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Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, clinching the state's 19 electoral votes and delivering a major victory in the 2024 presidential race, according to the Associated Press.
This key battleground state, which holds the largest number of electoral votes among swing states, has pushed Trump's total to 267 votes, just three shy of the 270 required to win the Electoral College and the White House. His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, currently stands at 224 electoral votes.
Pennsylvania has long been pivotal for Democrats and a major focus in recent elections. After Trump's narrow 2016 victories in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, Democrats aimed to rebuild the "blue wall" in these states, with Joe Biden successfully reclaiming them in 2020.
The state, known as a reliable predictor of overall election results, has been crucial to Democratic strategies to counter Trump. Despite this, Trump's strong campaign presence in Pennsylvania, coupled with Harris's decision to choose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate instead of the state's Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, may have impacted her chances in this must-win state.
During their campaigns, both Trump and Harris made frequent appearances in Pennsylvania, underscoring its significance. It was also in Pennsylvania that Trump survived an assassination attempt while campaigning in July, an event he revisited in a speech last month. Many had speculated that Harris would benefit from choosing a Pennsylvania-based running mate to solidify her appeal in the state. However, her selection of Walz was, in her words, a "gut decision," and did not yield the desired outcome in Pennsylvania.
Election Day on Nov. 5 saw numerous races too close to call, with 34 Senate seats, 435 House seats, and 11 governorships up for grabs. Experts have been cautious in making predictions due to unorthodox polling methods used this election cycle, which introduced additional uncertainty. The race between Harris and Trump remains tight, with polls indicating a statistical tie just before Election Day, leaving both candidates uncertain of their chances.
In other key states, Harris won Minnesota, securing its 10 electoral votes, while Trump won Georgia's 16, further hindering Democratic efforts to establish the state as a lasting blue stronghold after Biden's 2020 success there. With Pennsylvania's results in, Trump is closer than ever to claiming the presidency.
