US election: Harris concedes defeat, congratulates Trump on victory UPDATED

Vice President Kamala Harris made her first public appearance following her loss in the 2024 US presidential election. Speaking to supporters, Harris expressed gratitude for their steadfast support and pride in her campaign, despite the results not aligning with her aspirations.

Harris acknowledged that the election outcome was not as hoped, reaffirming her dedication to defending America's future and core values. She expressed pride in the purpose her campaign represented and emphasized that, despite the loss, her commitment to advocating for the country’s ideals remains steadfast.

“The outcome of this election is not what we not what we wanted,” Harris said adding that she will "the light of America’s promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”

Harris further pledged to support a peaceful transfer of power, confirming she had called President-elect Donald Trump to personally congratulate him on his victory.

Following Harris’ address, President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver a national statement on the transition process, underscoring the administration’s commitment to a stable handover of leadership. According to the White House, Biden, who also called Trump to congratulate him on his win, expressed dedication to a "smooth transition" and extended an invitation for a meeting at the White House in the coming days.

This election marked a high level of voter engagement, with turnout reaching 64.52%, as per data from Florida State University’s Election Lab. Approximately 158.5 million ballots have been counted, with some states still finalizing the tally. Minnesota led with the highest voter turnout at 76.53%, while Arkansas recorded the lowest at 54.37%. This year’s turnout, although substantial, slightly trailed the 66.8% recorded in the previous general election.

23:37, November 6

Vice President Kamala Harris officially conceded defeat early November 6, congratulating Donald Trump on his election win in a private phone call, according to a senior aide. 

The aide confirmed that Harris expressed her commitment to a peaceful transfer of power, emphasizing the importance of serving "all Americans", Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Harris is set to deliver a public address at Howard University later today, marking the formal conclusion of her campaign. Her swift concession has sparked widespread soul-searching within the Democratic Party, where disappointment and frustration are palpable.

Reactions from party insiders suggest a deepening crisis over leadership and strategy, particularly following former President Joe Biden's contentious exit from the race in July. Biden’s decision to step down was reportedly influenced by a widely criticized debate performance in June that raised questions about his cognitive health.

A Democratic donor voiced frustration over Biden’s prolonged stay in the race, remarking, "Why did Joe Biden hold on for as long as he did? He should have not concealed his (health) and dropped out a lot sooner."

At 81, Biden privately believed he was the only candidate capable of defeating Trump, though his April 2023 announcement to seek a second term was met with skepticism from some Democrats. Potential challengers, rather than launching bids against him, aligned with his campaign as advisers. Ultimately, Biden cited "the best interest of my party and the country" as reasons for stepping down.

Prominent Democratic donor Bill Ackman expressed sharp criticism on X, declaring, “The party lied to the American people about the cognitive health and fitness of the president,” and argued that the Democrats should have held a primary to choose Biden's successor. Ackman’s rebuke comes amid his endorsement of Trump for the 2024 election and his call for a "complete reboot" of the Democratic Party.

20:21

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is expected to deliver a speech on November 6 at 6:00 p.m. (GMT-5) to formally concede her defeat in the election, Reuters reports, citing sources.

No further details have been provided.

20:00

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to make a phone call to her Republican rival Donald Trump on November 6 to concede her defeat in the US presidential election, NBC reports, citing her two aides. 

"The timing of the phone call is still being discussed. Harris is currently working on her speech," one said.

US President Joe Biden also plans to have a phone talk with Trump on November 6. Biden is also expected to address the public regarding the election results. However, the timing of the phone call and the content of the speech have not been finalised yet. 

The US officials clarified that President Biden intends to do everything that then-President Trump avoided after Biden's victory in the 2020 election: make a congratulatory phone call, invite Trump to the White House, and attend the inauguration ceremony.

19:38

On November 6, the euro rate dropped by more than two per cent, marking its sharpest decline since June 2016, when the UK held its referendum on leaving the EU. 

According to Bloomberg, the US dollar rate reached its highest level in a year. The European currency experienced its worst day in over eight years following the election of Donald Trump as US president. Industries heavily reliant on US markets are facing setbacks due to concerns over the potential imposition of import tariffs.

19:33

Republican Donald Trump managed to win the US presidential election by successfully tapping into the "signs of the times" understanding the key issues that concern the majority of Americans. 

