The fate of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris lies in the hands of key swing states, with the race remaining incredibly close. According to projections from the Associated Press (AP) at 9 am IST, Trump is leading Harris in six out of seven swing statesâWisconsin, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan.
Trump’s lead in these battleground states remains razor-thin, suggesting a prolonged counting process as mail-in ballots and votes from urban areas continue to be tallied. Pennsylvania has become a focal point, where Harris initially held a lead but has since fallen behind, with Trump now ahead by about two percentage points.
AP projections indicate Trump has so far secured 210 electoral votes from 21 states, including significant wins in Texas, Florida, and Ohio. Harris, meanwhile, has 112 electoral votes from 11 states, with key victories in New York, Illinois, and New Jersey. With 270 votes needed to clinch the presidency, both candidates face a critical path through the remaining undecided states.
Trump’s campaign has maintained a stronghold in traditionally Republican states, notably securing victories in Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia, and capturing Texas’s 40 electoral votes. In Ohio, Trump managed to fend off Harris and secure its 17 electoral votes, continuing his winning streak in the state since 2016.
Conversely, Harris has found success in Democratic strongholds, gaining 28 electoral votes in New York and solidifying the Democratic hold in Illinois (19 votes), New Jersey (14 votes), and other Northeastern states. Her campaign also secured victories in Colorado and Washington, D.C.
The battle has intensified in crucial swing states where the race remains too close to call. Georgia, another key state, leans toward Trump, with him leading Harris by 5.7 percentage points and positioning himself to claim Georgiaâs 16 electoral votes as 66% of the vote has been counted. Pennsylvania remains a nail-biter, with only 20% of the vote tallied as Trump holds a narrow lead for its 20 electoral votes.
Several other battlegroundsâincluding Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsinâremain highly competitive, with no clear victor yet. As mail-in ballots and votes from urban centres come in, these final counts could determine the overall outcome, possibly taking days to conclude.
With Harris aiming to become the first woman president and Trump vying to return to office for a historic non-consecutive second term, the race remains open and the stakes are high. Both campaigns will be watching closely as each swing state declares its results, knowing that every vote could tip the balance in this historic election.