Former US President Donald Trump has claimed victory in North Carolina, securing the first major battleground state of the election and reinforcing the Republican party’s hold on its 16 electoral votes.
Voters across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., cast ballots in the presidential race between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. The presidency is decided through the Electoral College, with a candidate needing at least 270 electoral votes to win. Most states allocate their entire Electoral College votes to the popular vote winner, although Nebraska and Maine split their votes.
Polls had shown Vice President Kamala Harris narrowing Trump’s lead in North Carolina after she joined the race in July, following President Joe Biden’s decision not to run for re-election.
Democrats were hopeful that Harris could make inroads with well-educated voters, but Trump made significant gains among Black voters, young voters, and independents, which helped him secure North Carolina.
Exit polls show that Black voters made up 19% of North Carolina’s electorate, with Trump winning over 12% of them—a 5-point increase from 2020, including a 12-point rise among Black men.
As of the latest count, Trump has 246 electoral votes, while Harris has 189. To secure the presidency, a candidate needs 270 votes.
Trump’s North Carolina victory highlights the enduring strength of his MAGA movement. This marks the third consecutive time he has won the state, despite two impeachments as president and four criminal indictments after leaving office in 2021.
Harris’ path to victory now depends on winning the “blue wall” states Trump captured in his 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. However, Trump currently leads in all three.