According to an article by the German Die Welt newspaper, Trump's unique political intuition allowed him to once again connect with the worries of the American public. During his campaign, he focused on the rising cost of living, illegal immigration, and Washington's inability to influence global conflicts. 

The Republican candidate appealed to those frustrated by the erosion of traditional values in the country. Many Americans feel their lives were better during Trump's presidency compared to the last four years under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

The Democratic candidate failed to effectively challenge Trump, despite attempts to portray him as a threat to the nation. The election results revealed that her arguments did not resonate with voters. The outcome of the election was not so much "Harris's loss, but Trump's victory."

18:15

The vote counting is still ongoing for the US presidential election held on November 5. While polling stations in most states have already closed, voting continues in the western states.

According to projections by the Associated Press, Republican Donald Trump is leading in Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. Kamala Harris is winning in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, and Rhode Island.

Preliminary data shows that Trump could secure 95 electoral votes in these states, while Harris may receive 35. The US president is elected by the Electoral College, with each state, as well as the District of Columbia, having a certain number of electors based on population size.

A candidate may lose the nationwide popular vote but still become president by securing a majority of electoral votes. This has occurred five times in US history, including Trump’s victory in 2016. To win, a candidate must obtain an absolute majority—at least 270 electoral votes.

17:51

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump will take the oath of office and officially begin his second term, according to USA Today, citing sources within the White House.

The inauguration of the newly elected 47th president of the United States and the 50th vice president J.D. Vance will take place on January 20, 2025. This will mark the 60th presidential inauguration in US history. On that day, the new leader of the country will take the oath to uphold the Constitution and deliver the inaugural speech.

16:12

Tesla stocks and those of major American banks like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan saw a significant increase following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election: Tesla rose by 12%, while the banks gained 8-9%.

In contrast, European companies in the renewable energy sector suffered losses. Stocks of the Danish wind turbine manufacturer Ørsted fell by 14%, and Vestas dropped by 10%. Investors are concerned that after taking office, Trump may cut projects related to green energy.

After the first voting results, Trump addressed his supporters and praised Elon Musk, calling him a "super genius who should be cherished." He mentioned that Musk's Starlink satellite system helped save "many lives" during Hurricane Helen.

Meanwhile, Jim Messina, who managed Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign, discussed the Democratic Party’s communication challenges in a candid interview on MSNBC following a disappointing election night for Democrats, NBC News reports.

Messina highlighted that the party is facing significant issues in connecting with various groups of voters. "Going forward, the Democrats have a real rural problem, and they have real communication challenges to a whole bunch of groups, including young voters and Latinos, that we thought we had a better message to and just didn't at all," Messina said.

He emphasized that these key voter groups, particularly young voters and Latinos, "no longer feel seen by the Democratic Party." Messina suggested that a thorough analysis is needed to assess how the party can regain its connection with these constituencies.

"I hope we don't all rush. I hope we all take some time to look at all these things, do a comprehensive report, and talk about how to move forward," Messina continued. "Because we got our butts kicked tonight, and we've got to figure out how to move forward in a way that gets us back to being the majority party we used to be."

15:45

Results of the US presidential election vote count according to major American TV networks:

• Fox News: Trump – 277, Harris – 226

• NBC: Trump – 276, Harris – 219

• CNN: Trump – 276, Harris – 219

• ABC: Trump – 279, Harris – 219

The Associated Press, a leading American news agency, declared Donald Trump the winner of the presidential election. According to their data, Trump secured 277 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 votes required to win. He received 71,071,013 votes, or 51% of the total.

Kamala Harris earned 224 electoral votes and 47.5% of the vote, with 66,153,556 votes.

The map shows Trump’s victories in most central and southern states, while Harris dominated the western and northeastern states.

CNN also reported Trump’s victory, confirming that the Republican candidate triumphed in Wisconsin, gaining 10 electoral votes.

With this, CNN affirms that Trump has 276 electoral votes and will become the 47th President of the United States.

13:28

Several global leaders have extended their congratulations to Donald Trump following his victory in the latest US presidential election, highlighting the importance of continued cooperation and strategic partnerships, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

NATO Chief Mark Rutte emphasized the significance of Trump’s leadership, stating, "his leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her "most sincere congratulations" and expressed a desire to strengthen the ties between Italy and the United States, saying she hoped to bolster their "strategic bond."

