NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 6
Republican Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts. With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.
Republicans reclaimed control of the Senate, picking up seats in West Virginia and Ohio. Top House races are focused in New York and California, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years.
Here's the latest:
A unified Republican grip on Washington would set the course for Trump's agenda
But if Democrats wrest control of the House, it would provide an almost certain backstop, with veto power over the White House.
Trump, speaking early Wednesday at his election night party in Florida, said the results delivered an "unprecedented and powerful mandate" for Republicans.
He called the Senate rout "incredible." And he praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, who dashed from his own party in Louisiana to join Trump. "He's doing a terrific job," Trump said.
Vote counting in some races could go on for days and control of the House is too early to call.
Norwegian group: Trump's election means US 'will no longer be a driving force' in climate fight
Norwegian Bellona environmental group said that "with the election of Donald Trump, the United States will no longer be a driving force globally to reach the 1.5 Celsius target," referencing the international goal of trying to limit future warming since preindustrial times.
The outcome means the European Union "must take the global leadership role in the climate fight, and to a significantly greater extent ensure the defense of Europe's strategic interests," the group said.
"The EU will now become significantly more important for climate, technology development and restructuring in the next four years," Frederic Hauge, founder of the Oslo-based organization, said in a statement.
On Ukraine's front and in Kyiv, hope and pragmatism compete when it comes to Trump's election
Soldiers in a Ukrainian artillery battery on the front lines of the country's east were only vaguely aware of American election results pointing to Donald Trump's victory Wednesday - but firm in their hopes for the next president of the United States.
Their entrenched artillery battery fires on Russian forces daily - and takes fire nearly as often. Just the other day, one of their overhead nets snared a Russian drone.
"I hope that the quantity of weapons, the quantity of guns for our victory will increase," the unit's 39-year-old commander, who goes by the name Mozart, said in the hours before Trump's win was confirmed. "We don't care who is the president, as long as they don't cut us off from help, because we need it."
Though Trump's election throws into doubt American support for Ukraine - and ultimately whether Kyiv can beat back Russia's invasion - the soldiers who use their Starlink connection to the internet sparingly learned of the results from Associated Press journalists.
Slovakia's prime minister congratulates Trump on his victory
"We respect the choice of American people," Prime Minister Robert Fico said at a news conference on Wednesday.
Fico, who is known for pro-Russian views, said the result of the election is "certainly a defeat of liberal and progressivist ideas because the new American President is a conservative. We think he'll focus on the economy issues in the United States."
Fico said what's of importance is that "everybody is waiting for the first steps in regards of the war in Ukraine."
Fico added that Trump might reduce or halt the military aid for Ukraine or propose an immediate cease-fire to open the way for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Fico ended his state's military aid for Ukraine.
How are markets responding to the election results?
Futures markets in the U.S. surged early Wednesday, with the Dow climbing 2.85% and the S&P 500 rising nearly 2%.
Bitcoin, which many see as a winner under a Trump presidency, hit all-time highs above $75,000.
Tesla, the company run by Trump surrogate Elon Musk, spiked 12% before the opening bell while other electric vehicle makers slumped.
Banking stocks also moved solidly higher, with expectations of a pullback by regulators overseeing markets under Trump.
US humanitarian group urges Trump, Congress to 'reject policies that demonize immigrants and asylum seekers'
The International Rescue Committee, a large humanitarian aid organization, urged the Trump administration to "continue America's traditions of humanitarian leadership and care of the most vulnerable."
The New York-based nonprofit also urged the new administration and Congress to "reject policies that demonize immigrants and asylum seekers," and noted that the U.S. program to resettle refugees has saved lives and strengthened the fabric of the United States.
IRC is led by Britain's former top diplomat, David Miliband, and says it provides relief services to people affected by crises in more than 40 countries.
Barriers broken and history made in several congressional races
With their victories, several candidates are set to be firsts.
New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat, won his race to become the first Korean American elected to the Senate.
Delaware State Rep. Sarah McBride, a Democrat, won her race to become the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. The former Obama administration official was elected to the Delaware General Assembly in 2021.
Democrat Angela Alsobrooks won her race and is set to become Maryland's first Black senator. Alsobrooks is currently the county executive for Maryland's Prince George's County, one of the most prosperous Black-majority counties in the nation.
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, a Democrat from Delaware, broke barriers again, becoming the first woman and first Black person elected to the Senate from the state. Seven years ago, when she was elected to the House, she was the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in the House. It will be the first time that two Black women will serve simultaneously in the Senate.
North Dakota elected its first woman to Congress. Republican Julie Fedorchak, running for the House of Representatives, won her race handily in the deep red state. She's currently a member of the state's public service commission.
Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Ohio,defeated incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown to be the first Latino from the state elected to the Senate.
