This story will be updated throughout the night as the Associated Press calls the election. Read The Sun’s previous election coverage on the 2024 General Elections here.
3:30 p.m. — Elissa Slotkin ’98 Wins Michigan Senate Seat
Representative Elissa Slotkin ’98 won against former member of Congress, Mike Rogers a Trump-endorsed Republican, in Michigan’s senate race. Slotkin will replace retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D.-MI), holding the battleground seat.
A representative for Michigan’s 7th congressional district, Slotkin’s campaign platform focused on protecting democracy, community safety, increasing national production and expanding the middle class, according to her campaign website.
Tim Sheehy Wins Against Jon Tester, Flips Senate Seat in Montana
Republican Tim Sheehy won against Democrat Rep. Jon Tester (D-MT) in Montana’s Senate race, ending Tester’s three-term run as Senator, according to AP News.
A former Navy Seal with a strong background in business, being the CEO of SHEEHY Construction. Sheehy has focused his campaign on issues like economic growth, public safety and supporting veterans. His military service and business experience are central themes in his candidacy as he seeks to appeal to Montana voters.
5:40 a.m. — Trump is Elected 47th President
Former President Donald Trump has officially secured the presidency, hitting the magic number of 270 electoral votes early Wednesday morning. He found sweeping support in a string of swing states, including Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
A blue state for two decades before 2016, Pennsylvania was widely considered to be a must-win for Harris this election. No Democrat has secured the presidency without claiming the Keystone State since 1948.
Adding to the state’s significance this election cycle was the attempted assassination on Trump while he spoke at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The gunman, a Pennsylvanian community college student, shot at the former president and grazed his ear, leaving him visibly bleeding but ultimately unharmed. One audience member was killed, and two others were injured by the gunfire.
Trump made gains early Wednesday morning when he won Georgia’s 16 electoral votes with 50.9 percent of the vote. The state flipped after President Joe Biden won by a margin of just under 12,000 votes in 2020.
This follows extensive campaigning by both parties in Georgia over the weekend, with events held by Trump in Middle Georgia and Harris in Atlanta. Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz (D-MN), First Lady Jill Biden and former President Bill Clinton campaigned for Harris throughout metro Atlanta on Sunday, just two days after early voting in Georgia came to an end with a record 4 million ballots cast.
The Associated Press called the race at 5:36 a.m. after projecting Trump as the winner of Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes, pushing him over the edge to 277 votes.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Trump faced stark criticism on a series of policy decisions he made during his first presidency, including his travel ban targeting nearly all travelers from five majority-Muslim countries, as well as North Korea and Venezuelan officials; his response to the coronavirus pandemic, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history; his proposal to build a wall on the southern border and his efforts to reject the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts in May 2024 for falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to adult star Stormy Daniels. He also was ordered to pay $85 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for calling her a liar after she accused him of sexual assault.
At Cornell, some conservative student groups have seemingly turned away from Trump, with The Cornell Review and the Cornell Republicans not endorsing the candidate this election cycle.
Votes are still being counted in Alaska, Arizona, Michigan and Nevada, but Trump maintains significant leads in all four.
2:24 a.m. — Donald Trump Wins Pennsylvania
The Republican candidate is set to win Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes. Polling in the key battleground state showed the two candidates head-to-head in the weeks leading up to the election. Biden took the state in 2020 by approximately one percent, and Trump won in 2016 by an even smaller margin.
A blue state for two decades before 2016, Pennsylvania was widely considered to be a must-win for Harris this election. No Democrat has secured the presidency without claiming the Keystone State since 1948.
Adding to the state’s relevancy this cycle was the attempted assassination on Trump while he spoke at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. The gunman, a Pennsylvanian, shot at the former president and grazed his ear, leaving him visibly bleeding but ultimately unharmed. One audience member was killed, and two others were injured by the gunfire.
4.9 percent of Cornell students are from Pennsylvania, according to College Factual.