In the UK, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Trump’s projected victory "historic" and expressed eagerness for future collaboration, stating, "I look forward to working with you in the years ahead."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his heartfelt congratulations, saying, "Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity."

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala voiced his commitment to maintaining strong bilateral relations, stating, "Our shared goal is to ensure that the relations between our countries remain at the highest level, despite changes in administration."

Polish President Andrzej Duda celebrated the victory, exclaiming, "You made it happen!"

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed joined in with his congratulations, acknowledging Trump’s "comeback" and expressing hope for strengthened ties between their nations.

12:53

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have both congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the 2024 US presidential election, hailing his return to the White House as a "historic" moment.

Netanyahu, a long-time ally of Trump, praised the outcome of the election, referring to it as a momentous occasion for both the United States and its allies.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy took to social media to express his congratulations, calling Trump's victory "impressive." He recalled their previous meeting in September, where they discussed Ukraine-US relations, the "Victory Plan," and the ongoing fight against Russian aggression in Ukraine. Zelenskyy commended Trump for his commitment to the "peace through strength" philosophy, which he believes could pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Zelenskyy expressed hope that the new administration under Trump's leadership would help bring Ukraine closer to a just peace, emphasizing the importance of strong bipartisan support in the United States for Ukraine. He reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to securing peace and stability in Europe and the broader Transatlantic community with the backing of its allies, including the US.

In addition to Netanyahu and Zelenskyy, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze also congratulated Trump on his election victory. Kobakhidze expressed optimism that Trump's leadership would be pivotal in resetting relations between the United States and Georgia, marking a new chapter in their bilateral cooperation.

12:05

Donald Trump declared himself the winner of the US presidential election, making this announcement on November 6 during a meeting with his supporters in Florida.

In his speech, Trump emphasized that he had achieved a "political victory," calling himself the 47th President of the United States and describing the result as an "amazing victory" in the election.

"We’ve achieved the most incredible political thing, political victory, that our country has never seen before — nothing like this," Trump said.

Trump expressed gratitude to his supporters and family for their invaluable support, referring to his wife Melania as the "First Lady" of the United States. He also noted that the people of the US had given him a "strong mandate."

However, major television networks and news agencies have not yet confirmed that Trump has secured enough votes for an official victory.

Trump's lead over Harris exceeds 5 million votes on a national level, according to data from Associated Press based on counted ballots.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory.

11:30

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is leading in the elections according to preliminary ballot counts, addresses his supporters at a conference centre in Palm Beach, Florida.

So far, none of the major US media outlets, including television channels and news agencies, except for Fox News, have declared Trump the winner in either Wisconsin or Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele became the first to congratulate Trump on his election victory.

11:04

According to Fox News, Trump won in the state of Wisconsin, which added ten electoral votes to his total. This gives the Republican candidate 277 electoral votes.

Voting has concluded in the US general elections. The last polling station to close in the country was in Adak, the westernmost settlement in the US, where around 150 people live.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, has secured 226 electoral votes so far.

10:32

According to updated data from the Associated Press, Donald Trump is leading with 247 electoral votes, receiving 51.1% of the popular vote (66,451,797 votes). Kamala Harris currently has 214 electoral votes and 47.4% of the popular vote (61,605,767 votes). A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win.

If Trump maintains his lead in Pennsylvania, where, after 90% of ballots have been counted, he is ahead of Harris by 3.5 percentage points, he would only need to win one of the remaining swing states — Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, or Wisconsin — to secure the presidency again.

 

10:09

Currently, Trump is leading in all the swing states:

In North Carolina, with 96% of ballots counted, he has 51.2%. 

In Georgia, with 94% of votes counted, he has 51.2%. 

In Pennsylvania, with 90% of ballots counted, Trump is at 51.3%. 

In Michigan, with 59% of votes counted, he also has 52.3%. 

In Wisconsin, with 84% of votes counted, Trump is leading with 51.4%. 

In Arizona, with 52% of ballots counted, he has 49.8%. 

In Nevada, with only 6% of votes counted, Trump is at 71.4%.

As election night unfolds, Trump supporters are steadily making their way into the Palm Beach Convention Center, anticipating the former president's address later in the evening. Meanwhile, Trump himself is en route from his Mar-a-Lago estate, ready to speak to his supporters, according to The Associated Press.

