Yahoo News Staff
Live election results updates: Harris delivers concession speech after Trump wins presidential race
Harris tells supporters, "we must accept the results of this election."
Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a concession speech at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Wednesday afternoon after she called President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory against her in the 2024 race for the presidency.
"The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for," Harris said. "But hear me when I say, the light of America's promise will always burn bright."
A victory in Wisconsin early Wednesday gave Trump 277 Electoral College votes, pushing him past the 270 needed to secure the White House. The Associated Press called the race for Trump Wednesday morning, making him the 47th president of the United States.
Hours later, the Associated Press called Michigan for Trump as well. The wins in Wisconsin and Michigan followed key Trump victories in Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina — all critical swing states that acted as decisive territories in the presidential race. Trump, as of now, is also leading in the popular vote with 51% of returns.
Trump will become the second president to lose a reelection campaign but return to the White House four years later. The only other president to win a nonconsecutive term was Grover Cleveland in 1892.
We're covering the election live all week. Sign up for Breaking News alerts to get the latest updates.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER258 updates
Reddit AMA with Yahoo News politics reporter Andrew Romano
Yahoo News political reporter Andrew Romano participated in a Reddit AMA Wednesday to answer user questions about the election. Here's an exchange from the session.
Wil_daven_: Now that we're starting to see numbers/results from the election, I find it striking that so many younger voters have swung to the GOP/Trump. What insights do you have on those trends? Is it ideological? Is it a consequence of a terminally online culture? Do they simply not remember or know about Trump's first administration?
Andrew: I find it striking too! To visualize the rightward shift among young voters, check out this chart. It shows women aged 18-29 going from a +32 Democratic group in 2020 to +18 Democratic group in 2024. Meanwhile, men aged 18-29 have gone from +15 Democratic to +13 Republican (!) over the same period.
Teen and twentysomething men voting Republican isn’t some alien phenomenon. Remember Alex P. Keaton? But Barack Obama was so popular among Millennials that anyone who came of age politically during the late Aughties / early 2010s could be forgiven for thinking young people would always be hopey-changey progressives.
That’s clearly not the case now. But why? I have to think that identity-politics backlash, diminished economic prospects (post-Great Recession, post-pandemic) and ever-more-algorithmic online echo chambers (like Elon Musk’s X) all have something to do with it. Also, Trump has been the dominant gravitational force in U.S. politics for nearly 10 years now. He's going to attract some younger people simply because he's there.
- Kate Murphy
Pence congratulates Trump on election win
Former Vice President Mike Pence offered his congratulations to Donald Trump for his 2024 election win, writing on X that the "American people have spoken."
Earlier this year, Pence said he could not "in good conscience" endorse his former boss, citing Trump's conduct around the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and policy disagreements.
The American people have spoken and Karen and I send our sincere congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump and his family on his election as 47th President of the United States. We also send our congratulations to Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance and his family on his…
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) November 6, 2024
- Dylan Stableford
AP race call: Donald Trump wins Alaska
Trump has won Alaska and its 3 electoral votes, according to the Associated Press.
- David Artavia
Sanders criticizes Democratic Party, which he says 'has abandoned working class people'
In a fiery statement, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized the Democratic Party for abandoning working-class Americans and failing to address inequality, stagnant wages and the lack of universal healthcare.
“It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,” the statement read. “Today, while the very rich are doing phenomenally well, 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and we have more income and wealth inequality than ever before.”
It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.
While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change.
And they’re right. pic.twitter.com/lM2gSJmQFL— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 6, 2024
Sanders went on to condemn U.S. support for Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu’s “all out war against the Palestinian people” and addressed issues with health care access, explaining that the U.S. is “the only wealthy nation not to guarantee health care to all as a human right,” despite paying "by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs.”
“Will the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign?” he continued. “In the coming weeks and months those of us concerned about grassroots democracy and economic justice need to have some very serious political discussions.”
In concession speech, Harris urges supporters to 'never give up'
Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech at Howard University on Wednesday, capping an end to her 107-day campaign for president that began when President Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 race.