1:01 a.m. — Donald Trump wins Georgia
Donald Trump is projected to win Georgia’s 16 electoral votes with 50.9 percent of the vote, defeating Harris. The state flipped after President Joe Biden won by a margin of just under 12,000 votes in 2020.
This follows extensive campaigning by both parties in Georgia over the weekend, with events held by Trump in Middle Georgia and Harris in Atlanta. Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz (D-MN), First Lady Jill Biden, and former President Bill Clinton campaigned for Harris throughout metro Atlanta on Sunday, just two days after early voting in Georgia came to an end with a record four million ballots cast.
1.19 percent of Cornellians come from the swing state, according to College Factual.
12:46 a.m. — Sharice Davids J.D. ’10 Retains Kansas House Seat
For the fourth general election in a row, Rep. Sharice Davids J.D. ’10 (D-KS), safely won Kansas’ third congressional district, fighting off Republican challenger Dr. Prasanth Reddy by more than 10 percent.
Polling and prediction models ahead of the election indicated an all but guaranteed victory for Davids. She made history when she first won her seat in 2018, flipping the previously Republican district. In doing so, Davids became the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to Congress from Kansas, as well as one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress, alongside Secretary Deb Haaland.
Kansas’ third district is the only one in the state represented by a Democrat. The state votes overwhelmingly Republican and voted for former President Donald Trump in the presidential election.
12:15 a.m. — Democrat Melanie Stansbury ’07 Wins New Mexico’s 1st District
Incumbent Rep. Melanie Stansbury ’07 (D-NM) won reelection against retired energy executive Steve Jones in New Mexico’s first district House of Representatives race.
As New Mexico’s representative for the 1st Congressional District since 2021, Stansbury has championed efforts to invest in infrastructure, expand access to education, and drive economic growth, focusing on policies that address climate resilience and equitable access to resources.
11:40 p.m. — Cruz Hangs Onto Senate Seat In Heated Battle
Incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) will retain his Senate seat, fighting off Democratic challenger Colin Allred in one of the most closely watched races across the country.
Despite predictions from pollsters placing Cruz less than 3.5 points ahead of Allred heading into Election Day, the Texas Republican won his reelection bid easily, leading by over 10 percent when the race was called.
Cruz has served in the Senate since 2013. He won his first reelection bid in 2018, in an unexpectedly close race against Democratic nominee Beto O’Rourke that drew national attention.
3.64 percent of Cornell students hail from Texas, according to College Factual.
11:40 p.m. — Sharice Davids J.D. ’10 Retains Kansas House Seat
For the fourth general election in a row, Rep. Sharice Davids J.D. ’10 (D-KS) safely won Kansas’ third congressional district, fighting off Republican challenger Dr. Prasanth Reddy by more than 10 percent.
Polling and prediction models ahead of the election indicated an all-but-guaranteed victory for Davids. She made history when she first won her seat in 2018, flipping the previously Republican district. In doing so, Davids became the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to Congress from Kansas, as well as one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress, alongside Secretary Deb Haaland.
Kansas’ third district is the only one in the state represented by a Democrat. The state votes overwhelmingly Republican and voted for former President Donald Trump in the presidential election.
11:30 p.m. — Republican Bernie Moreno to Represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate
Bernie Moreno (R-OH) will become the United States Senator for the state of Ohio. The Associated Press called the race as Moreno held a margin of 4.4 percentage points.
Moreno’s win adds another Republican seat in the U.S. Senate, pushing the Senate closer to a Republican majority.
Moreno was five years old when he moved from Columbia, becoming a U.S. citizen at age 18. Before politics, Moreno worked in automotive sales for nearly two decades.
Endorsed by Donald Trump, Moreno looks to secure the southern border and “destroy” Mexican drug cartels. He is also anti-abortion, with the intention of fighting to ban late-stage abortions. Moreno also wants to cut government spending and end inflation.