In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris will not be addressing the public tonight, according to a source familiar with White House plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity. 

Cedric Richmond, Harris' campaign co-chair, spoke to the audience gathered at Howard University, where the Democratic nominee’s election night party had been planned. He shared the disappointing news that Harris would not speak tonight but reassured the crowd that the campaign was far from conceding defeat.

“We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken,” Richmond said. “So you won’t hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow.”

Richmond further promised that Harris would return to Howard University to address not only her supporters but the nation at large, once the final tallies are in.

What began as an optimistic celebration of Harris and the prospect of a new Democratic presidency took a sombre turn as the evening wore on. As the path to victory for the Democrats appeared to narrow, the atmosphere at the event became increasingly tense, with supporters bracing for the uncertain outcome of the election.

09:28

According to the latest data from major American television networks, the distribution of electoral votes is as follows:

• Fox News: Trump — 232, Harris — 216

• NBC: Trump — 230, Harris — 189

• CNN: Trump — 230, Harris — 182

• ABC: Trump — 230, Harris — 194

Moreover, Trump is leading in all swing states:

In North Carolina, where 90% of ballots have been counted, major media outlets have already declared him the winner.
In Georgia, with 91% of the votes counted, he has 50.8%.
In Pennsylvania, with 82% of ballots counted, Trump is receiving 51.3%.
In Michigan, with 41% of the votes counted, he also has 51.3%.
In Wisconsin, with 71% of ballots processed, Trump is leading with 50.6%.
In Arizona, with 52% of ballots counted, he holds 49.8%.
In Nevada, the count has just begun (2% of votes counted), and Trump has 73.0%.

09:07

According to updated data from major news outlets, the electoral vote count in the U.S. presidential race shows varying results:

• Associated Press reports Donald Trump has 230 electoral votes, while Kamala Harris has 205.
• CNN places Trump at 227 votes, with Harris trailing at 153.
• FoxNews indicates that Trump holds 232 electoral votes, and Harris holds 211.

Meanwhile, US presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump collectively spent an unprecedented $3.5 billion on their campaigns, making this the most expensive race in US history.

According to a report from the Financial Times, Vice President Kamala Harris raised over $2.3 billion, spending $1.9 billion of that sum, while former President Donald Trump raised $1.8 billion and spent approximately $1.6 billion.

More than half of both candidates' budgets were directed toward advertising, while administrative costs emerged as a significant secondary expense. Harris allocated $250 million for these costs, while Trump spent $200 million on similar expenditures.

Trump’s campaign faced a unique financial burden, dedicating over $100 million—14% of his total funds—to cover mounting legal fees. The former president is currently involved in multiple legal proceedings, impacting his campaign finances significantly.

8:46

Donald Trump has extended his lead, now holding 230 electoral votes and 51.4% of the popular vote, totalling 58,613,852 votes, according to the latest update.

Kamala Harris trails with 192 electoral votes.

 

8:28

According to the latest figures, Donald Trump currently holds 214 electoral votes, with 52.4% of the popular vote, representing 51,334,337 votes. 

Kamala Harris is narrowing the gap, with 179 electoral votes and 46.3% of the vote, amounting to 45,348,178 ballots cast in her favour. The threshold to secure the presidency remains at 270 electoral votes.

As voting wraps up in key regions, Harris has made significant gains in the western and northeastern states, while Trump continues to lead in much of the central and southern US. The race is expected to come down to seven critical swing states where both candidates still have a realistic chance of victory.

In recent developments, polls have also closed in four additional states:

• California (54 electoral votes) and Washington (12 electoral votes): Kamala Harris is projected to win in both states.
• Oregon (8 electoral votes): Harris is also likely to claim victory here.
• Idaho (4 electoral votes): Trump is expected to win decisively.

Turnout has been high across the country, particularly in early voting, with record numbers reported in Georgia.

Key states still in play:

• Georgia: Polls closed at 7:00 p.m. EST (00:00 GMT). Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger expects most votes will be counted within an hour of poll closures.

• North Carolina: Polls closed 30 minutes after Georgia.

