Bernie Sanders’ Independent one). There are five outstanding races to be decided, and most are leaning left.

The House is still very much up for grabs, 201 Republicans and 181 Democrats. That leaves 53 races still to call, with many key races just hundreds of votes apart.

All the governors races have been called — 27 Republicans, 23 Democrats.

Trump made his victory speech from West Palm Beach, Fla., at 2:30 a.m., three hours before AP officially called the race. His family and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and his family were at his side. In a fairly on-message speech after he thanked a slew of people, he promised to “heal” the nation and unite all Americans, mentioning several of his campaign issues almost in passing — securing the borders, education, the military, and the failed assassination attempt. Many international leaders have expressed their congratulations, often via social media, including Zelensky (Ukraine), Netanyahu (Israel), Keir (United Kingdom), Macron (France), and Modi (India).

Harris has made several attempts to connect with Trump Wednesday. She will make her official concession speech at 4:00 p.m. ET, where she is expected to follow tradition and call for unity and activism.

Once again, the election results will be officially certified by Congress on January 6, 2025.

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Mixed Emotions in Texas

Melanie Salazar interviews residents in San Marcos, Texas, about how they were feeling about the presidential election. [Credit: Melanie Salazar]

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Tuesday, Nov. 5 — Election Day
(All times are EST.)

As voters head to the polls in the United States, the nation anxiously awaits results for president, 34 Senate seats, all 435 House seats and  13 governors’ races, plus hundreds of local offices and ballot measures. Polls begin closing at 7 pm EST in the U.S. at which time results will begin to filter in.

Will most of the big races be decided tonight? Or, like in 2020, will it take days to resolve?

The Click is watching with reporters throughout the U.S. and in three countries.

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11:59 p.m. — Polls close in Hawaii now, and in Alaska in one hour.

In the interim, AP calls North Carolina for Trump. New Mexico, Oregon, and Virginia for Harris.
Running electoral total: Trump – 230 // Harris – 205

Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio lost his reelection bid to Bernie Moreno, a Republican. And Sen. Ted Cruz won his reelection in Texas. Both houses of Congress leans right as the vote counts continue.

They’re still counting votes in swing states Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nevada, as well as 2 districts in Maine, 2 districts in Nebraska, and New Hampshire. Incoming votes from Hawaii and Alaska tend to lean left and right, respectively.

Signing off for the night. More tomorrow.

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11:00 p.m. — Polls close in four western states. AP calls Iowa, Idaho, Kansas and two districts in Nebraska for Trump. Maine’s District 1, California, and Washington state for Harris.
Running electoral total: Trump – 214 // Harris – 179

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10:30 p.m. — AP calls Colorado and Washington, D.C. for Harris. Many swing states remain too close to call.
Running electoral total: Trump – 198 // Harris – 112

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10:00 p.m. — Polls close in three more states. AP calls Montana and Utah for Trump.
Running electoral total: Trump – 198 // Harris – 99

Democrat Angela Alsobrooks unseats Sen. Larry Hogan in Maryland’s senate race, taking back  one seat for the left in the senate.

Representing Delaware, Sarah McBride becomes the first transgender person in the U.S. Congress.

Maryland passes their ballot measure to enshrine abortion access into law. And New York passes their measure of the Equal Rights Amendment that also expands abortion rights.

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9:30 p.m. — AP calls Ohio, Texas, and Nebraska’s district 3 for Trump.
Running electoral total: Trump – 178 // Harris – 99

In North Carolina, Democrat Josh Stein defeats former Lt. Governor Mark Robinson in the governor’s race. Robinson faced a media frenzy due to the revelation of several controversial online comments.

And Georgia’s Attorney General Fani Willis won her reelection bid. Willis came into prominence for bringing charges against former President Trump.

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Reporter Field Notes:

Spirits are high in a San Marcos, Texas scratch kitchen/ bar. Young adults, presumably Texas State University college students, sit at tables with friends and watch the polls flash on the restaurant’s TV screens, pulling their eyes away during the commercials. Most guests in the restaurant have an alcoholic beverage of some sort in front of them. A few young adults have laptops, textbooks, and highlighters out while they eat and watch the screens. — Melanie Love Salazar in Texas

 

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9:00 p.m. — Polls close in 15 states. AP calls Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, and New York for Harris. Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming go to Trump.
Running electoral total: Trump – 120 // Harris – 99

Florida fails to pass ballot amendments legalizing recreational marijuana and removing restrictions to abortion access. Florida becomes the first state not to pass a measure to codify abortion rights when the issue is on the ballot. While the majority of voters did vote to pass both measures, both failed to reach the 60% of the vote to pass.

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Reporter Field Notes:
Everyone came in optimistic. By the middle of the night, the mood shifted, and attendees started filing out of The Wildflower. Half the room is reminding the other that the most hotly contested ballot measures, amendments 3 and 4 which would legalize recreational marijuana and codify access to abortion, respectively, and  needed 60% voter approval to pass.

“I’m done I’m heading out” said one voter as she exited.

“I’m moving” said another woman as she went to grab another drink. — Jasmine Knox, Florida

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8:30 p.m. — Polls close in Arkansas, and AP calls the state for Trump.
Running electoral total: Trump – 101 // Harris – 35

In another key senate race, New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim won the senate seat formerly occupied embattled Sen. Robert Menendez. Kim becomes the first Korean-American in the Senate.

 

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8:00 p.m. — Polls close in 16 more states and Washington, D.C. AP calls Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee for Trump. Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for Harris.
Running electoral total: Trump – 95 // Harris – 35

Also, it looks like West Virginia Governor Jim Justice will take over former Senator Joe Manchin’s seat, flipping it Republican. This could shift the Senate to the right.

Another important Senate race is in Florida. Senator Rick Scott will keep his seat, keeping Florida Republican.

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7:30 p.m. — Polls close in three more states. AP calls West Virginia for Trump.
Running electoral total: Trump – 23 // Harris – 3

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7:00 p.m. — Polls close in six states. AP calls Indiana and Kentucky for former President Donald Trump, and Vermont for Vice President Harris.

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6:15 p.m. — The earliest polls close in less than an hour. Our team is on the ground in these last minutes of voting, talking to voters and following their local races and ballot measures.