delivered remarks to the nation midday Thursday in his first appearance on camera in the aftermath of 鈥檚 decisive victory over .
Control over the hangs in the balance, teetering between with dozens of races left to be called.
The of the early Wednesday.
Follow the AP鈥檚 Election 2024 coverage at: .
Here鈥檚 the latest:
Pennsylvania鈥檚 David McCormick thanks voters after AP calls race in his favor
Pennsylvania Republican Sen.-elect is thanking voters in a brief statement after The Associated Press for him in his bid to oust three-term Democratic Sen. Bob Casey. On social media, the former CEO of the world鈥檚 largest hedge fund said, 鈥淭hank you, Pennsylvania! Looking forward to representing every citizen of our great Commonwealth.鈥�
The victory pads Republicans鈥� majority in the Senate, which they , and clocked in as the nation鈥檚 second-most expensive race.
Casey isn鈥檛 conceding. His campaign鈥檚 pointing to a statement from the state鈥檚 top election official saying that at least 100,000 ballots still remained to be counted, including provisional ballots and military and overseas ballots.
Casey鈥檚 campaign says it鈥檒l 鈥渕ake sure every Pennsylvanian鈥檚 voice is heard.鈥�
Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms in multiple states and prompt investigations
Racist text messages invoking slavery raised alarm across the country this week after they were sent to Black men, women and students, prompting inquiries by the and other agencies.
The messages, sent anonymously, were reported in several states, including , , , and . They generally used a similar tone but varied in wording.
Some instructed the recipient to show up at an address at a particular time 鈥渨ith your belongings,鈥� while others didn鈥檛 include a location. Some of them mentioned the incoming presidential administration.
The FBI said it was in touch with the Justice Department on the messages, and the Federal Communications Commission said it was investigating the texts 鈥渁longside federal and state law enforcement.鈥� The Ohio Attorney General鈥檚 office also said it was looking into the matter.
Republicans鈥� comfortable Senate majority grows their power
When Trump entered the White House the first time, Republicans held a 51-seat majority and many within the party were willing to resist his plans.
Now, Trump is going back with a healthy Senate majority 鈥� at least 53 seats 鈥� and a party transformed by his MAGA movement.
A couple of Republican senators are still willing to publicly buck Trump. But there are enough GOP senators to confirm 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 Cabinet -- or a possible Supreme Court justice -- even if a few split.
Republican leaders say they want to keep the Senate鈥檚 filibuster rules, which require a 60-vote margin for most legislation. But they鈥檙e also looking at using a process called budget reconciliation to pass some legislation with a simple majority.
Republican lawmakers want to extend tax cuts from 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 first term and fund tougher border enforcement measures.
Republicans grow their Senate majority
Republican Dave McCormick鈥檚 win in Pennsylvania added to his party鈥檚 Senate majority and completed their dominance in a state that was crucial to both the presidential and congressional elections.
McCormick unseated Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, giving Republicans their 53rd seat in the Senate.
Close races in Arizona and Nevada have not been called.
The GOP鈥檚 rise to a Senate majority for the first time in four years is prompting praise for Sen. Steve Daines, who chairs the Republican campaign arm, and has insisted on getting involved in primary races to help mainstream candidates.
AP Race Call: Republican Dave McCormick wins election to U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania, beating incumbent Bob Casey
Republican David McCormick won a Senate seat in Pennsylvania on Thursday, defeating Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and padding the GOP鈥檚 Senate majority. McCormick, 59, is a two-time Senate challenger and a former hedge fund CEO who served in former President George W. Bush鈥檚 administration. McCormick had strong support from Wall Street donors and contacts across the worlds of government, politics and finance. Casey had been seeking his fourth term and is perhaps Pennsylvania鈥檚 best-known politician, the son of a former two-term governor and Pennsylvania鈥檚 longest-ever serving Democrat in the Senate. The Associated Press declared McCormick the winner at 4:09 p.m. EST.
President-elect Trump names Susie Wiles as chief of staff
Susie Wiles was the manager of 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 victorious campaign and will now serve as his White House chief of staff.
Wiles is widely credited within and outside 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 inner circle for running what was, by far, his most disciplined and well-executed campaign. She largely avoided the spotlight, even refusing to take the mic to speak as Trump celebrated his victory early Wednesday morning.
