Republican candidate and former US president Donald Trump won the swing state of North Carolina after receiving 16 electoral votes, as per AP VoteCast.
Trump also won the state in 2016 and 2020, but Democrats had been optimistic they could reverse previous outcomes with campaign spending, canvassing and Harris rallies. They also tried to link Trump to embattled Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson. But Trump and running mate JD Vance visited North Carolina often during the fall campaign, pushing a more protectionist economic agenda and promises to crack down on illegal immigration and the southern border.
Republican candidate Donald Trump faced his Democrat rival Kamala Harris on November 5 in the U.S. presidential election, with the two candidates vying to attract support after staking positions on issues including abortion, the economy and foreign policy.
Voters in North Carolina said Trump was better able to handle immigration, and he was slightly preferred to handle the economy, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 3,600 voters in the state. Voters preferred Harris to handle abortion policy and health care. They were split on which candidate was better able to handle tax policy.
In the 2020 election, Donald Trump won with a 49.93% plurality over Biden's 48.59% vote share (a margin of 1.34%). Trump also became the fourth-ever Republican to carry North Carolina without winning the presidency.
US Election Results: Live Updates
Following are preliminary results from an exit poll conducted by Edison Research, as per news agency Reuters
43 percent of voters in North Carolina said they had a favorable view of Trump, 55 percent viewed him unfavourably, compared with 51% in 2020.
48 percent of voters in North Carolina said they had a favorable view of Harris, compared with 50 percent who said the same of Biden. 50 percent viewed her unfavorably, compared with 47 percent who viewed Biden that way in 2020.
The early voting period faced minimal problems, in western North Carolina, which was hit by Hurricane Helene last month. State and local election officials ensured residents could cast their ballots as they dealt with power outages, lack of water and washed out roads. That appeared to continue on Election Day, with the North Carolina Board of Elections reporting no voting issues.
The four swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina are called ‘Sun Belt’ with a total electoral college vote of 49.
The Republicans have a stronger support base in the Sun Belt states. Even if Trump wins all the four Sun Belt states, he will still require to win one more in Rust Belt.
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