Here are notable lines from her address:
"We must accept the results of this election," Harris said, before adding, "Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory."
In a marked contrast with Trump's loss in 2020, Harris said, "A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny."
Harris also vowed that she would "never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions and aspirations." That included the freedom for women "to make decisions about their own body," she added, and "to protect our schools and our streets from gun violence."
In a message to her young supporters, Harris said, "To the young people who are watching, it is OK to feel sad and disappointed. But please know it's going to be OK," adding, "You have power. You have power."
- Kate Murphy
Photos show an emotional crowd as Harris speaks at Howard University
Vice President Kamala Harris publicly conceded defeat to Donald Trump in a speech at Howard University, her alma mater, late Wednesday afternoon. Photos show Harris's running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in the crowd, as well as her supporters comforting each other over the loss.
- Dylan Stableford
Harris urges supporters to fill 'dark' sky with 'stars'
Harris closed her concession speech by saying she hopes America is not entering as "dark" a period under Trump as she had warned on the campaign trail.
"I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all," she said. "I hope that is not the case. But here's the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion stars. The light, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service. And may that work guide us even in the face of setbacks toward the extraordinary promise of the United States of America."
- David Knowles
Harris tells supporters: 'You have power'
Harris urged her supporters to continue to fight for what they believe in.
"Sometimes the fight takes a while," she said. "That doesn't mean we won't win. That doesn't mean we won't win. The important thing is don't ever give up. Don't ever give up. Don't ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power. You have power."
- Dylan Stableford
Harris concedes and pledges a 'peaceful transfer of power'
In her first public remarks since the race was called for Trump, Harris conceded defeat.
"We must accept the results of this election," she said.
Harris called Trump earlier in the day to concede the race.
"Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory," she said. "I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power."
- David Knowles
Harris: 'I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign'
After saying she had already congratulated Trump on his victory, Harris added, "While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign."
- David Knowles
Harris: 'The outcome of this election is not what we wanted'
In her concession speech Wednesday at Howard University, Vice President Kamala Harris said, "The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for."
Harris then added, "But hear me when I say, hear me when I say the light of America's promise will always burn bright."
- Dylan Stableford
Harris takes the stage to Beyoncé's 'Freedom' and receives a standing ovation
In her first public appearance since losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage to Beyoncé's "Freedom" at Howard University in Washington, D.C., her alma mater, to deliver her concession speech. She received a long standing ovation from her supporters.
- Nicole Darrah
AP race call: Kamala Harris wins the statewide vote in Maine
Harris has won the statewide vote in Maine, and with it two electoral votes, according to the Associated Press.
- David Artavia
Belarusian leaders congratulate Trump, emphasizing cooperation in ties with U.S.
Belarusian President-elect Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya extended congratulations to Trump on his election victory.
"I look forward to continuing & enhancing our cooperation with the U.S. to bring freedom to Belarus," Tsikhanouskaya said in a statement. "The [USA] will always be a key ally for us as we fight to free our country from tyranny."
Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your resounding victory in the 🇺🇸 Presidential election.
I look forward to continuing & enhancing our cooperation with the U.S. to bring freedom to Belarus.
The 🇺🇸 will always be a key ally for us as we fight to free our country from tyranny.— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) November 6, 2024
The country's current president, Alexander Lukashenko, also released a statement praising Trump's win as a victory “in the name of America and its citizens," reports the Associated Press.
Lukashenko went on to wish Trump “good health” and “well-aimed political decisions” to “make America great again.”
- David Artavia
Usha Vance to make history as first Indian American, Hindu second lady in the White House
The White House is set to welcome another historic second spouse.
With Ohio Sen. JD Vance poised to become vice president, his wife, Usha Vance, will make history as the first Indian American and first Hindu second lady. She follows Doug Emhoff's groundbreaking role as the first second gentleman and first Jewish person in the position.
At 38, Usha will also be the youngest second lady since Jane Hadley Barkley, wife of Vice President Alben W. Barkley, who served under President Harry Truman in 1949, per ABC News.
The couple, who met at Yale Law School, have three children.
- Kate Murphy
Can Democrats win the House?