鈥淪usie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again,鈥� Trump said in a statement. 鈥淚t is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.鈥�
Wiles is a longtime Florida-based Republican strategist who ran 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 campaign in the state in 2016 and 2020. Before that, she ran Rick Scott鈥檚 2010 campaign for Florida governor and briefly served as the manager of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman鈥檚 2012 presidential campaign.
Democrats hold Nevada House seats
Democrats defended three key House seats in Nevada, wins that helped them hold ground in the nationwide race for House control.
However, the party still needs to flip seats elsewhere to have any hope of retaking House control.
Practically every seat matters now that it is coming down to the last couple dozen races to be called for the 435-seat chamber. Republicans currently hold a thin majority and just need to hold their seats in the races that have yet to be called.
The elections so far have produced few changes to the makeup of the House. Republicans flipped a pair of seats in Pennsylvania, won one more in Michigan and picked up three more redistricted seats in North Carolina. Democrats, meanwhile, flipped three in New York and picked up another redistricted seat in Alabama.
Biden calls Brazil鈥檚 Lula
Biden spoke earlier Thursday with Brazil President Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva, according to the White House.
The purpose of the call was to discuss the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro that Brazil will be hosting. But it may have also been an opportunity for Biden to commiserate with a sympathetic world leader.
The left-leaning Lula made clear his preference for Harris ahead of the U.S. election. Lula in 2022 defeated the far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was known as 鈥淭rump of the Tropics.鈥�
Biden is set to visit Brazil from Nov. 17-19. He鈥檒l first head to Manaus to visit the Amazon rainforest and meet with local, indigenous and other leaders, the White House said. He鈥檒l then head to Rio de Janeiro for the summit of leaders from some of the world鈥檚 biggest economies.
Before his Brazil visit, Biden is heading to Lima, Peru, for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting.
The two gatherings of global leaders will offer Biden one of his last chances, as president, to meet with heads of state he鈥檚 worked with over the years.
White evangelical voters show steadfast support for Donald 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 presidency
After former President Donald Trump gave his victory speech early Wednesday, at the Palm Beach Convention Center, dozens of his supporters gathered in a lobby to sing 鈥淗ow Great Thou Art,鈥� reciting from memory the words and harmonies of a classic hymn, popular among evangelical Christians.
It was a fitting coda to an election in which Trump once again won the support of about 8 in 10 white evangelical Christian voters, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters. That level of support 鈥� among a group that represented about 20% of the total electorate 鈥� repeats the similarly staggering evangelical support that .
Some Trump critics fear he will implement a agenda they see as giving Christians a privileged position in the country and flouting the separation of church and state.
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Pentagon chief reminds military of its duty to the Constitution
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is urging the military to carry out a smooth transition to President-elect Donald Trump, with a reminder to the force of its obligation to follow the lawful orders of the next commander in chief.
While such memos are rare, it is not the first time the military鈥檚 top civilian leader has pressed the force on its duty to the Constitution in regard to a changeover of control under Trump. However, in the context of the incoming president鈥檚 suggestion that he may use federal forces at the southern border, and Project 2025 plans to force out career civilians and fill positions with Trump loyalists, the Biden administration has taken unusual steps both to try to insulate those civil servants and to remind the military of its own sworn oaths.
Election night television viewership drops sharply from 2020 and 2016
The idea of grabbing some popcorn and watching television to see who America has was far less appealing this year than in the past.
The Nielsen company said that 42.3 million people watched election night returns on Tuesday night. That鈥檚 down sharply from the 56.9 million who watched in 2020 and the 71.4 million who tuned in on election night 2016, Nielsen said.
Television viewership in general has slipped over the past decade with people cutting cable and satellite subscriptions, so it鈥檚 hard to know how much this downturn reflects people turning elsewhere for news that night, or simply less interest in following the results.
The three largest cable news networks 鈥� CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC 鈥� accounted for just over 10 million of the lost audience.
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Trump says there is 鈥榥o price tag鈥� for his mass deportation plan
Trump said in an NBC interview that he has 鈥渘o choice鈥� but to move forward with the plan he plugged on the campaign trail to carry out what he and aides promised would be the largest deportation effort in American history.
