Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris exited her Washington, DC campaign headquarters on Tuesday night as former President Donald Trump appeared to be inching closer to a potential victory.
Just before their departure, Harris’s campaign co-chair addressed the crowd, expressing gratitude for their support and announcing that Harris would deliver a public address on Wednesday.
“We’re proud of you, and tomorrow Kamala Harris will address not only the HQ family but the entire nation,” he shared with supporters. After the speech, chants of “Go HQ, go Harris!” filled the air before many began to disperse.
With Trump leading in several swing states, including North Carolina and Georgia, Harris’s path to victory hinges on votes from battleground states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, which hold 10, 19, and 15 electoral votes, respectively. To secure the presidency, either candidate needs a minimum of 270 electoral votes.
Swing states play a pivotal role in U.S. elections, as voter support tends to be closely divided between Democrats and Republicans. Trump has already secured victories in key battlegrounds and is expected to address his supporters from Florida on Tuesday night as five remaining states continue tallying votes.
Media projections for the 2024 race have been slower than usual due to narrow margins in these critical states, increasing the likelihood of recounts in close races. According to BBC, Pennsylvania’s rules require a recount if the margin of victory falls within half a percentage point—an outcome that could extend the wait for an official winner. In 2020, for instance, Pennsylvania’s results showed a margin of just over 1.1 percentage points, underscoring the competitive nature of this election.
Both campaigns and their supporters await final projections with anticipation, knowing that recounts and extended counts in these closely-watched states could shape the outcome.