• Pennsylvania: Voting concluded at 8:00 p.m. EST (01:00 GMT), but experts caution that it could take up to 24 hours for enough votes to be counted to determine a winner.

• Michigan: Polls closed at 9:00 p.m. EST (02:00 GMT), with final results not expected until late on November 6.

• Wisconsin: While smaller counties are expected to report shortly after polls closed at 9:00 p.m. EST, the state may not have definitive results until at least November 6.

• Arizona: Initial results could arrive as early as 10:00 p.m. EST (03:00 GMT), though the state's largest county has warned that final counts may not come until early November 6 morning. Mail-in ballots dropped off on election day could take up to 13 days to tally.

• Nevada: As the state allows mail-in ballots postmarked by election day to be counted through November 9, results may take several days.

With the battle for the presidency still hanging in the balance, attention is now shifting to these key battleground states, where every vote could determine the next leader of the United States.

00:15

US Vice President Kamala Harris spent Election Day encouraging Americans to "get out and vote," emphasizing civic engagement during radio interviews. Speaking on Atlanta’s WVEE-FM, Harris expressed the urgency of participating in the democratic process: "We need to do am. Today na voting day, and pipo need to get out and be active," she said.

In a final push to inspire voter turnout, Harris joined The Big Tigger Morning Show on V-103 Tuesday morning, where she spoke about the significance of this election.

"This is an inflection point in terms of this is a moment where we have two very different visions of the future of our nation. And mine is focused on progress," Harris said, adding, "Mine is focused on investing in the ambitions and the aspirations and the dreams of the American people." She contrasted her vision with that of her opponent, former President Donald Trump, noting, "He will walk into the Oval Office if he were elected with his enemies list. He's full of vengeance. He's full of grievance. It's all about himself."

Harris emphasized her commitment to addressing the needs of the American public, saying, "When I walk in on January 20th, I'll walk in with my to-do list on behalf of the American people."

Harris already holds the distinction of being the first female, African American, and Asian American vice president, and now has the chance to break another barrier as the nation's first female president. When asked about the historic pressure, however, she remains focused on her goals. "I've just been so focused on the task in front of me. The reflection has only been about making sure that I'm responding to the needs of folks around the policies," she explained.

With the election widely recognized as one of the most closely contested in recent history, Harris acknowledged the gravity of the race, which polls have shown to be extremely close in the final weeks. Rather than dwelling on the pressure, though, she urged Americans to take action: "Today is voting day and people need to get out and be active. That's what my focus is right now today, I must admit, which is making sure everybody knows the power of their voice through their vote."

As polling stations open across the country, all eyes are on Harris and Trump as Americans decide which vision will shape the nation's future.

23:05, November 5

Former President Donald Trump has cast his ballot in Palm Beach, Florida, accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump. Following his vote, Trump made statements regarding potential election outcomes, addressing concerns about violence and his stance on election night declarations.

Speaking to reporters, Trump stated he did not feel the need to caution his supporters against violence, even in the event of an unfavorable election result. When asked if he would tell supporters to avoid violence, he replied, “I don’t have to tell them that there’d be no violence. Of course there’ll be no violence. My supporters are not violent people. I don’t have to tell them. And I certainly don’t want any violence, but I certainly don’t have to tell them. These are great people. These are people that believe in no violence. Unlike your question. You believe in violence.”

As polls close on election night, Trump is planning to gather with close family and friends at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where members of the club have been invited to a watch party dinner. Sources indicate Trump will likely mingle with guests throughout the evening. His campaign headquarters, located in West Palm Beach, has also set up a "war room" to monitor the results.

According to CBS News, Trump’s team is considering an early victory declaration before the completion of all vote counting, based on initial results from swing states, such as Pennsylvania, which might initially show favorable numbers for him. These preliminary results, however, could shift towards Democratic candidate Kamala Harris as mail-in and early votes are processed. Trump advisor Jason Miller indicated that while an early announcement is possible, Trump will not declare victory unless he secures the required 270 electoral votes.

This election has seen a significant number of early votes, with the University of Florida’s Election Lab reporting that 84.6 million people cast ballots before election day. Of these, 46.3 million voted in person, while 38.3 million voted by mail. In total, 67.4 million mail-in ballots were requested for remote voting, contributing to a potential voter turnout surpassing the 158.4 million votes recorded in the previous election.

