The fierce presidential contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris barreled toward an unpredictable conclusion on Tuesday, as millions of Americans headed to the polls to choose between two starkly different visions for the country.
The race has been defined by extraordinary events—two assassination attempts on Trump, President Joe Biden’s surprise withdrawal, and Harris’ rapid rise—leaving the contest neck and neck as Election Day arrived, despite billions of dollars in campaign spending and months of intense political campaigning.
Early votes reflected the deep political divide across the nation. In the small town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, the six registered voters cast their ballots just after midnight, splitting their votes between Harris and Trump. As the day unfolded, voters from across the East Coast and Midwest began arriving at polling stations.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Johnny Graves set up a DJ booth outside the Lincoln A.M.E. Church polling station, greeting voters with the upbeat tune “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus.
Taylor Grabow, a 27-year-old nurse, told reporters she voted for Harris after previously backing Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020. Grabow said she was particularly drawn to Harris’ stance against criminalizing abortion. “I woke up in such a good mood and feeling excited,” she said.
Meanwhile, in Asheville, North Carolina, 38-year-old stay-at-home mom Ginny Buddenberg cast her vote for Trump, bringing along her two twin daughters to the polling station in Haw Creek. “There’s just a lot of politics in the classroom,” she said, voicing her concerns over the increasing politicization of education and the introduction of sex education at younger ages. “Let’s go to school and learn how to read.”
Trump’s campaign hinted he might declare victory on election night, even with millions of ballots left to count, a move reminiscent of his 2020 challenge to the election results. The former president has repeatedly claimed that any defeat would only be the result of widespread fraud, echoing his baseless assertions from four years ago. If the race remains as tight as anticipated, the winner may not be determined for days, particularly in key battleground states.
Harris, 59, has worked to capitalize on Biden’s surprise withdrawal, seizing the moment to argue that Trump’s increasingly incoherent rallies demonstrate his unfitness for office. In recent months, she has focused on mobilizing young voters, a demographic seen as crucial to her campaign’s success.
Trump, however, has fought back by enlisting the support of high-profile figures like billionaire Elon Musk. The world’s richest man has become one of Trump’s most vocal surrogates, as well as a significant financial backer.
The election follows one of the most tumultuous stretches in modern American politics. In July, Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally, just before the Republican National Convention. Less than a week later, Biden dropped out of the race, citing concerns about his age and health, and succumbing to mounting pressure from Democratic leaders.
Biden’s vision of a more humane immigration system—one that differed from Trump’s tough stance—quickly collided with the reality of rising illegal border crossings. The U.S. Supreme Court also rocked the political landscape by overturning Roe v. Wade, reigniting one of the nation’s most contentious debates over abortion rights.
While Biden had promised to restore stability and security on the world stage, his presidency has been overshadowed by escalating global conflicts, further complicating his political legacy.
As Election Day progressed, voters continued to reflect the nation’s deeply polarized political environment, with Trump and Harris both offering starkly different paths for America’s future.