US Elections: How the race played out in battleground states
Most pollsters predicted the presidential race would be tight, with the path to the White House decided in seven key states.
Most polls predicted the race to the White House would be close and would come down to seven key battleground states.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris needed to win 270 Electoral College votes to secure the keys to the White House.
Each state carries a different number of votes and in 2020 some came down to a few hundred thousand votes.
Pollsters had suggested Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin would be where the race was won.
North Carolina – Republican hold
North Carolina, which has 16 Electoral College votes, went to the Republican Party in 2020 by fewer than 100,000 votes.
It was the first of the battleground states to be projected, after polls closed at 7.30pm (12.30am UK).
A projected win for the Republicans declared at 11.36pm (4.36am UK time).
Georgia – Republican gain
Georgia was won by the Democrats in 2020, with its 16 Electoral College votes, and it was a key state in Joe Biden’s path to the White House.
He was the first Democratic candidate to win the state in nearly three decades.
Polls closed at 7pm (12am UK) and the result was projected for Trump just after 12.30am (5.30am UK).
Pennsylvania – Republican gain
Pennsylvania was another state won by the Democrats in the last presidential election.
But shortly after 2am (7am UK), the state and its 19 Electoral College votes were projected to go to the Republicans.
Polls closed in the Rust Belt state – where the Harris campaign had pinned their hopes on wins – at 8pm (1am UK).
Shortly after this projection, at 2.30am (7.30am UK) Donald Trump claimed victory in a speech to supporters at West Palm Beach in Florida.
Arizona – Too close to call
Arizona was once seen as a Republican stronghold, but in 2020 it was won by the Democrats.
Polls closed in the state, which has 11 Electoral College votes, at 2am (7am UK).
Michigan – Too close to call
There are 15 Electoral College votes up for grabs in Michigan, where polls closed at 9pm (2am UK)
In 2020 the Democrats won in the state, after Trump became the first Republican to win it in a number of years in 2016.
Nevada – Too close to call
Polls closed in the predominantly rural state of Nevada at 10pm (3am UK).
It has six Electoral College votes and went to the Democrats in 2020.
Wisconsin – Too close to call
Wisconsin has 10 Electoral College votes and voted Democrat in 2020.
Considered a bellwether state, Wisconsin has backed the winning candidate since 2008.
Polls closed there at 9pm (2am UK).
