Vice President Kamala Harris has won California, securing the state’s 54 electoral votes in a pivotal move for her campaign. California, a Democratic stronghold where Harris previously served as senator and attorney general, hasn’t backed a Republican candidate in a presidential race since 1988. The state’s political landscape, dominated by Democrats who outnumber Republicans two-to-one in voter registration, made Harris’ victory expected. The Associated Press officially declared Harris the winner at 11:00 p.m. EST.
In addition to California, Harris also claimed victory in Washington, earning another 12 electoral votes. Washington has not gone for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984, making it a reliable win for the Democratic ticket. President Joe Biden carried Washington with a wide margin in 2020, taking 58% of the vote compared to Trump’s 39%. Harris’ win in Washington was confirmed by the Associated Press at 11:00 p.m. EST.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump secured a victory in Iowa, winning its six electoral votes. Although Iowa was once considered a swing state, it has become a significant base of support for Trump since his initial run in 2016. After receiving strong backing in Iowa’s Republican caucuses earlier this year, Trump’s win in Iowa reinforces his appeal within the GOP. The Associated Press called Trump’s victory in Iowa at 10:40 p.m. EST.
As of the latest updates, Trump also leads in North Carolina, a battleground state where Harris had hoped to make inroads. North Carolina’s electoral votes are critical, and Trump’s campaign made several last-minute stops there to secure support. According to the Associated Press, Trump held 230 electoral votes by 10:08 a.m. (IST), while Harris had 205, making the race for 270 votes extremely close.
Results from other battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada, remain too early to call. Both candidates are vying for these remaining votes, which will ultimately decide the outcome of this closely contested race.
