As Americans woke up on Wednesday morning, the presidential race is nearing a conclusion, with former President Donald Trump just four electoral votes shy of the 270 needed to secure his return to the White House.
Trump currently holds 266 electoral votes, leaving him on the brink of victory in what could be a historic comeback bid. With votes still being counted in key battleground states, the nation watches closely as the results unfold.
In the early hours, Trump addressed a cheering crowd in Florida, thanking Americans for their support and setting forth his vision for a "golden age of America." "We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly," he said, pledging to address issues like border security and promising to "fight for Americans every single day."
In a parallel shift of power, CNN projects that Republicans will control the U.S. Senate, marking a significant change in Washington's political landscape.
The Republican dominance began with a projected win for West Virginia’s Jim Justice, taking the seat formerly held by Democrat-turned-independent Joe Manchin. Another major win for the GOP was businessman Bernie Moreno’s victory over Ohio’s three-term Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown.
Trump's path to victory was strengthened with wins in critical states, including North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, significantly narrowing Vice President Kamala Harris's chances of reaching 270 electoral votes. While Harris secured several Democratic strongholds, her campaign has struggled in the final hours to regain footing.
Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to speak to supporters later today. Campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond emphasized that the team is committed to ensuring "every vote is counted" and remains hopeful for a final surge in the remaining states.
With the political landscape hanging in balance, the final results of the election are expected to shape the nation's future, leaving Americans on edge as the vote count concludes.