The Miami Herald reports:
Democrats clung to one last hope Wednesday that they could still retain some serious clout in Donald Trump’s Washington as control of the House of Representatives remained uncertain.
It takes 218 seats to win a House majority, and as of 9 A.M. PST, Democrats had won 181 seats to Republicans’ 199, Associated Press reported. It appeared more Democratic-held seats than Republican were in danger of flipping to the other party.
Republicans Tuesday won control of the White House and the Senate in decisive fashion. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to control the House next year, and at least 27 races remained too close to call.Read more from the Miami Herald: Democrats have one last shot at keeping power in Washington. Can they win the House?
- Kate Murphy
RFK Jr. says he won't 'take away anybody's vaccines' after Trump victory
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who might oversee public health issues in a second Trump administration, will reportedly meet with senior Trump aides on Wednesday to talk about his future.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who may play a key role overseeing public health issues in a second Trump administration, said Wednesday that he won't take away people's vaccines.
"I’m not going to take away anybody’s vaccines," Kennedy said in an interview with NBC News, when asked if there are specific vaccines that he would remove from the market.
Kennedy rejected the idea that he's "anti-vaccine," despite his repeated claims about vaccines being linked to autism — and his involvement with Children's Health Defense, a leading anti-vaccine group — and reiterated that he wouldn't take them away from Americans.
Read more from NBC News: After Trump win, RFK Jr. says he won't 'take away anybody's vaccines'
- Dylan Stableford
AP race call: Democrat Elissa Slotkin wins Michigan Senate election
Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin has won the U.S. Senate election in Michigan, defeating her challenger, former Rep. Mike Rogers, according to the Associated Press.
Republicans have already clinched control of the Senate, flipping it from the Democrats, with four races left to be called.
- David Artavia
DOJ weighs how to end Trump prosecutions amid presidential immunity constraints: AP
Special counsel Jack Smith is in active discussions with senior Justice Department officials about ending his prosecutions of President-elect Donald Trump, a source told the Associated Press. This shift comes in response to a long-standing DOJ policy barring criminal prosecution of a sitting president.
Smith's team is exploring how to proceed with dismissing two federal cases against Trump: the Jan. 6 case concerning Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and a separate case involving Trump's alleged unlawful possession of highly classified documents from his time in the White House.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022, initially pursued both cases vigorously. However, Trump's win, coupled with a recent Supreme Court decision granting partial immunity to presidents, has left the DOJ with limited options.
As Trump prepares to assume office, the DOJ may be compelled to halt its cases due to both policy constraints and procedural challenges that could delay any trial indefinitely, according to NBC News.
- Kate Murphy
What are the global implications of a second Trump presidency?
While Americans had their chance to vote for their next president, and selected former President Donald Trump to serve a second term in the White House, the rest of the world did not have a say.
The Telegraph reports on what a second Trump presidency means for the world:
For while the new-old president has done more to question the fundamentals of U.S. foreign policy than any president in living memory, he has been surprisingly ambiguous about how he would replace it.
Among America’s foes, Russian officials and commentators celebrate, Iran is believed to have been so worried that it plotted to kill him, and China remains tight-lipped.
Allies are split between an almost ecstatic leadership and public in Israel, to a nervous Nato, and Ukraine losing no time to launch a charm offensive.
So what does Donald Trump’s victory mean for civilians in Gaza, soldiers in east Ukraine, and all the rest of us who didn’t get a vote?Read more from The Telegraph: What a Trump victory means for the world
- Kate Murphy
Election forecaster Allan Lichtman assesses why he failed to correctly predict 2024 election
Allan Lichtman is a history professor at American University and a nearly spot-on election forecaster. Out of the past 11 presidential elections, Lichtman correctly predicted all of them except two: the 2000 election, when George W. Bush defeated Al Gore — and Tuesday's race that saw former President Donald Trump elected to a second term .
In early September, Lichtman released his prediction that Vice President Kamala Harris would be elected the next president of the United States.
Lichtman doesn’t use polling data. Instead, he uses a system he calls “the 13 keys to the White House," which pointed to a Harris win.
