As counting continues in the U.S. election, Republican candidate Donald Trump has taken a lead over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in six of seven critical swing states. Trump currently leads in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina, while results are pending for Nevada.
Swing states, also known as battleground states, are pivotal in the election, as their nearly even partisan split makes them key to victory. This year’s swing states include Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes), Michigan (10), Georgia (16), Wisconsin (10), North Carolina (16), Nevada (6), and Arizona (11). The winning candidate needs 270 electoral votes to secure the presidency.
According to the latest trends, Trump is leading with 204 electoral votes, while Harris stands at 112. Exit polls suggest voters prioritized issues such as the state of democracy, economic conditions, and abortion. A CBS News poll indicated that nearly 60% of voters ranked democracy as their top concern, with 10% focusing on the economy, and 5% prioritizing abortion. Meanwhile, a CNN poll found that nearly three-quarters of voters viewed the current state of the country negatively.