THE next president of the US has been revealed after Americans went to the polls on November 5.
As Americans cast their ballots in another election deemed the “most consequential in history,” Donald Trump edged ahead of Kamala Harris to win the White House.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a rally on March 2, 2024, in Richmond, VirginiaGetty Images – Getty
Kamala Harris speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention on August 22, 2024, in ChicagoGetty Images – Getty
Trump and Harris shake hands before they begin their first presidential debate on September 10, 2024Getty Images – Getty
WHAT HAPPENED ON ELECTION DAY?
Held on November 5, Election Day marked another opportunity for Americans’ voices to be heard as they cast their ballots for Democrat Harris or Republican Trump.
Early and mail-in voting were held in the vast majority of the 50 states, with only a handful of exceptions.
The first polls opened on Election Day at 5 am ET.
The last polls – in Alaska – closed at 1 am ET.
While most of the day ran smoothly, some Americans were plagued with issues at their polling places.
In parts of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, poll hours were extended due to software issues and late openings.
Bomb threats were also called into multiple polling places, but were later deemed non-credible.
Elsewhere, voters faced hours-long lines wrapping around buildings and blocks, causing massive headaches for those with little time to cast their ballots.
WHEN WILL THE US ELECTION RESULT BE ANNOUNCED?
Typically, a winner is announced in the late evening once states have shared exit poll information.
In 2020, due to Covid-19-related delays and other issues, the next president wasn’t named until five days after the election.
In 2016, however, a winner was declared at 2:30 am ET the morning after Election Day.
Winners were named on election night in 2008 and 2012.
This year, Trump predicted that a winner would be declared on election night.
He was declared the winner by Fox News shortly before 2 am ET, with the Associated Press calling the race at about 2:30 am.
Harris, meanwhile, said she and her team were ready to wait it out – and to debunk any premature claims made about the results before they’re official.
“We are prepared to respond,” Harris told ABC News.
WHEN WILL THE SWING STATE RESULTS BE ANNOUNCED?
Swing states are crucial for candidates to win in order to secure the presidency.
Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Arizona are the seven swing states largely considered must-wins by presidential candidates.
Closing times (in ET) for each of those states are:
Georgia: 7 pm
North Carolina: 7:30 pm
Pennsylvania: 8 pm
Michigan: 9 pm
Nevada: 9 pm
Wisconsin: 9 pm
Arizona: 10 pm
But because the delegates those states hold are massively important for winning the electoral college vote, the ballots are often meticulously counted when races are especially close.
North Carolina was the first swing state to be called in the 2024 election, with the delegates awarded to Trump before midnight ET.
Georgia was called for Trump at 12:58 am ET.
As of 2 am ET, the remaining swing states were too close to call.
Still, the swing state situation in 2024 was vastly different from four years ago.
Pennsylvania was the deciding state in the 2020 election, with the race being called in favor of Joe Biden 3.5 days after polls closed.
But North Carolina took 10 days to be called, while Georgia took 16 days.
10 Days that Changed America
AN attempted assassination of a former US president, the standing down of a current president, and a political speech by a former wrestler. Senior News reporter Anthony Blair looks back on a crazy 10 days in American politics.
Saturday, July 13 – Donald Trump is shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Republican frontrunner is hit in the ear but stands up and pumps his fist to the crowd. Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, is shot dead but the Secret Service is slammed for suspected security blunders. Ex-fire chief Corey Comperatore is killed protecting his family.
Sunday, July 14 – President Joe Biden calls on Americans to unite and “cool down” political rhetoric in the wake of Trump’s shooting. The Democrat had faced growing calls since his disastrous performance in June’s CNN debate. Shocking video reveals how close Trump came to being killed after turning his head at the last minute.
Monday, July 15 – The Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Trump is formally nominated as the Republican candidate. An emotional-looking Trump makes his first appearance since surviving the shooting wearing a large ear bandage. It quickly becomes a must-have fashion item at the RNC. Ohio Senator JD Vance is named as Trump’s running mate. Previously anti-Trump, Vance at just 39 is an inexperienced choice, but seen as having a connection with ordinary Americans. In an interview, Biden admits it was a “mistake” to talk about putting Trump in “the bullseye” days before the assassination attempt.
