**Donald Trump Wins 2024 Election, Poised to Claim Popular Vote**

In a dramatic turn of events early Wednesday, former President Donald Trump was projected to win the 2024 presidential election after securing the necessary Electoral College votes. Besides his electoral triumph, Trump also held a substantial lead in the popular vote against Vice President Kamala Harris as of Wednesday morning. By 9 a.m., Trump had garnered 71.56 million votes, compared to Harris's 66.5 million, with votes still being tallied.

Trump's victory was cemented as he clinched the electoral votes in several critical swing states. Both presidential campaigns had anticipated a tightly contested race across seven pivotal states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In a significant setback for Harris, Trump won Pennsylvania. The final nail in the coffin came when Trump narrowly won Wisconsin with 49.7% of the vote, compared to Harris's 48.7%, as reported by NBC News.

As of early Wednesday, vote counting continued in Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Alaska, and Maine, with close races in these states. Trump maintained leads in Nevada, Arizona, and Michigan, while Harris led in Maine.

Political strategist Pete Giangreco highlighted the role of blue-collar counties in Trump's success, pointing to shifts in voter preferences. For instance, Trump widened his lead in Kenosha County from three points in 2020 to six points in 2024. Similar trends were observed in Lackawanna County and Macomb County, where Trump made substantial gains compared to previous elections.

Giangreco also noted Trump’s improved performance among Latino men, Black men, and young men, which contributed to his electoral success. He attributed Trump’s messaging—questioning whether people were better off four years ago—as a significant factor.

Furthermore, the Republican Party is set to control the Senate, adding to Trump's victory. This marks a departure from the narrow Democratic majority that previously existed. Republicans secured key Senate races, including Bernie Moreno’s victory in Ohio and West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice's win.

When Trump takes the oath of office, he will become only the second person in U.S. history to serve two non-consecutive terms, joining Grover Cleveland in this exclusive group.