The presidential battle between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris hurtled toward an uncertain conclusion on Tuesday, as countless Americans cast their votes, each faced with two starkly opposing visions for the nation.
The election, rocked by major events including two assassination attempts on Trump, President Joe Biden’s unexpected exit, and Harris’ swift ascent, remained neck and neck despite extensive spending and months of intense campaigning.
Trump’s team hinted that he might proclaim victory on election night before all votes are tallied, repeating his premature declaration from four years earlier.
Trump has consistently claimed that any loss would be due to extensive voter fraud, reiterating the baseless accusations he made in 2020. The election outcome might remain unclear for days if the vote margins in pivotal states are as narrow as anticipated.
Regardless of the election’s outcome, it will mark a historic moment.
At 60 years old, Harris, the first female vice president, could shatter multiple barriers to become the first female, first Black, and first South Asian American president.
Meanwhile, Trump, at 78, with two impeachments and a criminal conviction to his name, could become the first president to serve non-consecutive terms in over a century.
The latest opinion polls show the candidates in a dead heat across seven key states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—that are likely to decide the election.
Polling by Reuters/Ipsos reveals a pronounced gender divide, with Harris leading among women by 12 points and Trump ahead among men by 7 points.
The race mirrors a nation deeply divided, its schisms deepening amidst an intensely competitive electoral process.
Trump has employed increasingly dark and apocalyptic rhetoric on the campaign trail, while Harris has cautioned that another term for Trump could threaten the foundations of American democracy.
The battle for control of the U.S. Congress is equally uncertain. The Republicans have a smoother path in the Senate, defending seats in states that lean conservative, while the House of Representatives remains a toss-up.
In the final stretch, both candidates crisscrossed battleground states to rally every last vote. Trump held his last event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Monday night; Harris campaigned in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
By Election Day, over 80 million Americans had already voted, either by mail or in person, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab.
Throughout the campaign, Trump criticized Biden and later Harris for their economic policies, which remain top of mind for voters amid low unemployment and subsiding inflation.
However, Trump frequently strayed from his core message, at one point challenging Harris’ racial identity and asserting his commitment to protect women “whether they like it or not.”
His unrestrained approach seemed aimed more at energizing his base than broadening his support.
More than ever, Trump has portrayed immigrants crossing the border illegally as instigators of a supposed crime wave, making unfounded accusations and promising to prosecute his political adversaries using government power.
Despite this, polls indicate some gains for Trump among Black and Latino voters, even with Harris’ historic candidacy. Trump has frequently claimed that migrants are taking jobs from these groups.
Conversely, Harris has sought to build a diverse coalition of liberal Democrats, independents, and disenchanted moderate Republicans, portraying Trump as a danger to the nation.
Her platform includes defending reproductive rights, energized by the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to end a nationwide right to abortion.
Harris has also navigated criticism from pro-Palestinian voters upset with the Biden administration’s support for Israel in the Gaza conflict. While not indicating a policy shift, she has committed to doing everything possible to resolve the conflict.
