Today, citizens across the nation headed to the voting booths to decide between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. Control of the White House hinges on the outcomes in seven pivotal states, each capable of determining the election’s victor.

Throughout the intense campaign, both Trump and Harris focused their efforts on these crucial battlegrounds, making frequent trips as polls indicated a neck-and-neck race leading up to Election Day.

Key Battleground States in 2024

The following states are critical to watch in this election:

  • Arizona
  • Georgia
  • Michigan
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania
  • Wisconsin

Arizona, holding 11 electoral votes, closes its polls at 9 p.m. ET. Trump secured a win here in 2016 but narrowly lost to Biden in 2020.

Georgia offers 16 electoral votes and will stop accepting votes at 7 p.m. ET. Trump previously won Georgia in 2016, but Biden flipped it in 2020 by fewer than 12,000 votes, marking a Democratic win for the first time since 1992. Trump faces legal challenges over alleged attempts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 results, which he denies.

Michigan’s 15 electoral votes were captured by Trump in 2016, breaking nearly 30 years of Democratic dominance. However, Biden reclaimed the state in 2020. The state is part of the Democrats’ “blue wall” and is expected to be tightly contested. The first polls in Michigan close at 8 p.m. ET, with others closing an hour later.

Nevada, a state with six electoral votes, has supported Democrats in the last four presidential elections. Polls here close at 10 p.m. ET.

North Carolina, dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, has also seen visits from both candidates. Historically a Republican stronghold, Democrats have only won its 16 electoral votes twice since 1968, with Obama’s 2008 victory being the latest. Trump narrowly won here in both 2016 and 2020. Polls close at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Pennsylvania, with 19 electoral votes, remains a crucial battleground. Trump won it in 2016, while Biden reclaimed it in 2020. Both candidates have heavily campaigned here, each making over 20 visits. Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.

Wisconsin flipped from decades of Democratic support to Trump in 2016, but Biden narrowly won it back in 2020. The state’s 10 electoral votes were decided by less than 1% in both elections. Polls close at 9 p.m. ET.

Understanding Battleground States

A battleground, or swing state, is characterized by a closely divided electorate, making it a prime focus for both parties. Unlike solidly partisan states, these areas draw significant attention and resources due to their potential to swing the election.

Historical Voting Trends in Battleground States

Here’s a summary of how these states have voted in recent presidential elections:

Arizona:

  • 2020: Joe Biden (D)
  • 2016: Donald Trump (R)
  • 2012: Mitt Romney (R)
  • 2008: John McCain (R)
  • 2004: George W. Bush (R)
  • 2000: George W. Bush (R)

Georgia:

  • 2020: Joe Biden (D)
  • 2016: Donald Trump (R)
  • 2012: Mitt Romney (R)
  • 2008: John McCain (R)
  • 2004: George W. Bush (R)
  • 2000: George W. Bush (R)

Michigan:

  • 2020: Joe Biden (D)
  • 2016: Donald Trump (R)
  • 2012: Barack Obama (D)
  • 2008: Barack Obama (D)
  • 2004: John Kerry (D)
  • 2000: Al Gore (D)

Nevada:

  • 2020: Joe Biden (D)
  • 2016: Hillary Clinton (D)
  • 2012: Barack Obama (D)
  • 2008: Barack Obama (D)
  • 2004: George W. Bush (R)
  • 2000: George W. Bush (R)

North Carolina:

  • 2020: Donald Trump (R)
  • 2016: Donald Trump (R)
  • 2012: Mitt Romney (R)
  • 2008: Barack Obama (D)
  • 2004: George W. Bush (R)
  • 2000: George W. Bush (R)

Pennsylvania:

  • 2020: Joe Biden (D)
  • 2016: Donald Trump (R)
  • 2012: Barack Obama (D)
  • 2008: Barack Obama (D)
  • 2004: John Kerry (D)
  • 2000: Al Gore (D)

Wisconsin:

  • 2020: Joe Biden (D)
  • 2016: Donald Trump (R)
  • 2012: Barack Obama (D)
  • 2008: Barack Obama (D)
  • 2004: John Kerry (D)
  • 2000: Al Gore (D)

{Matzav.com}