Donald Trump and his wife Melania wave as they smile while standing on stage.

Donald Trump spoke alongside his wife Melania and family at a campaign event in Florida. Source: Getty / Chip Somodevilla

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Donald Trump projected to win 2024 US presidential election — as it happened

Follow the 2024 US presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris with live updates and key moments on SBS News.

Donald Trump spoke alongside his wife Melania and family at a campaign event in Florida. Source: Getty / Chip Somodevilla

Published 6 November 2024 9:00am

Updated 6 November 2024 6:56pm

Source: SBS News

Donald Trump has won the US presidential election: projections

Donald Trump will return to the White House after a four-year absence, according to projections.

The Republican candidate has won 277 Electoral College votes, surpassing the 270 needed to become president.

Wisconsin was projected for the Republican, making it impossible for the Democrat candidate Kamala Harris to catch up even though counting is still underway.

In May, Trump, who served as president from 2016 - 2020, became

the first former president to be convicted of a crime

.

A New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

— Madeleine Wedesweiler

3 months ago6 Nov 3:03pm

Polls now closed in 48 out of 50 states

Kamala Harris is projected to win California, the state with the most Electoral College votes.

The 54 from the state and 12 from Washington state brings her total to 179.

Donald Trump is projected to win Idaho, with four Electoral College votes bringing him to 214.

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 3:03pm

The states that have been called, and those that haven't

Maybe you're just joining us on the blog or maybe you're desperate for a refresher on which states have been called and for whom.

Trump has so far won 214 Electoral College votes and Harris 179. That means 145 Electoral College votes are still in play.

Maine and Nebraska are more complicated than the other states — Electoral College votes are won statewide and by district in Maine where Harris has won one of four possible electoral votes, and in Nebraska where Trump has won three of five Electoral College votes.

Here's a full list:

States called so far for Donald Trump

Florida
Alabama
Arkansas
Idaho
Iowa
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
West Virginia
Wyoming

States that have been called for Kamala Harris

California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Delaware
Illinois
Massachusetts
Maryland
New Jersey
New York
Rhode Island
Vermont

States that haven't been called yet

Alaska
Arizona
Georgia
Michigan
Minnesota
North Carolina
New Hampshire
New Mexico
Nevada
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

— Madeleine Wedesweiler

3 months ago6 Nov 2:45pm

PM pays tribute to outgoing US president Joe Biden

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to "his friend" and outgoing US President Joe Biden in parliament on Wednesday afternoon as counting in the US election continues.

He recalled his first meeting with the President at a Quad meeting in Tokyo, only 48 hours after being sworn in as Australia's leader.

"It was a whirlwind, but I'll never forget the genuine warmth of Joe's welcome. We've worked together very closely to make Australia's alliance with the United States stronger than it has ever been," Albanese said.

Anthony Albanese and Joe Biden. Source: AP / Evan Vucci

Albanese said it had been an "honour" to work with Biden, labelling him a "powerful advocate for working people, for the cause of democracy and for peace".

He added the election was a "moment of profound consequence for the world" and that he would seek to "build a strong partnership with whoever the American people choose as their next president".

— Ewa Staszewska

3 months ago6 Nov 2:45pm

Kansas and Iowa go to Donald Trump

AP is projecting that Iowa and Kansas will go for Donald Trump, bringing him to 210 Electoral College votes.

There are still no results from the key seven swing states: Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina and Georgia, nor in Nevada where polls are still open.

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 2:44pm

Sarah McBride becomes first openly trans member of US Congress

The AP projects Democrat Sarah McBride has won the state of Delaware's at-large congressional district, defeating Republican candidate John Whalen.

She became the first openly transgender person to serve as a state senator when she was elected in 2020.

McBride now becomes the first openly transgender person elected to the US House of Representatives.

A woman wearing a blue dress speaks at a podium.

Sarah McBride speaks during an election night watch party in Wilmington, Delaware. Source: AAP / Pamela Smith/AP

The representative seat — Delaware's only House seat — has been Democratic since 2010, according to the New York Times.

— Emma Brancatisano

3 months ago6 Nov 2:31pm

What happens if neither candidate gets enough votes?

It's unlikely that neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump will win the 270 Electoral College votes required to win the presidency.

But it could technically happen — there are 538 votes and both candidates could tie on 269.

Or, as happened most recently in 2016, the college electors could submit votes for people other than Harris or Trump, which would not count to their totals.

If either of these scenarios happened, the House of Representatives would vote on the winner, as it last did in 1824.

Read more here:

What happens if neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump wins 270 Electoral College votes?

— Madeleine Wedesweiler

3 months ago6 Nov 2:31pm

Harris wins the District of Columbia

Three more votes go into the pile for Kamala Harris, with AP projecting a win in the District of Columbia.

This is how the race for the White House has gone so far:
— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 2:19pm

Harris wins Colorado

The state of Colorado and its 10 Electoral College votes are projected for Kamala Harris.

Here's how the Electoral College map currently looks:

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 2:05pm

Montana and Utah go to Trump

Montana and Utah are projected to go to Donald Trump, according to AP.

The Republican candidate will also take one of the congressional districts in Nebraska, with the other two not yet called.

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 2:00pm

Missouri called for Trump, polls close in three more states

Missouri, and its 10 Electoral College votes, are projected to go to Donald Trump.

Polls have closed in Montana and Utah, as well as the battleground state of Nevada.

Voting has already wrapped up in the battleground states of Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Read more about the importance of Nevada and the other six swing states here:

The seven battleground states that could decide the US election

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 1:59pm

Scenes from the States

Watch parties, rallies and celebrations are all taking place as the results and projections come in.