"Right now after a very long night I am taking some time off to assess why I was wrong and what the future holds for America," Lichtman told USA Today on Wednesday morning.
Read more from USA Today: 'Why I was wrong': Allan Lichtman fails to predict correct outcome of election
- David Artavia
Biden congratulates Trump, invites him to White House for transition talks
President Biden has reached out to President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election win and extend an invitation to the White House to discuss the transition.
According to the White House press pool, Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together. Staff members are coordinating a meeting "in the near future."
Biden also spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris over the phone, congratulating her on her campaign. Biden is expected to address the nation on Thursday to discuss the election results and the transition.
- Kate Murphy
Trump campaign shares details of Harris-Trump phone call
Vice President Kamala Harris called President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday to concede the presidential race. The Trump campaign said in an emailed statement that the two "spoke by phone earlier today where she congratulated him on his historic victory."
"President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country," said Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign communications director.
- Mike Bebernes
Democrats join the list of incumbent parties to suffer major losses around the world
It has been a huge year for elections worldwide. Nations representing half of the world’s population have cast their ballots so far in 2024. For all the differences between countries that have gone to the polls this year, one theme has been consistent: Voters are dissatisfied with their leaders and are punishing them at the ballot box.
On Election Day, the U.S. became the latest nation to oust its incumbent party from power.
Earlier this year, the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party suffered its worst defeat in history and saw its 14-year streak in power end as Labour gained control of Parliament. Countries that also saw a change in the ruling party and/or incumbent leader include Indonesia, Japan, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Portugal.
Even incumbent parties that have managed to retain control, like those in France and India, have seen their power significantly diminished.
- Katie Mather
Harris campaign chair to staff: 'View this as the beginning, not the end'
Harris campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon sent an email to staff following Vice President Kamala Harris's phone call with President-elect Donald Trump. In it, she thanked everyone for building a "first-rate, historic Presidential campaign in basically 90 days" and having "navigated things that no one has ever had to navigate, and likely no one will ever have to again."
"Losing is unfathomably painful," Dillon concluded. "This will take a long time to process. But the work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now. ... View this as the beginning, not the end."
Here's the full email Jen O'Malley Dillon just sent to the Harris campaign staff.
"I’ll leave you with this: losing is unfathomably painful. It is hard. This will take a long time to process. But the work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now." pic.twitter.com/GVzMDXHTHE— Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) November 6, 2024
- Mike Bebernes
Countdown to Trump’s 2nd inauguration
With the presidential race decided, there are now 75 days until Donald Trump is sworn in for his second term in the White House.
Some important procedural steps will come earlier. States have until Dec. 11 to certify their electors. Then Congress will formally finalize Trump’s win on Jan. 6, 2025.
- David Artavia
Harris calls Trump to concede, stresses peaceful transfer of power
Vice President Kamala Harris called President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election victory, multiple news outlets including the Associated Press have reported.
During the brief telephone call, which reportedly lasted only a few minutes, Harris emphasized the "importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans," an aide told CNN.
Harris is expected to deliver remarks at Howard University, her alma mater, at 4 p.m. ET, according to the White House press pool. Her husband, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, will be in attendance.
- Colin Campbell
AP race call: Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin wins reelection
Democratic incumbent Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin has won her reelection campaign against Republican Eric Hovde, according to the Associated Press.
- Colin Campbell
What polls got right and wrong
The major election modelers looked beyond individual polls to forecast the big picture. As the election approached the closing days, they focused on the swing state polls, averaging them together and applying weights based on factors like recency and historical accuracy.
Those models showed that either candidate could easily win the election. FiveThirtyEight and Nate Silver’s Silver Bulletin each had Harris’s odds at 50%. Split Ticket put her at 53%. The Economist gave her a 56% chance of winning. These were all essentially coin flips.
But just because the final election outcome was forecast as 50-50 between Trump and Harris, that doesn’t mean the Electoral College outcome was expected to be a tie. Silver, for instance, pegged the odds of an electoral tie at just 0.3%.
Click here to read more about what went right and wrong for pollsters on Election Day.
