Donald Trump wins North Carolina; takes lead in Pennsylvania, other swing states narrowing Kamala Harris’ chances

As the US election enters its fourth hour of vote counting, Republican candidate Donald Trump has taken a strong lead over.

His Democrat rival Kamala Harris in six out of the seven crucial swing states, including North Carolina, that are pivotal to securing the White House. Donald Trump won North Carolina and holds the lead in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia, according to early results. Polls were closed in the battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Nevada, but the results there were too early to call.

Swing states, also known as battleground states, are vital in determining the outcome of the presidential race. These states typically have a nearly equal level of support for both major parties, making them crucial for candidates seeking to secure the 270 electoral votes needed for victory.

This year, the contested states include Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes), Michigan (10), Georgia (16), Wisconsin (10), North Carolina (16), Nevada (6), and Arizona (11). As of now, Donald Trump’s strong performance in these battlegrounds puts him in a favourable position, though the final outcome will depend on the remaining votes.

Donald Trump wins North Carolina
Donald Trump won the battleground state of North Carolina, fending off a challenge from Kamala Harris, who was looking to flip the state and expand her pathways to 270 electoral votes.

The former Republican president had made stops to the state in each of the last three days of the campaign to deprive Kamal Harris of the pickup, as a divided America made its decision in a stark choice for the nation’s future. The Democratic vice president’s campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon told staff in a memo that the “blue wall” of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin was now the Democrat’s “clearest path” to victory.