He added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a question of a price tag. It鈥檚 not 鈥� really, we have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they鈥檙e going to go back to those countries because they鈥檙e not staying here. There is no price tag.鈥�
State Department prepares for the presidential transition
The State Department says it has begun to take steps to ease the transition from the Biden administration to 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 incoming administration.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has directed all department employees to work with incoming staffers to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition that protects U.S. national security.
Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that retired senior diplomat Stephen Mull, a former ambassador who is currently a vice provost at the University of Virginia, has been tasked with leading the effort to work with 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 team.
Miller said though that the department has not yet been contacted by the Trump team, which is being led by Brian Hook, a former special representative for Iran during the Trump administration, and Joel Rayburn, a former special envoy for Syria.
Miller said the department will put together information on policy and procedures and be ready to answer any questions.
鈥楾he Handmaid鈥檚 Tale鈥� is selling again
Since former President Trump clinched his return to the White House, Margaret Atwood鈥檚 dystopian classic about a country where women are brutally repressed has been high on the Amazon bestseller list.
鈥淭he Handmaid鈥檚 Tale鈥� was popular throughout 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 first term, along with such dark futuristic narratives as George Orwell鈥檚 鈥�1984鈥� and Ray Bradbury鈥檚 鈥淔ahrenheit 451,鈥� both of which were back in the Amazon top 40 as of Thursday afternoon. Another best-seller from 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 previous time in office, Timothy Snyder鈥檚 鈥淥n Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,鈥� was in the top 10.
Pro-Trump books also were selling well. Former first lady Melania 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 memoir, 鈥淢elania,鈥� was the No. 1 seller, and Vice President-elect JD Vance鈥檚 鈥淗illbilly Elegy鈥� was in the top 10. Donald 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 photo book, 鈥淪ave America,鈥� was in the top 30.
Federal Reserve Chair says Trump has no legal authority to fire him
At a press conference today, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said he would not resign if President-elect Donald Trump asked him to, and underscored that in his view, the president wouldn鈥檛 have the legal authority to fire him, as Trump reportedly sought to do the last time he was in the White House.
鈥淣ot permitted under the law,鈥� Powell said, when asked if he was worried that Trump could demote him or other Fed officials, such as Michael Barr, the Fed鈥檚 top banking regulator, who has sought to tighten financial regulations.
Most experts agree that a president generally doesn鈥檛 have the authority to fire a member of the Fed鈥檚 governing board, but there is more ambiguity about whether Trump could remove Powell as chair while leaving him as a member of the board.
Democrat Steven Horsford wins reelection to US House in Nevada鈥檚 4th Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Nevada on Thursday.
Horsford, a four-term congressman, became the first Black person to represent Nevada in Congress when he was first elected to the House. This year, he defeated former North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee. The district stretches north from Las Vegas, toward Nye County in the west and along the Utah border in the eastern portion of the district. The Associated Press declared Horsford the winner at 2:36 p.m. EST.
Democrat Kim Schrier wins reelection to US House in Washington鈥檚 8th Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Kim Schrier won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Washington on Thursday.
She defeated Republican Carmen Goers, who works in financial services. Schrier, a pediatrician, first won her seat in 2018, becoming the first Democrat to represent the district. Of the seven Washington state congressional districts Democrat Joe Biden carried in 2020, the 8th district had the smallest margin. The district covers much of the middle of the state, from the eastern suburbs of Seattle to the Columbia River. The Associated Press declared Schrier the winner at 2:10 p.m. EST.
Democrat Don Davis wins reelection to US House in North Carolina鈥檚 1st Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Donald Davis won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing North Carolina on Thursday.
Davis ran in territory that became less favorable to Democrats in 2023 after North Carolina passed new maps that brought more Republican-leaning voters into the 1st District. President Joe Biden still narrowly carried areas in 2020 that make up the district鈥檚 current configuration. Davis defeated Army veteran Laurie Buckhout. The Associated Press declared Davis the winner at 2:03 p.m. EST.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulates Donald Trump on his election victory
Putin鈥檚 congratulations were the Russian leader鈥檚 first public comment on the outcome of the U.S. balloting and came after a speech during an international forum conference in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
鈥矷 would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America,鈥� Putin said in a question-and-answer session.