Tuesday, July 16 – The FBI warns of more potential violence in the wake of Trump’s shooting. Intelligence claims Iran had a separate plot to assassinate Trump, but there is no proven link to Crooks. Biden returns to the campaign trail for the first time since the assassination attempt and insists he isn’t stepping down.
Wednesday, July 17 – Joe Biden tests positive for Covid, just days after saying he would drop out of the presidential race if he was diagnosed with a medical condition. It intensifies the calls for him to step aside with Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom floated as potential replacements. At the RNC, JD Vance makes his first speech since being selected as Trump’s VP pick, to the delight of the MAGA crowd.
Thursday, July 18 – Donald Trump addresses the RNC, his first speech since surviving an attempted assassination. He appears slower and more subdued than usual but gives the longest convention acceptance speech in US history. Just before he goes on, former wrestler Hulk Hogan rips his shirt off and tells cheering crowds “Trumpomania” will sweep America. Former First Lady Melania, who has barely been seen on the campaign trail, makes an appearance but does not speak. Barack Obama joins calls for Biden to step aside.
Friday, July 19 – President Biden appears to consider resigning, as a source says he is in a “contemplative stage” while isolating with Covid. Video emerges showing Biden appearing to lean into the wrong woman after mistaking her for his wife Jill. Meanwhile, the world’s biggest tech outage sparks travel chaos for Republicans leaving the RNC in Milwaukee.
Saturday, July 20 – Donald Trump holds his first campaign rally since the shooting in Butler. He appears in Michigan without his ear bandage. His former doctor Ronny Jackson describes his injuries. He appears in his first interview alongside his running mate Vance. Senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi speaks for the first time since being linked to growing calls for Biden to resign. Meanwhile, Biden’s reelection campaign continues to insist he is running, as a spokesperson slams Trump’s rally remarks as showing he is “focused only on himself.”
Sunday, July 21 – Joe Biden announces he isn’t running in November in a shock letter, just hours after insisting he was staying in the race. He is the first incumbent to step down in their first term since 1968. Biden endorses Kamala Harris for president as senior Dems through their support behind the Vice President. The news appears to throw the Republicans off their stride. Biden vows to continue his term until November’s election.
Monday, July 22 – Kamala Harris raises a record $81 million in 24 hours as she secures the Democratic candidacy. She also inherits some $91 million in leftover campaign funds from Biden. Harris gives her first speech since Biden stepped out, and speaks to the president on the phone, although he doesn’t appear in person. Under-pressure Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle appears on Capitol Hill and faces increasing calls to resign over the shooting of Trump. She admits the Secret Service “failed” on July 13 and resigns the following day.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE 2024 CAMPAIGN CYCLE?
The last six months of the 2024 campaign cycle were filled with shocking twists and turns – starting with the Trump trial.
On May 30, Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in his historic hush money trial.
“This was a disgrace,” Trump told reporters after the verdict made him a convicted felon.
About a month later, on June 27, Trump and President Biden went head-to-head in their first primetime debate.
Biden’s shockingly poor performance that night led to his dropping out of the race over a month later – but not before more chaos erupted on the campaign trail.
On July 13, a would-be assassin took aim at Trump while he spoke at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump suffered a graze wound to the ear in the shooting that killed one man and left multiple others wounded.
Still, he managed to make it to the Republican National Convention just days later to announce Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate.
Days after the RNC’s conclusion, Biden officially backed out of the race for the White House on July 20, announcing his decision in a letter before addressing the country for primetime remarks days later.
Biden threw his support behind Harris, who secured the Democratic party’s nomination in early August.
She then named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz her running mate during the Democratic National Convention.
Harris and Trump faced off for their only presidential debate – which also marked their first-ever in-person meeting – on September 10.
Their running mates then had a primetime showdown of their own on October 1.
The final weeks of the campaign were filled with rallies, TV sitdowns, podcast appearances, and even a Saturday Night Live appearance by Harris in an effort to sway voters.
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