- Yahoo News Photo Staff, David Artavia
Photos: Trump hats seen throughout the New York Stock Exchange
Trump hats were spotted throughout the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, as traders and visitors alike sported a variety of pro-Trump headgear, from the classic red "Make America great again" caps to newer designs celebrating his 2024 election win.
- David Artavia
Stocks surge after Trump’s win — and billionaires are benefiting
Following Donald Trump’s election victory, the U.S. stock market has surged, with the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all posting significant gains.
According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 61% of Americans report owning stock, with high earners more likely to participate. Some 84% of U.S. adults with household incomes over $100,000 are invested in the market, compared to just 29% of those making $40,000 or less.
Business Insider reported that the top 10% of Americans held a record-breaking 93% of all stocks in January 2024, according to Federal Reserve data, while the bottom 50% collectively own only 1% of shares.
The disparity is clear in the billions of dollars gained by a select few since the election results.
According to Forbes, Elon Musk is $20.8 billion richer since Tuesday evening, with former Oracle CEO Larry Ellison (up $11.7 billion), Warren Buffett (up $6.9 billion) and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (up $5.9 billion) also seeing massive gains.
- Mike Bebernes
Trump’s promise to pardon Jan. 6 defendants already being raised in court
It took only a few hours for the first Jan. 6 defendant to seek legal relief in light of Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential race
Lawyers for Christopher Carnell, a 21-year-old North Carolina native who was found guilty earlier this year of several charges for his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol, requested that an upcoming hearing in his case be delayed in anticipation that he will soon be pardoned.
“Mr. Carnell … is expecting to be relieved of the criminal prosecution that he is currently facing when the new administration takes office,” they wrote in a legal filing submitted in a D.C. court early Wednesday.
The judge in the case reportedly denied the request.
Trump has repeatedly said that he will “absolutely” pardon people convicted of crimes for their actions on Jan. 6 if he returned to the White House. Federal prosecutors have charged an estimated 1,500 people across the country for their roles in the attack over the past four years.
- Kaitlin Reilly
Israel's Netanyahu calls Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump on Wednesday to discuss future plans for the country currently locked in an ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza.
“The conversation was warm and cordial,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement posted to X. "The Prime Minister congratulated President-elect Trump on his election victory. The two agreed to work together for Israel's security.”
The two also reportedly discussed the "Iranian threat" to Israel. Tensions between the countries have escalated in recent weeks.
Trump, who has long supported Israel, has urged the nation to "finish the job" and end the war against Hamas.
- Rebecca Corey
Nikki Haley congratulates Trump, says he 'defied gravity'
Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said on Wednesday that Trump's win “defied gravity.”
Haley, an outspoken challenger to Trump before ultimately endorsing him, said on her radio show on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press: “He got through two assassination attempts; he got through two impeachments; he got through numerous indictments, and America still elected him. Because at the end of the day, they knew what they were getting with Donald Trump. And that’s what they wanted to see.”
Haley also posted her congratulations to Trump on X, where she urged "the American people to come together" — and for Harris to concede. Harris is set to deliver remarks at Howard University at 4 p.m. ET. According to CNN, Harris has reached out to Trump but has yet to connect.
The American people have spoken.
Congratulations to President Trump on a strong win. Now, it’s time for the American people to come together, pray for our country, and start the process of a peaceful transition.
That begins with Kamala Harris conceding. You can’t just talk…— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) November 6, 2024
- Nicole Darrah
AP race call: Donald Trump wins Michigan
Trump has won Michigan and its 15 electoral votes, according to the Associated Press, giving him a victory in a state once considered part of the Democrats’ “Blue Wall.”
- David Artavia
Jeff Bezos congratulates Trump on 'extraordinary political comeback'
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos publicly congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his "extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory."
"Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President," he wrote in a post on X. "No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love."
Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) November 6, 2024
The message comes less than two weeks after Bezos, who bought the Washington Post in 2013, defended the paper's decision to not endorse a presidential candidate this cycle — breaking a tradition dating back to 1988.
Read more from Yahoo News: USA Today joins the Washington Post and L.A. Times in not endorsing a presidential candidate. Here's a closer look at the controversy.