Supporters of Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris react to election results at an election night watch party at Howard University Source: EPA / Jim Lo Scalzo

Trump supporters watch results as they attend a watch party before Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Source: AP / Lynne Sladky

People watch election results in front of the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building, Harlem, New York. Source: AP / Frank Franklin II

Kennedy Lucas, Miss Black USA, attends an election night campaign watch party for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris Source: AP / Mark Schiefelbein

Mike and Dolly Rump of Madison, Florida, watch election results at an election night campaign watch party for Donald Trump Source: AP / Marta Lavandier

3 months ago6 Nov 1:48pm

What’s happening in the House and Senate races?

This election, Americans have not only been voting for the president and vice president, but also senators, members of the House of Representatives and state governors.

Importantly, voters are waiting to see which party will control the House of Representatives and the Senate. All 435 seats in the House and 34 in the Senate — the two chambers of Congress — are up for grabs, and the results will determine how successfully the next president will be able to govern.

As more polls close and early results trickle in, the Democrats are defending a thin 51-49 majority in the Senate. But Republicans could lose their grip in the House, where Democrats only need to pick up four seats to take back control.

Here’s where things stand:

In the Senate, the AP has projected 46 Republicans to 36 Democrats. In the House, Republicans are up 97 to 68 Democrats, according to the AP.
Read more here from Julia Abbondanza, who examines whether the current US Congress truly reflects the diversity of its people:

How representative is US Congress? Compared to the population, not very

— Emma Brancatisano, with Reuters

3 months ago6 Nov 1:20pm

Texas called for Donald Trump

Donald Trump is now up to 177 in the race to 270 Electoral College votes and the White House.

AP is projecting that he will win Texas and the state's 40 Electoral College votes.

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 1:18pm

Can those in line when polls close still vote?

As polls close in parts of the US, you might be wondering about those still waiting in line. Are they allowed to vote?

According to several sources, the answer is: yes.

'When We All Vote', a nonpartisan initiative created by former US first lady Michelle Obama to educate Americans about voting and increase participation, says those who are still in line when the polls close should stay in line. "You have the right to vote," it says.

Similarly, the Bipartisan Policy Center says: "If you’re waiting in line when polls close, you have the right to stay in line as long as it takes to be able to cast your ballot".

The American Civil Liberties Union also says those who are still in line when polls close have the right to vote.

This right is outlined in some state laws, such as Arizona, which states: "Any qualified voter who at the moment of closing is in the line of waiting voters shall be allowed to vote."

— Emma Brancatisano

3 months ago6 Nov 1:13pm

Donald Trump wins Ohio

AP is projecting that Donald Trump will win Ohio and the state's 17 electoral college votes.

The state was typically a bellwether, but it went for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.

—Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 1:10pm

Louisiana, New York among latest calls

It's just after 9pm Eastern Time (1pm AEDT) and ballots in several more states have closed.

AP is projecting Donald Trump will win North Dakota, South Dakota, Louisiana and two statewide Electoral College votes for Nebraska (plus three district votes).

New York is projected for Kamala Harris.

Polls in three more battleground states — Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan — have also closed. Voting in the key states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia wrapped up earlier.

Source: SBS

—Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 1:02pm

What have Kamala Harris and Donald Trump said today?

Both candidates have told voters to "stay in line" if polls close where they are, as polls remain open on the west coast.

Donald Trump voted in Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago club, and said afterwards that he was feeling "very confident".

Donald Trump and Melania Trump are walking.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump walk after voting on election day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Florida. Source: AAP / Evan Vucci/AP

Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice president, did phone interviews with radio stations in the battleground states, then visited Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington carrying a box of Doritos — her go-to snack.

"This truly represents the best of who we are," Harris told a room of cheering staffers.

She was handed a cell phone by supporters doing phone banking, and when asked by reporters how she was feeling, Harris held up a phone and responded, "Gotta talk to voters", AP reported.

Kamala Harris is speaking on the phone as staffers cheer.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris phone banks with volunteers at the DNC headquarters on election day in Washington. Source: AAP / Jacquelyn Martin/AP

As we reported earlier on the blog, Trump has also posted unverified information on his Truth Social platform, about voter fraud, which has been denied by officials and dismissed as "nonsense".

— Madeleine Wedesweiler

3 months ago6 Nov 12:51pm

History makers elected to the US Senate

The Congressional races have seen some history makers elected to the US Senate.

Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester has won the Senate contest in Delaware, according to AP, defeating Republican Eric Hansen. She becomes the first woman and the first Black person to represent the state. Only three other Black women have served in the Senate — two were elected, and one was appointed.

And in New Jersey's Senate race, Democrat Andy Kim has won over Republican Curtis Bashaw, becoming the first Korean-American to be elected to the Senate. He succeeds Bob Menendez, who resigned this year after a federal bribery conviction.

— Emma Brancatisano

3 months ago6 Nov 12:35pm

Arkansas call means Trump passes 100 electoral college votes

Donald Trump is projected to win Arkansas and the six electoral college votes, taking him to 101, while Kamala Harris is projected to win New Jersey.

Trump is also expected to win Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, West Virginia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee, according to AP.

Harris is expected to win Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island and is on 71 electoral college votes.

It comes after polls closed earlier in Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, with counting underway.

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 12:35pm

Milwaukee's decision to re-run absentee ballots was to reassure public of election security, official says

We reported on the blog earlier that around 30,000 votes had to be recounted in Milwaukee in the state of Wisconsin.

It's now been confirmed that the votes had to be re-run through tabulator machines.

Paulina Gutierrez, executive director of the Milwaukee election commission, told reporters on Tuesday that the decision was made "to ensure the American public that this election is going to be run safe, secure and transparent".

She did not say how long the count would take, only that "it's going to be a late night".

— Madeleine Wedesweiler

Donald Trump projected to win 2024 US presidential election — as it happened