Donald Trump has already won three of the seven key states: Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
“A political victory never seen before.” Donald Trump took the stage on Wednesday, November 6, in West Palm Beach, Florida to claim his triumph in the American presidential election, against the outgoing Democratic vice-president, Kamala Harris. According to still provisional results of the popular vote, the Republican billionaire is on his way to the White House, with 267 electors (270 are needed to win), against 224 for his rival.
All eyes were focused on the swing statesstates which switch from one camp to another according to the elections: Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. While the counting continues, Donald Trump can already count on the electors of three of these key states. The count is not over in the other four. Franceinfo takes stock of these results.
Georgia goes to the Trump camp
Donald Trump won Georgia, one of the most contested states in the race for the White House, according to the Associated Press agency and CNN. This is a setback for the Democrats. This territory was narrowly won by Joe Biden in 2020. It offers 16 electors to the Republican candidate.
Kamala Harris hoped to appeal to young people and minorities in Atlanta, the capital, and the large African-American population, which represents 30% of the electorate. Donald Trump was able to count on the religious electorate, quite substantial in this state, which considers the Republican as the architect of the cancellation of the federal guarantee of abortion.
In North Carolina, the Republican wins
Donald Trump obtained the majority in North Carolina, first of seven swing states to have been awarded during the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. It allowed the billionaire to win 16 electoral votes. The Republican candidate had already won this state in 2016 and 2020, but his Democratic rival hoped to take it from him.
This state was hit at the beginning of October by Hurricane Helene, which caused more than 200 deaths and extensive damage. This disaster turned the campaign upside down, Donald Trump striving to spread false accusations against the government, Joe Biden responding forcefully.
Pennsylvania swings in favor of Donald Trump
It was the state most coveted by candidates. Donald Trump won a crucial victory in Pennsylvania, which allowed him to add 19 more electors to his tally. The Republican won by a narrow margin in 2016 and Joe Biden came close in 2020.
In this state, which has experienced great industrial decline, workers have left the Democratic ship to join Donald Trump. But Kamala Harris intended to win back part of it thanks to the major infrastructure projects launched by Joe Biden, job creators, and the support of unions.
Michigan: waiting
No candidate is, for the moment, given a winner in this state. Michigan is another Democratic stronghold marked by deindustrialization. He switched to Donald Trump in 2016, to everyone's surprise, then was won back by Joe Biden in 2020.
The behavior of the many Muslim voters or those from Arab countries in this state, revolted for a year by American support for Israel in its war in Gaza, was seen as crucial for Kamala Harris. Donald Trump is banking on the cost of living to bring together the middle class, portraying his opponent as co-responsible for a Democratic mandate marked by inflation.
Wisconsin: waiting
The results are still partial in Wisconsin, lost by the Democrats in 2016 and regained in 2020. The Republicans organized their major convention there in July. The Democrats hope to attract moderate Republicans repelled by Donald Trump's outrageous rhetoric, by agitating “existential threat to democracy” that he would represent.
Arizona: waiting
A rather Republican land, Arizona created a surprise in 2020 by choosing Joe Biden, down to the wire. But the theme of illegal immigration, hammered out by the Republican candidate in increasingly racist terms, can hit the mark in this state bordering Mexico, despite the large number of Latin American voters. There is, however, hope for Kamala Harris: in 2022, the state rejected a Trumpist candidate for governor, electing a Democrat.
Nevada: waiting
The candidate who won the popular vote in Nevada has not yet been announced. This least populated state swing statesknown for the casinos of Las Vegas, has not voted for a Republican since George Bush in 2004. But the conservatives think they can change it, by relying in particular on the Latin American population, which is increasingly breaking away. more from the Democratic fold, especially men.
