Donald Trump has secured North Carolina, marking the first major victory in a crucial battleground state and solidifying the Republican Party’s control over the state’s 16 electoral votes.
With ballots cast across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris continues. In the U.S. presidential election, a candidate needs at least 270 Electoral College votes to win. Most states allocate all their votes to the winner of the popular vote, while Nebraska and Maine split theirs.
Despite polls showing Kamala Harris gaining ground in North Carolina after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July, Trump was able to hold the state. His success was fueled by stronger-than-expected support among Black voters, young voters, and independents. Black voters, who made up 19% of the electorate in North Carolina, showed an increase in support for Trump, particularly among Black men, who gave him a 12-point boost compared to 2020.
As of now, Trump has secured 246 electoral votes, while Harris has 189. A candidate needs 270 to win.
Trump’s victory in North Carolina highlights the continued strength of his MAGA movement, marking his third consecutive win in the state, despite the challenges he faced, including two impeachments and multiple criminal charges after leaving office.
For Harris, the path to victory now relies on winning the “blue wall” states—Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin—that Trump flipped in 2016. However, Trump currently leads in all three as the results continue to unfold.