21:05

Today, November 5, 2024, marks the 60th presidential election in the United States, which will elect the country’s 47th president.

Two polling locations in Fulton County, Georgia, were briefly evacuated after they received false bomb threats, county election officials said.

The threats, which were deemed to be non-credible, targeted five polls in total, Fulton County Director of Registration and Elections Nadine Williams told the media, Caliber.Az reports.

Of the threats, two places were evacuated for about 30 minutes, but were up and running again by 10 a.m.

The county is seeking a court order to extend the two polling locations’ hours for 30 minutes past the statewide 7 p.m. deadline to compensate for the disruption, officials said.

20:44

Today, November 5, 2024, marks the 60th presidential election in the United States, which will elect the country’s 47th president.

US President Joe Biden has urged Americans to "make history" by voting for Kamala Harris at the polls.

The message was shared on his official X account, Caliber.Az reports.

“Go vote.

Let’s make history by electing Kamala Harris,” the post by the president reads.

19:18

Today, November 5, 2024, marks the 60th presidential election in the United States, which will elect the country’s 47th president.

Polling stations have now opened in Nevada, the final swing state where voting has begun, Caliber.Az reports via Al Jazeera.

In addition, voting has started in California, a major Democratic stronghold with 54 electoral votes, as well as in Oregon and Washington.

This means that voters are now heading to the polls across all states on the US mainland. The last two states, Hawaii and Alaska, will begin voting in the coming hours.

Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are going head-to-head in a race that remains too close to call.

Harris and Trump have made their final appeals to voters in key battleground states, stressing that the stakes of the November 5 vote could not be higher.

Recent polls show the candidates in a neck-and-neck battle nationally and in key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Michigan.

18:43

Today, November 5, 2024, marks the 60th presidential election in the United States, which will elect the country’s 47th president.

Speaker of US House of Representatives Mike Johnson, predicted that Republicans will win big tonight bolstered by turnout from first-time supporters,Caliber.Az reports via Fox News.

"I have been everywhere. We've been in Pennsylvania, of course, but I've done campaign events in over 260 cities across 40 states. We did two in Virginia yesterday. We've been all over the place. So, there are people coming to the events, Rachel, that have never been there before. And I think the Hispanic and Latino vote is going to be historic this time," Johnson told "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. 

He said he thinks there will be a demographic shift towards Republicans from voters who believe "the Democratic Party has abandoned the values of their community."

"My gut tells me that we are going to outperform the polls," Johnson added. "The polls have him about even everybody says it's a coin toss, if that's true. Trump always outperforms the polls. I believe it. But I want to say every single vote counts, especially in the swing states. Take nothing for granted. We need every single vote today."

18:29

Today, November 5, 2024, marks the 60th presidential election in the United States, which will determine the nation’s 47th president.

Polling stations have already opened in more than 40 states, including the District of Columbia. This includes six of the seven key swing states likely to decide the outcome of the election: North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona. Polling precincts will soon open in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The seventh swing state, Nevada, will begin voting at 3 p.m. GMT, Caliber.Az reports citing Al Jazeera.

18:05

Today, 5 November 2024, is the 60th presidential election in the United States of America, which will elect the country's 47th president.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will watch the election results from the residence of the White House with long-time aides and senior White House staff, a White House official said, Caliber.Az reports, citing CNN.

Biden, who has no public events on his schedule, is expected to receive regular updates as races play out across the country.

Today’s election looks far different than what the Bidens envisioned a few months prior as he hoped voters would elect him to a second term in the White House — and the result could help determine how the president is remembered.

17:41

Before polls opened on the morning of November 5, about 83 million Americans had already voted early.

According to the University of Florida's Election Research Laboratory, 82 million Americans voted early, with just under 45 million voting in person and about 38 million voting by mail, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Guardian.

17:25

On November 5, American voters head to the polls to choose the country’s next leaders in a mass democratic experiment where tens of millions of votes will be cast without incident.

Polling stations in several states opened at 8 a.m. ET (5 p.m. BST), including Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin, Caliber.Az informs via Western media.

17:00 

Today, November 5, 2024, the United States embarked on a momentous occasion — its 60th presidential election — where voters cast their ballots to select the nation's 47th president.

Voters are not just choosing between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump; they are also faced with a range of critical issues to decide on.

