WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump held a lead over Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday night as election officials across the United States continued tallying ballots cast in the 2024 presidential race. Trump maintained his advantage as of about 9 p.m. Eastern, with The Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ projecting wins for the former president in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming. Decision Desk also projected a Trump win in Missouri. Harris picked up projected wins in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. All results are unofficial until local election officials across the country verify and certify the outcome in the coming days and weeks. The process of counting ballots and determining a winner could take several more days. Polls had closed in all but nine states by 9 p.m. Eastern, concluding an extraordinary campaign season defined by Trump’s divisive rhetoric, his numerous criminal cases and two attempts on his life. The race took an unprecedented turn when President Joe Biden, following a disastrous debate performance, dropped his reelection bid with just over 100 days until the election, jolting the Trump camp to pivot to Harris. A ‘very exciting time’ As projections began rolling in, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform reminders about poll closure times. The former president was spending election night at his Palm Beach, Florida, residence. Harris was spending election night at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington, D.C., where her supporters gathered. Lalika Gerald, a Howard graduate from 2005, remembers studying T.V. production in the library that is now overlooking an election night rally for potentially the first Black woman to lead the country. “It’s a very exciting time just to be here and to know that a Bison like myself is about to be our president,” she said, referring to the university’s mascot. The 41-year-old from Prince George’s County, Maryland, said she has felt a roller coaster of emotions throughout the day. “As excited and as hopeful as I am, you know you never know what might happen,” she said. “It’s a moment for us to be really seen.” In the states States Newsroom journalists fanned out across the country Tuesday, talking to voters outside churches, community centers, schools and courthouses, where the presidential race not only weighed on their minds, but congressional contests and ballot initiatives as well. Voter Stephanie Capps in Raleigh, North Carolina, said she brought her 9-year-old daughter to the polls to show her democracy in action. “Because a little over 100 years ago, women couldn’t vote,” Capps told NC Newsline. “And so, we talked about how it’s really important for her to learn to vote.” The presidential campaigns continued to hit swing states, speak to the press and issue statements reminding voters of their rights. Harris stayed in Washington, D.C, where she called in to several radio shows in battleground states. According to her campaign, she was a guest on Power 99 in Philadelphia with Cappuchino and KDKA NewsRadio in Pittsburgh with Larry Richert, the Big Tigger Morning Show in Atlanta, Georgia and Foxy 107.2 with Karen Clark in Raleigh, North Carolina. “I’m proud to have a lot of support out of Pittsburgh, it’s a historic city,” Harris told Richert, who asked about her 10 campaign visits to the western Pennsylvania city. Harris’ running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz stopped in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Tuesday where he spoke to supporters and volunteers. Walz told reporters after the event “I think the choice couldn’t be starker.” Trump, from his Mar-a-Lago estate, posted a video message to voters on his platform Truth Social reminding them to remain in line if they arrive before polls close. “Republicans, we’re doing very well. Stay on line, don’t get off line, and vote. Make sure you get through and vote. We’re gonna have a big victory tonight,” Trump said. Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, spoke to reporters after voting in Cincinnati. “Look, I feel good. You never know until you know, but I feel good about this race,” he said. Biden, who was the presumed Democratic nominee until he dropped his reelection bid and endorsed Harris just over 100 days ago, did not make any public appearances Tuesday. This developing story will be updated. Ariana Figueroa contributed to this report. Last updated 8:19 p.m., Nov. 5, 2024 The post The polls start closing and an exhausted nation awaits an answer. Who will be president? appeared first on The Lexington Times.