11:20 p.m. — Trump Wins North Carolina
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump won the key swing state of North Carolina and its 16 electoral college votes. Trump won 51 percent of the vote, improving on his 2016 and 2020 victories in the state.
A swing state for several years, North Carolina has recently become more competitive thanks to its growing economy and population in cities like Charlotte and Raleigh. Substantial migration from liberal areas in other states has contrasted with lagging support for Democrats among North Carolina’s significant African-American population, keeping margins razor-close.
The politically charged aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which devastated rural western areas of the state, sparked record early turnout, especially in areas worst hit by the storm. The Trump campaign spread disinformation leading up to the election that FEMA was redirecting disaster aid away from Republican states and toward undocumented immigrants.
Although the presidential race was decided by a small margin, the gubernatorial election was a secure Democratic victory in light of controversies surrounding Republican nominee Mark Robinson. Robinson, who lost decisively to Democratic candidate Josh Stein, has been embroiled in scandal surrounding his comments on gender and race on Facebook and pornography sites.
11:13 p.m. — Lea Webb Holds New York’s 52nd Senate District
Democrat Lea Webb will return as senator for New York’s 52nd Senate District. Webb beat competitor Mike Sigler handily, winning by a wide margin of 18 percentage points.
Webb was first elected to this state senate position in 2022, becoming the first senator of the 52nd District since the district was redrawn. During her tenure as state senator, Webb has focused on women’s issues such as ensuring that women in New York have better access to abortion.
Webb has also supported efforts to improve the affordability of college, expanding access to the Tuition Assistance Program, which helps New York residents pay tuition at approved schools.
Webb has expressed that with her second term, she will “ensure women’s reproductive rights are always protected in New York.”
10:11 p.m. — Republican Incumbent Wesley Hunt MPA’15 MBA’15 MILR’16 Reelected to Texas’s 38th Congressional District
Republican Incumbent Wesley Hunt MPA ’15 MBA ’15 MILR ’16 has won reelection in Texas’s 38th congressional district, one of two added to the state after the 2020 census.
Since his initial election in 2022, the district has remained a Republican stronghold. In simulations by FiveThirtyEight, Hunt was predicted to win the district in almost all scenarios.
Hunt has recently come under scrutiny for alleged ethics violations. Earlier this year, the Office of Congressional Ethics opened an investigation into his use of over $74,000 in campaign funds on private club memberships and fees associated with the club.
In a 2022 interview with The Sun, Hunt discussed his conservative heritage coming from a military family. Both Hunt and his sister attended West Point.
Hunt also mentioned the challenges he faced at Cornell with the student body leaning left but credited Cornell for shaping him into the politician he is today by putting him in situations where he had to frequently defend himself.
“I’ve had to defend my views, but, being in Ithaca for four years, I got really good at defending myself. And it actually made me a pretty good politician,” Hunt said. “I really owe Cornell for that.”
9:59 p.m. — Democrat Kristin Hook Ph.D. ’16 Loses Texas’ 21st Congressional District
Kristin Hook Ph.D. ’16 lost to Republican incumbent Chip Roy in Texas’ 21st congressional district.
After earning a Ph.D. in Animal Behavior from Cornell, Hook went on to serve as a science and technology experience in the U.S. Senate under Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), in the National Institutes of Health and in the Government Accountability Office.
Some of Hook’s priorities included enshrining abortion rights, increasing funding for public education, enhancing healthcare access and resources, enhancing border security, expanding voting rights and improving access to clean air and water.
9:46 p.m. — Dan Meuser ’88 Wins Pennsylvania’s Ninth District
Republican Incumbent Dan Meuser ’88 won Pennsylvania’s ninth congressional district, securing a victory against Democrat Amanda Waldman.
Meuser has served as a representative for this district since 2019. Prior to that, Meuser served as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Revenue. He currently serves on the House Committee of Financial Services and the House Committee on Small Business as well as several congressional caucuses.