Canada鈥檚 Trudeau revives a Cabinet-level panel to address concerns about a Trump presidency
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he is re-establishing a special Cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations to address his administration鈥檚 concerns about another Donald Trump presidency.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is also the country鈥檚 finance minister, will chair the committee, which also will include other top officials including ministers of foreign affairs, public safety and industry.
鈥淔ollowing the election of President Donald Trump for a second term, the Cabinet Committee will focus on critical Canada-U.S. issues,鈥� Trudeau鈥檚 office said in a statement Thursday.
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White evangelical voters show steadfast support for Donald 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 presidency
After Donald Trump gave his victory speech early Wednesday at the Palm Beach Convention Center, dozens of his supporters gathered in a lobby to sing 鈥淗ow Great Thou Art,鈥� reciting from memory the words and harmonies of a classic hymn, popular among evangelical Christians.
It was a fitting coda to an election in which Trump once again won the support of about 8 in 10 white evangelical Christian voters, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters. That margin 鈥� among a group that represented about 20% of the total electorate 鈥� repeats similarly staggering margins of evangelical support that .
Evangelicals said they believed Trump would implement their policy priorities on religious as well as general issues such as immigration and the economy. But critics fear 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 administration will implement Christian nationalist policies that will give Christianity a privileged status in public life, rather than maintaining a separation of church and state and treating people of all beliefs equally.
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Republican Scott Perry wins reelection to US House in Pennsylvania鈥檚 10th Congressional District
Republican Rep. Scott Perry won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Thursday.
The former Freedom Caucus chairman found himself in an expensive race against Janelle Stelson, a longtime local TV news anchor, in a Harrisburg district that Republican Donald Trump carried in the 2020 presidential election. Perry, a four-term congressman, was the only lawmaker to have his cellphone seized by FBI agents investigating the web of Trump loyalists who were central to the former president鈥檚 bid to remain in power after his 2020 election loss. The Associated Press declared Perry the winner at 1:47 p.m. EST.
Republican Robert Bresnahan wins election to US House in Pennsylvania鈥檚 8th Congressional District, beating incumbent Matt Cartwright
Republican Rob Bresnahan won election to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Thursday, defeating Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright.
Republicans have long sought to unseat Cartwright in this Scranton-based seat that Republican Donald Trump carried in the 2020 presidential election. Bresnahan is a first-time candidate and the CEO of an electrical contracting company founded by his grandfather. Cartwright has represented the district for six terms. The Associated Press declared Bresnahan the winner at 1:46 p.m. EST.
Republican Ryan Mackenzie wins election to US House in Pennsylvania鈥檚 7th Congressional District, beating incumbent Susan Wild
Republican Ryan Mackenzie won election to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Thursday, defeating Democratic Rep. Susan Wild in the highly competitive district.
Mackenzie represents parts of Lehigh County in the state House. While Democrat Joe Biden carried the Allentown district in 2020, Republican Donald Trump won it in 2016. Wild, a three-term congresswoman, is a perennial Republican target in her eastern Pennsylvania district and had staved off the challenges until now. The Associated Press declared Mackenzie the winner at 1:44 p.m. EST.
Rioters who stormed the Capitol after 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 2020 defeat toast his White House return
As it became clear Donald Trump was returning to the White House, the Florida man who posed for photos with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi鈥檚 lectern during the Capitol riot popped a bottle of Trump-branded sparkling wine. 鈥淵鈥檃ll are in trouble,鈥� he said after taking a sip in a video .
Rioters who stormed the Capitol on , are celebrating 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 victory and hoping he makes good on his campaign trail promise to pardon them.
Trump didn鈥檛 mention the Jan. 6 defendants, whom he鈥檚 called 鈥渉ostages鈥� and 鈥減atriots,鈥� during his victory speech Wednesday. But his defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris throws into doubt the future of the largest prosecution in Justice Department history over the unprecedented assault on a .
More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent lawmakers running into hiding as they .
Trump hasn鈥檛 explained how he鈥檒l decide who gets pardoned. But he鈥檚 suggested he would consider granting them even for those accused of assault as well as the former Proud Boys leader convicted of orchestrating a violent plot to keep Trump in power.