- Kate Murphy
Guttmacher Institute concerned about Trump implementing Project 2025
The Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights, expressed concern over Trump's future administration putting a Project 2025 agenda into motion. The plan, developed by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, is a far-right policy framework intended to be implemented across federal departments and agencies. Trump has claimed he knows "nothing" about it.
Critics of the plan, like Guttmacher, are concerned by the agenda's plan to roll back civil and human rights, including broader attacks on abortion care and access.
Destiny Lopez, Guttmacher's acting CEO, released a statement saying in part:
History has already shown that the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States will have devastating consequences for sexual and reproductive health and right — and far beyond. Should his administration attempt to impose the dangerous Project 2025 agenda, it will unleash an all-out assault on rights and freedoms, using every lever of government — from attacks on abortion and contraception in the United States to reimposing the global gag rule and gutting US international family planning aid.
- David Artavia
Did your friends vote? Public records make it easy to find out.
Although your vote is private, voter turnout records are often public, which means you can look up whether someone is registered and if they participated in recent elections.
Local election offices and online resources — like DidMyFriendsVote.org — let you enter a person's name, age range, city and state to search their voting history. The tool reveals whether they voted in each election from 2016, including early or mail-in ballots for the current cycle.
As "Dr. Steve," a psychology researcher at New York University, explained to Yahoo News, while these tools allow you to "check if your friends voted in past elections," they won’t reveal who they voted for.
- Mike Bebernes
Why 8 states passed bans on noncitizen voting, which is already illegal
Ballot measures prohibiting noncitizen voting passed by strong majorities in Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Noncitizens are explicitly barred from participating in federal elections. But Republicans behind these measures say the extra restrictions are necessary to close any potential loopholes that could allow noncitizens to vote — often citing unsubstantiated claims that noncitizens are already voting in significant numbers or that Democrats intend to open up voting to noncitizens to boost their electoral chances.
"Wisconsin elections will be decided by U.S. citizens, not far-left activists who would turn the ballot box into a petri dish for extremist policies," Wisconsin Republican Party Chair Brian Schimming said in a statement.
Despite data indicating that it is extremely rare, the campaign to ban noncitizen voting has gained significant steam within the GOP in recent years. Earlier this year, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson briefly tried to leverage a potential government shutdown to get a nationwide ban on noncitizen voting passed by Congress, but ultimately abandoned the effort.
Opponents of these bans argue that they're little more than a pretense to make it harder to vote.
"False claims of non-citizen voting are being used throughout the country to enact more onerous voter identification requirements, limitations on voter assistance in languages other than English, and attempts to spread misinformation about voting," the Wisconsin branch of the American Civil Liberties Union wrote in a statement ahead of Election Day.
- Dylan Stableford
Trump's swing to 270
Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election was secured early Wednesday when the Associated Press called Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes in his favor, putting him at 277, past the 270 needed to win.
The call in Wisconsin came following race calls for Trump in three other swing states and two congressional districts:
11:18 p.m. ET: North Carolina (16 electoral votes, which gave him a total of 230)
12:58 a.m. ET: Georgia (16 electoral votes, putting him at 246)
1:01 a.m. ET: Nebraska's 1st Congressional District (one electoral vote, 247)
1:51 a.m. ET: Maine's 2nd Congressional District (one electoral vote, 248)
2:24 a.m. ET: Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes, 267)
5:34 a.m. ET: Wisconsin (10 electoral votes, 277)
The other three swing states (Arizona, Nevada and Michigan) have yet to be called.
- Rebecca Corey
Kamala Harris to speak at 4 p.m. ET
Kamala Harris is expected to deliver remarks at Howard University (her alma mater) at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, per the White House press pool. Her husband, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, will also be in attendance.
During its on-air broadcast, CNN said that Harris has reached out to President-elect Donald Trump, but that she had yet to connect.
Harris didn't speak to crowds at her election night watch party at Howard University last night, with supporters leaving a few hours before Trump was projected the winner.
- Rebecca Corey
What will another Trump presidency mean for the Supreme Court?
