Trump wins Michigan, Harris calls to concede defeat

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Nov 2024 23:21

Harris has called President-elect Donald Trump to concede the election and congratulate him on his victory.

An attendee holds a photo of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris during a campaign rally for Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Detroit. (AP)

Former President Donald Trump claimed victory in Michigan on Wednesday, securing its 15 electoral votes and reclaiming the battleground state for Republicans.

The Associated Press called the race at 12:54 pm EST, marking a pivotal win in Trump's sweep of key "Blue Wall" states in the Upper Midwest, a region that Democrats have traditionally relied upon in presidential elections.

Michigan, once a stronghold for Democrats, was initially flipped by Trump in 2016, marking the first Republican win in the state in nearly 30 years. Trump narrowly lost it in 2020 to Joe Biden, who went on to win the presidency.

However, this year, discontent among Democratic voters, particularly in metro Detroit, over the Biden administration's handling of the war on Gaza appeared to weaken support for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

Final tallies from Wayne County, the Democratic stronghold that includes Detroit, showed that Harris failed to match Biden's 2020 performance there, leading to Trump's victory in the state.

Call for peaceful transfer

Following the results, Vice President Kamala Harris called Trump to formally concede and congratulate him on his win. According to a senior advisor, Harris emphasized the importance of a peaceful transfer of power during their conversation.

Harris is scheduled to deliver a concession speech later today at Howard University, her alma mater, where her supporters had gathered to watch election returns the previous night.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden also called Trump to congratulate him and extended an invitation to the White House to discuss the transition.

The White House announced that staff would coordinate a meeting in the near future, and Biden plans to address the nation tomorrow, reflecting on the election's implications for his administration's legacy.

According to experts, Trump's victory signifies a historic moment for the Republican Party.

Not only did he win Michigan, but he also appears on track to win the national popular vote for the first time in his three campaigns for the White House—a significant achievement after facing two impeachments and criminal convictions.

For Harris, this defeat is a profound setback, as she had been seen by some Democrats as a unifying figure within the party following Biden's declining approval ratings.