Trump Ahead, Harris' path to victory narrows
Kamala Harris’s path to the White House narrowed as Donald Trump appeared to win a key battleground in the contest to become the next US president.
The Republican candidate Trump secured North Carolina, one of the seven critical battleground states, signaling a competitive edge in areas where the race remains tight. As of the latest update, Trump had amassed 230 Electoral College votes compared to Harris’s 210. A candidate must reach at least 270 Electoral College votes to claim the presidency.
Decision Desk HQ also projected Trump as the likely winner in Georgia, further complicating Harris's path through the Rust Belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where she trailed in all three.
Exit polls from Edison Research highlighted Trump’s gains with Hispanic voters, who have traditionally leaned Democratic, as well as with lower-income households concerned about economic pressures. Trump received 45% of the Hispanic vote nationwide, an increase of 13 percentage points from 2020, though Harris retained a slight edge with 53%.
Economic concerns played a significant role in voter decisions. Of those who identified the economy as their top issue—about 31%—a significant 79% backed Trump, especially among those who felt financially worse off compared to four years ago. Nearly 45% of voters reported their financial situation had declined since the last election, with 80% of these voters supporting Trump over Harris, who received only 17%.
Following these early results, U.S. stock futures, the dollar, and Treasury yields rose, reflecting investor sentiment that appeared to favor Trump’s performance. However, market experts noted that it was still too early for any definitive trading strategies.
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