Donald Trump appointed three of the nine Supreme Court justices (Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett) during his first term as president, with the more conservative court leading to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Now that Trump is getting a second term, what's next?
Republican pollster Frank Luntz said Tuesday night that "there are a couple justices that will probably be retiring in the next year or two." Luntz didn't specify which two justices could be retiring. The two oldest Supreme Court justices are conservatives Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, who are 76 and 74, respectively. And now that Republicans have won control of the Senate — which is responsible for confirming Supreme Court nominees with a simple majority vote — Luntz predicted that "whomever [Trump] wants is going to end up on the Supreme Court."
CBS News notes that in addition to possibly getting to appoint "another [Supreme Court] justice or two," Trump will have the opportunity to appoint more federal judges.
- Suzy Byrne
Join Yahoo News' Andrew Romano in election "Ask me anything"
Have any burning questions about the 2024 election? Yahoo News' Andrew Romano, who covers politics and national affairs, is joining reporters from news outlets including the New York Times, Reuters and the Washington Post for a Reddit AMA breaking down the election results. The questions will be answered today between 12 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET, so submit yours now.
- David Artavia
WATCH: Trump declares 'golden age of America' in victory speech
President-elect Donald Trump took the stage early Wednesday at his campaign’s election night watch party in Palm Beach, Fla., celebrating a historic victory and promising to usher in "the golden age of America" in his upcoming term.
"We have thousands of friends in this incredible movement. This was a movement like nobody’s ever seen before," Trump declared. "Tonight, we made history for a reason, and that reason is clear. We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible."
- Natalie Rahhal
How Elon Musk helped elect Trump — and how his victory is helping him
Donald Trump dubbed Elon Musk a “new star” during his victory speech early Wednesday morning at Mar-a-Lago, where the billionaire celebrated alongside the president-elect and his closest allies. Musk has become one of them after he helped set up the America PAC this summer, and funneled at least $119 million of his own money into the group to fund Trump’s campaign.
Musk has long vocally criticized the left as “woke” on his social media platform, X, but hadn’t backed Trump outright. Musk posted his endorsement of Trump immediately following the July 16 assassination attempt on the former president.
The SpaceX founder’s efforts on Trump’s behalf have only ramped up since. In the weeks leading up to the election, Musk launched a $1 million-a-day giveaway, for which only registered voters in the seven key swing states were eligible. And he wielded his considerable influence on X to promote Trump and conservative talking points.
But the relationship isn’t one-sided. Stocks rose, broadly, following the news of Trump’s election, and shares of Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla, have risen nearly 13% since the market opened on Wednesday. That drove up the value of Musk’s personal shares in the company by $15 billion, Forbes reports.
- David Artavia
WATCH: Voters shared divided views and last-minute decisions as polls closed last night
As polls closed across the nation last night, voters shared their thoughts on the candidates and the future of the country. For some, the decision was clear. For others, the choice came down to the final moments.
In Georgia, 79-year-old Sarah Haywood cast her first-ever presidential vote, choosing Donald Trump.
"He’s the one for the job," she told Reuters. In contrast, Dewey Weiss, a union electrician from Michigan, spoke against Trump’s stance on unions: “It’s well known that Donald Trump wants to do away with unions," he said.
For voters in North Carolina, a state that ultimately went to Trump, opinions were divided: Renee White firmly believed in a Trump victory, remarking, “We might have a fight before it’s over, but I’m not worried, because we are going to prevail.”
But a fellow North Carolina voter, Calvin Chadwick, felt the time was right for a different direction, saying, “We had Barack Obama, the first Black president, and it’s time for a woman to take the leadership.”
Other voters remained undecided until the last moment. Kandy Cook from New Hampshire, for example, admitted to being uncertain even as she entered the booth.
“I think they’re all baboons," she remarked on the candidates. "Nobody speaks up for what they’re going to do for the U.S.”
- Dylan Stableford
Trump made gains in New York and NYC
As political analysts and pundits continue to dissect Donald Trump's victory, it's worth taking a look at his former home state of New York.