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Democrat Laura Gillen wins election to US House in New York鈥檚 4th Congressional District, beating incumbent Anthony D鈥橢sposito
Democrat Laura Gillen won election to a U.S. House seat representing New York on Thursday, defeating Republican Rep. Anthony D鈥橢sposito.
Gillen is a former town supervisor who campaigned on supporting law enforcement and border security, an issue many Democrats blame for their losses in New York in 2022. She lost to D鈥橢sposito by just over 3 percentage points last cycle. Gillen is one of several Democrats running against a New York Republican congressman in a district that Democrat Joe Biden carried in 2020. The district falls just outside the New York City borough of Queens. The Associated Press declared Gillen the winner at 12:39 p.m. EST.
California鈥檚 governor calls special session to protect liberal policies from Trump presidency
California鈥檚 Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, a fierce critic of President-elect Donald Trump, on Thursday called for lawmakers to convene a special session later this year to safeguard the state鈥檚 progressive policies on climate change, reproductive rights and immigration ahead of another Trump presidency.
The move 鈥� a day after the former president Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race 鈥� effectively reignited California鈥檚 resistance campaign against conservative policies that state Democratic leaders started during the first Trump administration.
The move is also part of a growing discussion among Democratic state officials across the country seeking to protect policies that face threats under 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 leadership.
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Republican Jeff Hurd wins election to US House in Colorado鈥檚 3rd Congressional District
Republican Jeffrey Hurd won election to a U.S. House seat representing Colorado on Thursday, maintaining Republican control of the 3rd District seat now represented by GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert.
Boebert, who nearly lost her seat to Democrat Adam Frisch in 2022, decided this year to run for former Republican Rep. Ken Buck鈥檚 vacant seat in territory that鈥檚 even friendlier to Republicans. The victory by Hurd, an attorney seen as a moderate alternative to Boebert, marked the second loss in a row for Frisch, a former City Council member from Aspen, who campaigned as a pragmatic businessman. The Associated Press declared Hurd the winner at 12:10 p.m. EST.
Democrat Dina Titus wins reelection to US House in Nevada鈥檚 1st Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Dina Titus won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Nevada on Thursday.
The Las Vegas district picked up Republican-leaning suburban areas after redistricting, turning it into a target for the GOP. But for the second election in a row, Titus defeated Republican Mark Robertson, a retired Army colonel. She has served seven terms in Congress. The Associated Press declared Titus the winner at 12:04 p.m. EST.
House Democratic leader says 鈥榳e must count every vote鈥� in the tight race for House control
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, issued a statement Thursday thanking the Harris-Walz campaign for running 鈥渁n inspired and positive campaign focused on lifting people up.鈥�
But the New York lawmaker issued caution on the status of the House races, saying 鈥渨e must count every vote鈥� in outstanding states like Arizona and California.
鈥淚 am proud that the Democratic Party does not believe in election denial,鈥� Jeffries said. 鈥淥ur Democracy is precious and it involves elevating public trust in our system of free and fair elections, not undermining it.鈥�
He also quoted President Joe Biden, adding 鈥淲e cannot love America only when we win.鈥�
Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin pledges to work with Trump and calls for less division
Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin pledged during her reelection victory speech Thursday to work with President-elect Donald Trump when possible, but she also vowed to fight him to protect the national health care law and abortion rights.
Baldwin narrowly won reelection to a third term over Republican businessman Eric Hovde, who was endorsed by Trump. Hovde has yet to concede in a race where the margin is so close he could seek a recount.
鈥淲e deserve a politics with less vitriol, less division, less hatred and fewer lies. Actually, no lies,鈥� Baldwin said to a room of supporters at a steamfitters union training center.
Baldwin defeated Hovde by just under 29,000 votes, a margin of 0.9%, based on unofficial results. State law allows for the race losers within 1 percentage point of the winner to seek a recount, but Hovde hasn鈥檛 yet said whether he鈥檒l do that.
Hovde鈥檚 campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
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Biden delivers remarks following Trump's victory over Harris
delivered remarks to the nation Thursday in what was his first appearance on camera following decisive victory over .
鈥淚n a democracy, the will of the people always prevails,鈥� he said near the beginning.