Among Meuser’s policy priorities are healthcare premiums, drug and opioid abuse and federal debt reduction.
9:38 p.m. — New York Votes Yes On Prop. 1, Codifying Healthcare Rights with Constitutional Amendment
New Yorkers have made their voices heard at the polls — Proposition 1, an update to the Equal Rights Amendment to New York’s state constitution, passed with overwhelming support, receiving over 70 percent of votes.
Proponents of the amendment say it will protect abortion rights for women, as well as access to IVF and contraception. The proposition also seeks to provide broad protections against discrimination in healthcare to LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.
However, critics called the amendment vague, as it does not explicitly mention abortion. They have also voiced concerns with codifying protections against age and gender identity discrimination, suggesting it would allow children to seek medical care without parental consent. This claim has been denied by legal experts, who say existing healthcare laws would not allow this to occur.
Proposition 1 does not provide New Yorkers any new rights that are not already state law. Rather, it serves to further guarantee these rights to residents by solidifying them in the state’s constitution, making it more difficult for future legislatures to roll protections back.
Over one-third of Cornellians hail from New York, according to University data.
9:13 p.m. — Donald Trump Wins Texas
The Republican candidate won the 40 electoral votes from Texas, defeating the Democratic candidate Harris. This outcome aligns with Texas’ long tradition of voting red.
In Texas, former President Donald Trump’s campaign emphasized a pro-fossil fuel agenda, pledging to support new pipelines and resume fracking on federal lands. This approach resonated with the state’s oil and gas industry, leading to significant financial backing and bolstering his support among energy sector workers.
3.64 percent of Cornellians hail from Texas, according to College Factual.
9:05 p.m. — Kamala Harris Wins New York
The Democratic candidate is set to win the 28 electoral votes from the state of New York, defeating Donald Trump. Harris has accumulated 99 Electoral College votes as of 9 p.m.
Trump hosted a controversial campaign rally at Madison Square Garden where the offensive remarks about Puerto Rico from a comedian made headlines in national media on Oct. 27.
9:05 p.m. — Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand Wins Senate Reelection in New York
Incumbent Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has been reelected, beating Republican challenger Mike Sapraicone —it will be her fourth term in office after first being elected in a 2010 special election. She was appointed to the seat in 2009 to fill Hillary Clinton’s vacancy.
Gillibrand spent election day on a religious visit to the Ohel, a Jewish monumental tomb. Sapraicone is a former NYPD detective. After 20 years of service, he left the force to start a private security firm that’s since grown to over 500 hundred employees. He previously ran a campaign for former Rep. George Santos’ seat following his expulsion.
Gillibrand and Sapraicone sparred at a debate hosted by Spectrum News on Oct. 23 at the University of Albany. Gillibrand voiced her support for both Proposition 1 while Sapraicone opposed the ballot measure. They also clashed on the economy – Gillibrand advocated for a higher, living wage while Sapraicone said increasing the minimum wage would hurt small businesses.
9:05 p.m. — Democrat Anna Kelles Reelected to New York State Assembly
Incumbent Assemblymember Anna Kelles (D-125th District) won reelection to the New York State Assembly, the lower house of the New York state legislature. Kelles was first elected in 2020 to represent the 125th District, which consists of Tompkins County and parts of Cortland County.
The Trumansburg native did not face a Republican opponent in the safely Democratic seat, although Ithaca realtor Lindsay Lustick Garner launched a last-minute write-in campaign on Oct. 23. Garner criticized the political establishment in Tompkins County for high taxes and crime in low-income areas of Ithaca.
During her time in the State Assembly, Kelles has focused on environmental issues, criminal justice reform and mental health. She has spearheaded bills to put a moratorium on cryptocurrency mining in New York, increase state reimbursement for EMS ambulance services and protect 480 acres of woodland in Lansing.
Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Kelles was a lecturer in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell from 2015 to 2017, and a member of the Tompkins County Legislature from 2015 to 2021.
