Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump: US election set for a cliffhanger

Trump takes North Carolina in first swing state result,

2024 US Election Results Updates: Donald Trump wins North Carolina, leading in other swing states too; Kamala Harris takes California – as counting continues elsewhere,

This is the projection that says Trump is to win North Carolina in the first result from one of the seven key battleground states.

Democrats had hoped to flip the traditionally Republican state; the other six swing states are yet to be called,

It’s still early in the night, but reports are positive at the Trump watch party, while Harris’s event is increasingly nervous.

The second biggest prize is the Senate, which the Democrats narrowly hold. Republicans have taken two seats from them so far.

The two candidates were neck and neck in the polls after a dramatic campaign that saw two assassination attempts against Donald Trump and the shock withdrawal of President Joe Biden from the race.

The pivotal moment has arrived as US citizens voted in a historic presidential contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, whilst simultaneously deciding the balance of power in Congress.

Millions of Americans on Tuesday voted in the historic contest that could put the Republican back in the White House or make Democrat Kamala Harris the first woman to become US president.

The electoral process proceeded without significant issues, with voters encountering minimal disruptions despite previous worries about misinformation, overseas interference, and safety concerns for electoral staff and voting mechanisms.

Of the other battleground states, Mr Trump is ahead in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona and Wisconsin, while Ms Harris leads in Michigan.

What results are in so far?

Voting is still happening in some states, while counting is now under way in a slew of states where polls have already closed.

While not all the votes have been counted, a winner can be projected in a number of states.

Ms Harris is projected to have won California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. This would put her on 172 Electoral College votes.

Mr Trump is projected to have won Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (three of five votes), North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. This would put him on 230 Electoral College votes.

None of the seven battleground states have yet been projected for either candidate. NBC News says Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are too close to call.

Voters are not just selecting a president. Control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate are also up for grabs, with all seats in the House and one-third of those in the Senate up before voters.

With most races still not yet called, NBC News has projected that Republicans have gained a Senate seat in West Virginia. It had been held by independent Senator and former Democrat, Joe Manchin.

How the vote works

As well as those lining up at polling booths on Tuesday, tens of millions of Americans cast early ballots - voting by post or in person before today.

To become president, the winning candidate needs 270 electoral votes or more, with each state carrying a different number of votes.

If the polls predicting a close race are correct, the election will likely come down to a few battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

With some races perhaps coming down to thousands of votes, it could be days before a definitive result is known.

The FBI reported that there had been "non-credible" bomb threats to several states, resulting in some polling stations staying open later. The agency said some of the threats came from Russian email domains. The Russian embassy said accusations of interference were "malicious slander".

Trump or Harris

Former president Mr Trump, 78, voted in Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago club.

Wearing his trademark red "Make America Great Again" baseball cap, he said at the polling station that he was feeling "very confident".

"I hear we're doing very well," he said. "It looks like Republicans have shown up in force."

Elon Musk, the world's richest man and Trump donor, said he will watch results unfold with the former president.

In the meantime, Ms Harris, the 60-year-old Democratic vice president, did radio interviews in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina.

Election Day

Prior to Tuesday's polls, an impressive 82 million Americans participated in early voting, which proved largely successful despite some challenges, particularly in the crucial state of Pennsylvania.

Electoral surveys from the 2024 presidential contest across seven crucial states - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin - suggest a close competition between Harris and Trump, with Harris maintaining a narrow advantage.

Initial exit poll findings by Edison Research across these seven states reveal approximately 47% of voters view Harris favourably, whilst Trump garnered 45% support. This represents a subtle change from 2020, when Trump's approval rating was 46%.

The substantial pre-election day turnout, exceeding half the total votes cast in the previous presidential election, saw increased Republican participation compared to recent elections, following coordinated efforts by Trump and the Republican National Committee to counter traditional Democratic advantages in early voting.

Early voting proceeded smoothly, even in western North Carolina, despite the recent impact of Hurricane Helene. State and local officials, supported by legislative changes from the Republican-controlled assembly, worked diligently to ensure voting access despite infrastructure challenges. The North Carolina Board of Elections confirmed this continued on Tuesday, reporting no difficulties.

Trump indicated he would accept the election outcome, provided the process remains fair.

Harris, Trump's Democratic challenger, cautioned voters against Trump's attempts to question electoral integrity. She spent Tuesday afternoon at a Democratic National Committee phone bank, describing such grassroots efforts as "the best of who we are."