It’s Wednesday. Whatever you think of last night’s election outcome, I think we can all agree about one thing: Extra caffeine is needed today. There are a lot of lingering questions about what Trump’s win means for Washington, the U.S. and the world. Here’s what we know:
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
|
|
President-elect Trump will return to the White House, making his unlikely comeback to Washington four years after refusing to accept the presidential election results — and bringing along a significant cloud of uncertainty to American politics. He reached the 270-electoral vote count late last night, winning the battleground states of Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin. Arizona and Michigan have still not been called, but he carries a narrow lead in all three.
"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump told supporters early Wednesday morning, without mentioning Vice President Harris. 🗨️ Live blog of today’s election updates
📊 Live results from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ
Several takeaways, via The Hill’s Niall Stanage: - It all went wrong from early on for Harris.
-
The big demographic surprise: Latino men swing heavily to Trump.
- The abortion issue failed to make the difference.
- There will be serious Democratic infighting.
A few things we’ve learned, via The Wall Street Journal’s Dante Chinni: Young men preferred Trump, Democrats didn’t grow their popularity in cities, and the education gap has continued to grow. |
|
|
➤ WHAT HAPPENS TO HIS CRIMINAL CASES?: |
Trump has found himself in a rather lucky position. He’s been facing 91 criminal charges that potentially carried decades in prison. He hedged his bet on winning the White House — and was successful in that wager. He’s expected to dismantle his own federal criminal cases when he returns to power. He’s repeatedly said that he plans to fire special counsel Jack Smith, who is handling the classified documents and conspiring to subvert the 2020 election results.
What about the state cases?: His lawyers will likely ask judges to put his Georgia and New York prosecutions on ice, explain The Hill’s Ella Lee and Zach Schonfeld. Read more: ‘Trump’s victory likely means curtains for criminal prosecutions’ |
|
|
➤ REACTIONS AS THE WORLD BEGINS TO PROCESS THESE RESULTS: |
From George W. Bush: Former President George W. Bush congratulated Trump in a statement this morning. “The strong turnout in this election is a sign of the health of our republic and the strength of our democratic institutions,” he argued.
From David Axelrod: Democratic strategist David Axelrod partially blamed “racial bias” and “sexism.” “Let’s be absolutely blunt about it: There were appeals to racism in this campaign, and there is racial bias in this country, and there is sexism in this country,” he said on CNN this morning.
Stock markets soared: “The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,341 points, or about 3.1 percent, as the market opened, reaching a record high. It was the first time it has jumped more than 1,000 points in a single day since November 2022.” (The Hill)
From Liz Cheney: Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said that citizens, courts, media and elected officials must serve as the “guardrails of democracy” while Trump is president. 🔎 Read her full X post
From Volodymyr Zelensky: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump and said he admires Trump’s “commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs.”
From Joe Scarborough: MSNBC host Joe Scarborough argued that the Democratic Party “has been just wiped out,” referring to Democrats’ narrow wins in blue states. |
|
|
Trump will have at least one chamber of Congress in his corner: |
Republicans won control of the Senate on Tuesday evening, securing at least 52 seats in the upper chamber. They’re feeling hopeful they can expand that majority to 53 seats as Sen. Bob Casey (D) is trailing GOP challenger David McCormick in Pennsylvania by more than 50,000 votes with 95 percent reporting.
It’s still too early to tell which party will control the House of Representatives. Which races flipped?: - Ohio: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) lost his reelection bid to Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno (R).
-
Montana: Sen. Jon Tester (D) lost his tough reelection race to GOP challenger Tim Sheehy.
-
West Virginia: Republican Gov. Jim Justice (R) will replace outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin (I). (Yes, Babydog is coming to the Senate.)
Have Democrats flipped any seats?: Nope. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) won their races. 💡 Why Senate control is significant for Trump: Having control of the Senate means Trump will have an easier time confirming his Cabinet.
Where the House race stands: Democrats are holding onto hope for taking control of the House. It could take days (or even weeks) to know the outcome because there are close races in states that take longer to count their ballots.
|
|
|
➤ MCCONNELL TOOK A VICTORY LAP THIS MORNING |
Outgoing Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) just held a cheery press conference where he began by telling reporters: "It was a hell of a good day."
From McConnell: “one of the most gratifying results of the Senate becoming Republican: the filibuster will stand, there won’t be any new states admitted that will benefit the other side. And we’ll quit beating up the Supreme Court” 📸 Photo from the presser
Tidbit: The Hill’s Al Weaver noticed that Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) was scheduled to do today’s pro forma session but now has a replacement. 📸 The schedule
|
|
|
This is a big deal: Trump won Miami-Dade County in Florida, a majority-Latino district that has been reliably Democratic for decades.
Florida voted to keep its six-week abortion ban in place: Florida’s abortion-rights ballot initiative failed to reach the necessary 60 percent supermajority.
And Florida marijuana measure is expected to fail: A ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana is projected to fail in Florida. |
|
|
➤ POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS: |
|
|
➤ ELECTION NIGHT SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: |
|
|
Harris will speak at 4 p.m.: |
Vice President Harris will deliver remarks at Howard University this afternoon, joined by second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Keep in mind: This will be Harris’s first public appearance since former President Trump was projected to win the presidential election. |
|
|
🧀 Celebrate: Today is National Nacho Day!
👠 Dorothy’s ruby slippers are up for action: “A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz" are on the auction block nearly two decades after a thief stole the iconic shoes, convinced they were adorned with real jewels.” (CBS News)
|
|
|
The House and Senate are out. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern) |
-
2:45 p.m.: Biden receives his daily briefing.
- 4 p.m.: Harris will deliver remarks at Howard University in Washington.
- Jan. 6, 2025: Congress formally certifies the election results.
-
Jan. 20, 2025: President-elect Trump is inaugurated.
|
|
|
|
