US election recap: Exit polls reveal who voted for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris presidency
Donald Trump has been elected President of the US for a second non-consecutive term. Recap a huge week in politics by scrolling through the posts below.
Key Events
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As election week draws to a close, so too does The Nightly’s live blog.
If you’re just joining us, feel free to scroll through the posts below to recap a huge week in world politics.
Thank you for joining us throughout the week as we witnessed an historic election result and the return of Donald Trump to the White House.
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Anthony Albanese promises to ‘work closely’ with Trump White House
Anthony Albanese has promised to “work closely” with the incoming Trump administration after the Republican’s emphatic win in the 2024 US election.
The Prime Minister congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, telling reporters in Canberra on Thursday he looked forward to working with the President-elect “in the interests of both of our nations”.
“The United States has long played a leadership role in the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific and Australia will strive to strengthen the cooperation between our two nations and the region,” Mr Albanese said.
“Australia and the United States are old allies and true friends and our nations are bound by a history of common sacrifice and above all enduring respect and affection between our peoples.”
The Labor leader said although the US president-elect has “made it clear he’s going to do things differently”, Australians should be “confident” in their diplomats ability to deliver for the nation’s good.
Trump looking more likely to win popular vote
Donald Trump looks increasingly likely to win the popular vote and complete a clean sweep of the US government, even as millions of votes are still to be counted.
While it is not a landslide, it is a more emphatic win than the Republican had when he first came to power in 2016.
At this stage, Donald Trump is about 5 million votes (3.4 per cent) ahead of Kamala Harris in the popular vote.
If he does win the popular vote, it will be the first time a Republican candidate has done that since George W Bush in 2004.
If he does, the Republicans will have completed a clean sweep of government at the polls: if they can seize the House of Representatives, too after flipping control of the Senate.
Trump wins Alaska, Harris wins Maine
The final results for two more states have come in, with Alaska and Maine declaring their victors.
Donald Trump claimed the deeply red-blooded Alaska, clinching three more electoral college votes.
Kamala Harris, meanwhile, picked up two more votes in Maine.
That puts Trump at 295 electoral college votes and Harris at 226.
Nevada and Arizona are the only states still to be called, but they are likely to fall to the Republicans.
Harris closes with hopeful message: ‘Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars’
Closing her speech, Kamala Harris remains remarkably upbeat.
She tells the crowd: “Only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars”.
“I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time but, for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case,” she said.
“But here’s the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars. The light, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth, and service.
“And may that work guide us, even in the face of setbacks, toward the extraordinary promise of the United States of America.”
Harris takes inspiration from her experience as a public prosecutor.
She said throughout her legal career, she saw people at the “worst times in their lives” who found courage and strength to take a stand for justice.
“Let their courage be our inspiration. Let their determination be our charge.”
A message for young Americans: ‘You have power’
Harris has implored young Americans to believe in themselves, despite her historic campaign and bid for election failing.
She urged young voters not to “listen when anyone tells you something is impossible, because it has never been done before.”
“You have the capacity to do extraordinary good in the world. And so to everyone who is watching, do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.
“This is a time to organise, to mobilise, and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice, and the future that we all know we can build together.”
Harris tells followers to roll up their sleeves
Harris has attempted to allay her followers’ disappointments, but said now was not the time to “throw up our hands”.
She urged her followers, instead, to “roll up our sleeves”.
“The fight for our freedom will take hard work, but like I always say, we like hard work.
“And the fight for our country is always worth it. It is always worth it.”
She spoke directly to young voters, telling them “it’s going to be okay”.
She said just because her campaign message - ‘When we fight, we win’ - did not come true in this election, doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
“Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we don’t win.
“The important thing is don’t ever give up! Don’t ever give up! Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place.”
Harris promised not to give up ‘fight for freedom’
Despite admitting defeat, Harris promises to continue for “the fight for freedom”.
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign,” she said, prompting cheers.
“The fight, the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people, a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best - that is a fight I will never give up.”
She vowed to continue to fight for women’s health rights, gun control, and for the “rule of law”, for equal justice and for “fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld”.
Ms Harris said the fight will continue in the voting booth, the courts, and in Americans’ private lives “by treating one another with kindness and respect”
We must accept the results of this election: Harris concedes defeat
The crowd jeered and booed as Harris said she called her Republican rival Donald Trump to concede defeat.
She said “I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now”
“I get it,” she laughed.
“Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory,” she continued.
“I also told him that we will help him and his team with the transition and we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”
That prompted cheers from the crowd, which grew louder as Harris appeared to take a final, veiled swipe at Trump for his infamous refusal to concede defeat in 2020.
“A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results.
“That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from anarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honour it.
“At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the constitution of the United States.”
Harris ‘proud’ of the race Democrats ran
Ms Harris thanked her Democratic campaign, saying she is “proud” of their efforts.
“Look, I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it. And the way we ran it,” she said.
“Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intentional about building community and building coalitions,” she says.
“Bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united by love of country, with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for America’s future.”
She thanked her running mate Tim Walz and the Walz family and current President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. She also thanked her husband Doug and their family.
“I love you so very much,” she said to her “beloved” husband.
She also thanked her volunteers and election officials around the country.