Biden said he had spoken with Trump and assured him that he would direct his administration to ensure a 鈥減eaceful and orderly transition,鈥� because that鈥檚 what the people deserve. Biden was subtly nodding to how Trump, in 2020, refused to accept he lost the election. Trump was reelected this week.
Biden spoke from the Rose Garden at the White House after Democrat Kamala Harris lost this week to Donald Trump, speaking to his supporters and Americans.
The president reiterated that the U.S. election system 鈥渋s honest, it is fair, and it is transparent. And it can be trusted, win or lose.鈥�
He closed by saying that defeat doesn't mean one is defeated.
鈥淎merica endures,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be ok, but we need to stay engaged.鈥�
Democrat Val Hoyle wins reelection to US House in Oregon鈥檚 4th Congressional District
Democratic Rep. Val Hoyle won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Oregon on Thursday.
Hoyle, a first-term congresswoman, defeated Republican Monique DeSpain, an Air Force veteran. Hoyle succeeded longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio in 2022. The 4th District runs along the western portion of the state and includes Eugene. The Associated Press declared Hoyle the winner at 10:38 a.m. EST.
Independent Angus King wins reelection to the US Senate from Maine
Independent Sen. Angus King won a third term in the U.S. Senate representing Maine on Thursday, turning back challenges from a former Republican state party chair and a Democratic environmental activist.
The 80-year-old former governor would be the oldest senator from Maine to serve if he completes his term, which ends in 2030, but he wasn't dogged by questions about his age like President Joe Biden, the former Democratic presidential nominee. King caucuses with Democrats and was first elected to the Senate in 2012. The Associated Press declared King the winner at 10:14 a.m. EST.
Here鈥檚 how 5 key demographic groups voted in 2024
won after holding tight to his core base of voters and slightly expanding his coalition to include several groups that have traditionally been part of the Democratic base. That finding comes from , a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide that shows what issues mattered to voters in this election.
Trump picked up a small but significant share of Black and Hispanic voters and made narrow gains with men and women. As Trump chipped away at parts of the Democratic coalition, Vice President wasn鈥檛 able to make enough of her own gains.
Trump succeeded in locking down his traditionally older, white base of voters, and he slightly expanded his margins with other groups into a winning coalition.
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Many European leaders at summit stress the need for defense self-reliance in wake of 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 reelection
Around 50 European leaders on Thursday called for a stronger defense posture across the continent that no longer necessitates a fundamental dependence on Washington as they gave a guarded welcome to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
The European Political Community summit on Thursday in Hungary鈥檚 capital of Budapest reassessed trans-Atlantic relations in the hope that will avoid the strife of his first administration.
鈥淗e was elected by the American people. He will defend the American interests,鈥� French President Emmanuel Macron told the other leaders, adding that it was not the role of European Union leaders to 鈥渃omment on the election ... to wonder if it is good or not.鈥�
鈥淭he question is whether we are willing to defend the European interest. It is the only question. It is our priority,鈥� Macron said.
There are concerns, too, that the robust military aid Ukraine has enjoyed under President Joe Biden will be cut under Trump, particularly if Republicans take control of the House.
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Feds set to cut interest rates again amid post-election uncertainty
Federal Reserve officials are poised Thursday to reduce their key interest rate for a second straight time, responding to of inflation pressures that exasperated many Americans and contributed to Donald 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 presidential election victory.
Yet the Fed鈥檚 future moves are now in the aftermath of the election, given that 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 economic proposals have been as potentially inflationary. His election has also raised the specter of by the White House in the Fed鈥檚 policy decisions, with Trump having proclaimed that as president he should have a voice in the central bank鈥檚 interest rate decisions.
The Fed has long guarded its status as an independent institution able to make difficult decisions about borrowing rates, free from political interference. Yet during his previous term in the White House, Trump publicly attacked Chair Jerome Powell after the Fed raised rates to fight inflation, and he may do so again.
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FACT FOCUS: A multimillion-vote gap between 2020 and 2024 fuels false election narratives
Less than 24 hours after Donald Trump the 47th president of the United States, social media users began pushing two conflicting narratives to suggest election fraud, one that revived false claims by Trump that the 2020 vote was stolen from him and the other questioning how Vice President Kamala Harris could have received so many fewer votes in 2024 than President Joe Biden in 2020.
