WASHINGTON — The Associated Press projected that former President Donald Trump has won North Carolina, the first of seven key swing states to be called, as results in the 2024 race between the former president and Vice President Kamala Harris continued to pour in. The East Coast state was ravaged by Hurricane Helene just two months before Election Day, and Trump campaigned on false statements that the federal government did not send disaster aid to the region. The former president racked up 230 Electoral College votes overall nationally compared to Harris’ 192 just after 11:30 p.m. Eastern, according to The Associated Press projections. A total of 270 votes are needed to win. Projections had not yet been made for other battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. With the call in North Carolina, and preliminary results in Georgia that seemed to favor Trump, Harris’ path to the White House appeared to require a sweep of the Northern battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.  In a memo sent to campaign staff just before 11 p.m. Eastern and obtained by States Newsroom, Harris campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon said the campaign had always focused on that route to victory. “While we continue to see data trickle in from the Sun Belt states, we have known all along that our clearest path to 270 electoral votes lies through the Blue Wall states,” she wrote. “And we feel good about what we’re seeing.” Earlier projections The AP had already projected Trump wins in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. The former president also gained a portion of electoral votes in Nebraska, one of two states that is not winner-take-all. Harris gained California, Oregon, Washington and one of Maine’s electoral votes as of 11 p.m. Eastern, according to the AP and Decision Desk HQ projections, after already having picked up Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont earlier in the evening. 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. Election night drew to a close 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 Trump wins swing state North Carolina over Harris, as both camps await more results appeared first on The Lexington Times.