Josiah
Donald Trump has secured a critical win in North Carolina and its 16 Electoral College votes, marking a pivotal victory in this year’s election.
The Tar Heel State, a prime target for both campaigns, saw a flurry of last-minute rallies, with Trump making multiple stops there in the final days. North Carolina’s decision came first among seven crucial swing states expected to decide the election outcome.
In response to Trump’s win, Harris’ campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, noted that their clearest path now lay in the “blue wall” northern states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, indicating that the results might not become clear until early morning.
Trump’s North Carolina win makes it his third consecutive victory in the state, where more than 4.2 million residents voted early, breaking past turnout records. In some western counties affected by Hurricane Helene, turnout outpaced the state average, with officials ensuring that affected residents could cast their ballots.
Despite Trump’s win, exit polls show that only 43% of North Carolina voters held a favorable view of him, compared to 48% for Harris. The poll also highlighted key issues influencing voters: 36% prioritized the economy, followed by 32% citing democracy, 13% abortion, 12% immigration, and 4% foreign policy. Additionally, 47% reported their family’s financial situation as worse than four years ago.
Notably, the exit polls showed a demographic shift, with white voters making up 69% of North Carolina’s electorate, a 4-point increase from 2020, and a rise in white male voters by 5 points.
At 78, Trump would be the oldest person elected president if successful, and the first former president in 132 years to reclaim office after a previous defeat. He also holds the distinction of being the first convicted felon to seek the White House. Meanwhile, Harris, 60, aims to make history as the first female, Black, and South Asian president and the first sitting vice president to win the presidency in 36 years.
As the focus shifts to the remaining swing states, Trump shows strength nationwide. By 11:30 p.m. Eastern, he had amassed 227 Electoral College votes to Harris’ 165, inching closer to the 270 needed for victory.
Exit polls reveal that Trump gained significant traction among Hispanic voters and lower-income households, both groups feeling the economic strain since 2020. Nationally, he won 45% of Hispanic voters, up by 13 points from 2020, while Harris held 53%. Voters prioritizing the economy—31% nationally—strongly favored Trump, particularly if they felt financially worse off than four years ago.
By 11 p.m., as ballot counts neared completion in over 1,200 counties (about a third of the country), Trump’s vote share had risen by approximately 2 points compared to 2020, with significant gains from suburban Georgia to rural Pennsylvania.
Trump’s expanded support underscores a resurgence in his voter base, drawing attention as results from the remaining swing states continue to roll in.