Both narratives hinge on a supposed 20 million vote gap between Harris and Biden.
Here鈥檚 a closer look at the facts.
CLAIM: President Joe Biden won approximately 20 million more votes in the 2020 election than Vice President Kamala Harris earned in the 2024 race, proving either that Trump has cheated his way to a second term or that there was widespread fraud four years ago.
THE FACTS: The claims are unfounded. Votes from Tuesday鈥檚 presidential election are still being counted, so any comparison with previous races would not be accurate. In addition, election officials and agencies monitoring the vote have reported no significant issues with Tuesday鈥檚 election. Claims of widespread fraud in 2020 have been debunked countless times.
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罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 return elicits both worry and hope among Iranians
Iranians, like many around the world, are divided on what Donald 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 will bring: Some foresee an all-out war between Tehran and Washington, particularly as other conflicts rage in the region. Others hold out hope that America鈥檚 47th president might engage in unexpected diplomacy as .
But nearly all believe something will change in the U.S.-Iran relationship.
And while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of state, has repeatedly expressed his own disgust with Trump, Iran鈥檚 new reformist president has kept the door open to talks with Trump to seek relief from international sanctions to buoy . The Iranian rial, in a free fall for years, before slightly recovering.
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What could US diplomacy look like under Trump?
罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 second term could realign U.S. diplomacy away from traditional international alliances and more toward populist, authoritarian politicians, according to both those leaders and outside observers.
Among them are:
1. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n
2. President Vladimir Putin of Russia
3. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
4. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey
5. President Javier Milei of Argentina
6. Slovakia鈥檚 Prime Minister Robert Fico
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Bernie Sanders calls for reckoning in Democratic Party following election losses
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders did not mince words in a scathing statement Wednesday.
鈥淚t should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,鈥� Sanders, Vermont鈥檚 senior senator, said.
鈥淔irst, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well,鈥� Sanders said.
Sanders won reelection to a fourth term on Tuesday. He singled out wealth inequality, a slipping standard of living in the U.S., a lack of full health care guarantees and support for Israel鈥檚 recent military campaigns as problems Democrats need to focus on. Sanders鈥檚 2016 presidential run was a key factor in pushing the dialogue in the Democratic party to the left. Sanders has built his political career outside 鈥� and often criticizing 鈥� the Democratic Party, but he caucuses with Democrats in the Senate.
Vatican No. 2: Holy See hopes Trump will help end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza
鈥淎t the start of his mandate, we wish him much wisdom because this is the main virtue of rulers according to the Bible,鈥� Cardinal Pietro Parolin said, speaking on the sidelines of a Rome conference on Thursday, according to Vatican News.
While acknowledging no one had a 鈥渕agic wand鈥� to end wars in Ukraine and Gaza, Parolin said the Holy See hoped Trump 鈥渃an indeed be an element of d茅tente and pacification in the current conflicts that are bleeding the world.鈥�
Parolin also said he hoped Trump would work to end polarization in the U.S., including over abortion. On migration, he recalled Pope Francis鈥� call to welcome those fleeing wars, poverty and climate change.
After visiting the U.S.-Mexico border in 2016 and asked about 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 call to build a wall, Francis famously said anyone who builds a wall to keep out migrants was 鈥渘ot Christian.鈥�
More recently, Francis recommended U.S. voters choose the 鈥渓esser evil鈥� when asked how a U.S. Catholic should vote given 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 pledge to deport migrants and Vice President Kamala Harris鈥� support of abortion rights.
The Dalai Lama congratulates Trump on his election win
鈥淚 have long admired the United States of America as the champion of democracy, freedom and the rule of law,鈥� the Tibetan spiritual leader said in a message to Trump from the northern Indian town of Dharamshala where he has lived in exile since fleeing Tibet in 1959.
鈥淭he Tibetan people and I have been honored to have received the support of respective U.S. Presidents and the American people, in our endeavor to protect and preserve our ancient Buddhist culture 鈥� a culture of peace, non-violence and compassion that has the potential to benefit humanity as a whole,鈥� he said.