Kamala Harris won the Empire State on Tuesday with 55.8% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. But Trump, at 44.2%, improved his share from 2020, when he lost New York to Joe Biden by 23 points, 60.9% to 33.7%.
And in New York City, Trump captured more than 30% of the vote on Tuesday, up seven points from where he was in 2020 (23%).
Since leaving the White House, the Queens-born Trump changed his primary residence from Manhattan to Palm Beach, Fla. But during the campaign, he held rallies in New York, including the controversial one he staged at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27, where a speaker stirred outrage by calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.”
- David Artavia
George W. Bush congratulates Trump, praises high voter turnout
Former President George W. Bush congratulated President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance following their election victory. He also thanked outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their service.
"I congratulate President Trump on his election as 47th President of the United States of America, as well as Vice President-elect JD Vance and their families," the statement read, according to CNN. "I also thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for their service to our country."
The statement continued, "The strong turnout in this election is a sign of the health of our republic and the strength of our democratic institutions."
"Laura and I are grateful to the election officials, poll workers and volunteers who oversaw a free and fair election," Bush, who did not endorse a presidential candidate this election, continued. "We join our fellow citizens in praying for the success of our new leaders at all levels of government. May God continue to bless our great country.”
- David Artavia
Palestinians react to Trump's election win
Following Donald Trump's presidential victory, Palestinians in Gaza are expressing both fear and hope with regard to the potential impact he might have in terms of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Some believe Trump’s assertive style could bring an end to their suffering, while others, like 60-year-old Samir Abu Jundi, worry that the president-elect's track record of supporting Israel may lead to further escalation.
"Trump is firm in some decisions, but these decisions could serve Israel's interests politically more than they serve the Palestinian cause," Abu Jundi told AFP.
In the West Bank, where tensions are also high, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cautiously welcomed the new administration and expressed hope for renewed peace efforts amid heightened fears and unyielding U.S. support for Israel.
"We will remain steadfast in our commitment to peace, and we are confident that the United States will support, under your leadership, the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people," Abbas said in a statement, according to Reuters.
- Andrew Romano
Heavily Latino counties show huge shifts toward Trump
Preliminary exit polls released Tuesday suggested that one of the keys to Trump's comeback victory was his surprising strength among Latino voters.
But exit polls can be a bit fuzzy — and pollsters have struggled to precisely quantify the Latino vote in the past.
For a clearer picture of how the Latino vote affected the 2024 election, it helps to drill down on specific counties — especially counties where Latinos make up a majority of the electorate.
Three of the biggest are the Bronx in New York (roughly 56% Latino) and El Paso and Hildago in Texas (more than 80% and 90% Latino, respectively).
They all tell a consistent story.
For instance, Harris won El Paso, a major border city in Texas's far western corner, by 15 percentage points this year (57% to 42%). But Joe Biden won it in 2020 by 35 points (67% to 32%). That's a 20-point shift in Trump's direction.
Same goes for Hildago, a populous border country in the southern tip of the state. There, Trump actually won by three points this time around (51% to 48%) after losing by 17 points in 2020 (41% to 58%) — another 20-point shift.
As of Wednesday morning, votes are still being counted in the Bronx. But with 87% of precincts reporting, Harris's current margin (45 percentage points) is a full 23 points smaller than Biden's winning margin from four years ago (68 percentage points). Overall, Trump performed better in deep-blue New York state (on the presidential level) than any Republican in decades — and his Latino support is one reason why.
This sea change is evident in nearby Pennsylvania as well:
Allentown, PA (54% Hispanic)
2016: D+41
2020: D+35
2024: D+23
Hazleton, PA (62% Hispanic)
2016: D+5
2020: R+11
2024: R+25— Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) November 6, 2024
So it's very possible (as the exit polls suggest) that Trump just won a bigger share of the Latino vote than any Republican since George W. Bush.
Four years ago, the exit polls showed Trump winning 32% of Latinos. Right now, they show him winning 45%.
Nationally, Latino men seem to be driving this shift. In 2020, they voted for Biden (59%) over Trump (36%) — again, according to the exit polls. This year, they voted for Trump (54%) over Harris (44%).