Former President Donald Trump has secured Pennsylvania, the crucial swing state that was highly sought after on this year’s electoral map.
With this victory, announced by Fox News, CNN, and NBC News early Wednesday, Trump has claimed Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes. Prior to the election, many analysts viewed Pennsylvania as the most likely tipping-point state that could sway the race in favor of either candidate.
If historical trends continue, the other “blue wall” states—Michigan and Wisconsin—might follow suit, as it has been nearly 40 years since these Great Lakes states voted differently.
Trump’s route to the presidency relied on winning at least one of the blue-wall states. He successfully captured all three in 2016 but lost them narrowly in 2020, including Pennsylvania, where he fell short by about 81,000 votes. Republicans were optimistic that Trump would perform better this time without President Joe Biden—who has strong ties to Pennsylvania—on the ballot.
The state’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, was considered as a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris. Although he was not chosen, Shapiro actively supported Harris during the campaign.
Every region of Pennsylvania felt the impact of this unique presidential race, with both major candidates investing significant resources in the state. Notably, Elon Musk contributed over $100 million to support Trump’s campaign and also campaigned in Pennsylvania on his behalf.