According to foreign media reports, abortion rights will be a key topic in 10 states, including Arizona and Nevada, per Caliber.Az.

Additionally, 34 out of 100 US Senate seats are up for grabs, with Democrats currently holding control by a slim margin of one vote.

In the House of Representatives, all 435 seats are on the ballot, as is customary every two years, with Republicans maintaining a narrow majority.

Four states — Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota — will also pose questions regarding the use of marijuana for recreational or medical purposes.

Furthermore, voting and election referendums will be on the agenda in certain areas, allowing voters to weigh in on how elections should be conducted.

15:50

Top Trump advisers, who say they are cautiously optimistic over how Donald Trump will perform today, believe their success or failure in these final hours ultimately comes down to one issue: turnout.

“We feel like we’re in a position now where, if the people who we think are going to turn out for President Trump turn out, then he ought to win. So it’s a matter of achieving that. It’s close. It’s really close,” a senior Trump adviser told CNN. “I hate to sound so ridiculous. ‘Oh, it’s turnout,’ but that’s really what this comes down to and the only thing we’re focused on right now.”

Trump’s advisers say they believe this cycle is the strongest Trump has ever performed, particularly when they look at public polling compared to 2016 and 2020.

The adviser pointed to the final NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll of the 2020 election cycle as example, which showed Biden leading Trump nationally by 10 points among registered voters.

However, one underlying area of unease when examining that data, advisers and people close to Trump privately acknowledge, is that they argue fewer voters are what they previously characterized as “silent” Trump voters who came out for him in 2016 and 2020.

“Whereas before turnout for him was maybe surprising, especially in 2016, and a lot of people were silent about their vote and that didn’t always register in the data, it’s unclear if we’ll see that type of difference this time around,” a person close to Trump told CNN.

16:13 

Polling stations have opened in New York City as well.

16:10 

On November 5, American voters head to the polls to choose the country’s next leaders in a mass democratic experiment where tens of millions of votes will be cast without incident.

Election officials across the US – particularly in swing states – have pledged to uphold the integrity of the vote and urged voters not to be misled by conspiracy theories, Caliber.Az reports, citing the American TV channel CNN.

“Here in Georgia, it is easy to vote and hard to cheat,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said on November 5. “Our systems are secure and our people are ready.”

15:50 

Today, November 5, 2024, marks the 60th presidential election in the United States, where voters will choose the nation's 47th president.

Polling stations in eight states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, and Virginia, opened at 6 a.m. Eastern Time (3 p.m. Baku time).

In Indiana and Kentucky, polling places also opened at 6 a.m. ET (3 p.m. Baku time), though some areas in the Central Time Zone will open at 7 a.m. ET (4 p.m. Baku time).

In Maine, most polling stations opened at 6 a.m. ET (3 p.m. Baku time), but municipalities with fewer than 500 residents may open as late as 10 a.m. ET (7 p.m. Baku time).

As part of a long-standing tradition, the small town of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire cast its votes at midnight. In this year’s vote, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump received three votes each.

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Today, November 5, 2024, marks the 60th US presidential election, where voters will choose the country's 47th president. 

Polling stations across the United States are opening at varying times depending on the state. In most states, voting begins at 7:00 a.m. local time (4:00 p.m. Baku time), though in some areas, polling opens earlier, such as at 5:00 a.m. local time (2:00 p.m. Baku time). Therefore, the first polling stations will start operating at 2:00 p.m. Baku time today.

The main contenders in this high-stakes election are former President Donald Trump, representing the Republican Party, and current Vice President Kamala Harris, running for re-election as the Democratic Party candidate. Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, is seeking to return to the White House, pledging to restore the policies of his previous administration. On the other hand, Harris, the first woman and the first person of African-Caribbean and South Asian descent to hold the vice presidency, aims to continue the current administration’s course while introducing new reforms.

The election is being held in a climate of heightened political tension, with opinion polls showing a narrow gap between the two candidates. This makes the outcome uncertain, and swing states are expected to be crucial, as voter preferences in these states can shift rapidly.

Voting began on the East Coast and will continue across the country until the polls close on the West Coast. Many Americans have already participated in early voting, which may help speed up the counting process. However, the final results may not be immediately available due to potential legal challenges and recounts in closely contested states.

By Vafa Guliyeva