Turkey鈥檚 president spoke with Trump late on Wednesday
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed his hopes in a call for strengthened cooperation between their two countries during 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 new term in office, according to a statement from the Turkish president鈥檚 office.
罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 presidential transition starts now. Here鈥檚 how it will work
impending return to the White House means he鈥檒l want to stand up an entirely new administration from the one that served under President . His team is also pledging that the second won鈥檛 look much like the first one Trump established after his 2016 victory.
The president-elect now has a 75-day to build out his team before Inauguration Day arrives on Jan. 20. One top item on the to-do list: filling around 4,000 government positions with political appointees, people who are specifically tapped for their jobs by 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 team.
That includes everyone from the secretary of state and other heads of Cabinet departments to those selected to serve part-time on boards and commissions. Around 1,200 of those presidential appointments require Senate confirmation, which should be easier with the .
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Neither party has a dominant pathway to House majority
The House contests remain a tit-for-tat fight to the finish, with no dominant pathway to the majority for either party. Rarely, if ever, have the two chambers of Congress flipped in opposite directions.
Each side is gaining and losing a few seats, including through the redistricting process, which is the routine redrawing of House seat boundary lines. The process reset seats in North Carolina, Louisiana and Alabama.
Much of the outcome hinges on the West, particularly in California, where a handful of House seats are being fiercely contested, and mail-in ballots arriving a week after the election will still be counted. Hard-fought races around the 鈥渂lue dot鈥� in Omaha, Nebraska and in far-flung Alaska are among those being watched.
Updates on the last two presidential races left to be called
With a early Wednesday, needed to clinch the presidency. But his exact margin of victory is still unclear 鈥� there are two presidential races that the AP has yet to call:
Arizona: Officials in Arizona鈥檚 Maricopa County said late Wednesday they鈥檝e got more than 700,000 ballots left to count, which means the races for president and senate were too early to call. In all, AP estimates there are at least a million ballots to be added to the results in Arizona. County election officials are expected to firm up those numbers on Thursday.
Nevada: AP estimated late Wednesday evening that there are more than 200,000 ballots left to count in Nevada 鈥� including more than 130,000 in Clark County. Given the narrow margins in the races for president and U.S. Senate, both are too early to call. The AP will further review results released by Nevada election officials on Thursday.
Decision Desk updates on key Senate races
Arizona: Officials in Arizona鈥檚 Maricopa County said late Wednesday they鈥檝e got more than 700,000 ballots left to count, which means the races for president and senate were too early to call. In all, AP estimates there are at least a million ballots to be added to the results in Arizona. County election officials are expected to firm up those numbers on Thursday.
Nevada: AP estimated late Wednesday evening that there are more than 200,000 ballots left to count in Nevada 鈥� including more than 130,000 in Clark County. Given the narrow margins in the races for president and U.S. Senate, both are too early to call. The AP will further review results released by Nevada election officials on Thursday.
Control of the US House hangs in the balance with enormous implications for 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 agenda
The U.S. House majority Wednesday, teetering between Republican control that would usher in a new era of unified GOP governance in Washington or a flip to Democrats as a last line of resistance to a .
A few individual seats, or even a single one, will . Final tallies will take a while, likely pushing the decision into next week 鈥� or beyond.
After Republicans in the U.S. Senate by picking up seats in West Virginia, Ohio and Montana, House Speaker predicted his chamber would fall in line next.
鈥淩epublicans are poised to have unified government in the White House, Senate and House,鈥� Johnson said Wednesday.
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Biden will deliver a Rose Garden address at 11 a.m. ET
The remarks to the nation will be Biden鈥檚 first appearance on camera in the aftermath of 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 decisive victory over Harris.
How Trump spent his first day as president-elect
spent his first day as president-elect receiving congratulatory phone calls from his defeated opponent, world leaders and President as he began the process of turning his election victory into a government.
Trump was keeping a low profile, staying out of the public eye after during the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
Vice President Kamala Harris called Trump to concede the race and to congratulate him, while Biden invited the man he ousted from the White House four years ago to an Oval Office meeting to prepare to return the keys.
Biden鈥檚 chief of staff later Wednesday nudged the Trump team to sign the required federal agreements necessary to begin an orderly presidential transition, a White House official said.
鈻� Revisit how the news unfolded with
The Associated Press