8:38 p.m. — Florida Rejects Abortion Amendment
Resolution 4, which would provide more access to abortion services for Floridians, failed as over 40 percent of voters in Florida voted against it.
Amendment 4 sought to enshrine the right to abortion in the state’s constitution, permitting procedures up to around 24 weeks of pregnancy. This comes after Florida’s restrictive abortion law went into effect on May 1, 2024, which prohibits abortion after six weeks and bans mailed abortion pills.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, 7 states have successfully passed ballot measures on abortion rights. 9 other states have similar abortion rights on the ballot this year, including New York, Arizona and Nevada. Florida voters faced a larger hurdle, though, with the state requiring a 60 percent majority vote for the Amendment to pass.
8:22 p.m. — Democratic Rep. Katherine Clark J.D. ’89 Wins Massachusetts’ Fifth District
Massachusetts Democrat Katherine Clark J.D. ’89 won the state’s fifth district after running unopposed in both the primary and general elections. Formerly a state senator and state representative, Clark first won election to the House in a special election in 2013. According to her campaign website, Clark’s policy priorities include a focus on climate change policy, childcare, healthcare and protecting access to abortion and contraception.
Clark is currently the second top Democrat in the House, serving as Minority Whip since being elected in 2022. She is the second woman to serve as whip in a major political party after Nancy Pelosi. After serving as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus and senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, she was named Assistant House Speaker in 2020.
Clark gained recognition after she supported the attempt to impeach former President Donald Trump. She has sponsored several bills which have passed, including the Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act, the Pet and Women Safety Act and the Protecting Our Infants Act.
In an interview with The Sun in 2019, Clark said her interest in public service was in part driven by involvement in the Cornell Law School Legal Aid clinic and as the president of the Women’s Law Coalition at Cornell Law School.
8:17 p.m. — Republican Incumbent Beth Van Duyne ’95 Wins Texas’ 24th Congressional District.
Beth Van Duyne won the election with 60 percent of the vote, a wider margin than her last performance in the 2022 midterm elections.
Beth Van Duyne was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2020 and has served in the House Ways and Means Committee and the Committee on Small Business.
Previously, Van Duyne served as the first female mayor of Irving, Texas from 2011 to 2017 before announcing that she was not seeking a third term. Soon after, she was appointed as a regional administrator for the Trump administration in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
8:09 p.m. — Florida Voters Reject Amendment Three, Halting Marijuana Legalization Efforts
Florida’s closely watched ballot initiative Amendment 3 failed to reach the required 60 percent threshold required to pass. Amendment 3 would have legalized recreational marijuana use in the state for people age 21 and older.
Pre-election polling indicated this measure could swing in either direction. Recent polls showed support as high as 66 percent, while others previously estimated only 56 percent of Floridians were in favor. Ultimately, the constitutional amendment received 55 percent of the vote at the time of the projection.
The Republican Party was largely divided on this ballot issue. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Amendment 3, writing on Truth Social that he “believe[s] it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FA), on the other hand, repeatedly criticized the measure. He reportedly spent millions in taxpayer dollars on advertisements opposing Amendment 3 and Amendment 4, the other major ballot initiative that would add the right to abortion to Florida’s constitution.
8:01 p.m. — Kamala Harris Wins New Jersey
The Democratic candidate won the 13 electoral votes from New Jersey, defeating the Republican candidate Trump. This outcome follows New Jersey’s track record of leaning Democratic.
In New Jersey, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has focused on mobilizing the state’s diverse electorate, particularly engaging with Black sororities and fraternities. These organizations have been instrumental in voter registration drives and community outreach, inspired by Harris’s historic candidacy.
8.53 percent of Cornellians hail from New Jersey, according to College Factual.
8:01 p.m. — Kamala Harris Wins Massachusetts
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris won Massachusetts’ 11 electoral college votes, defeating Republican candidate Donald Trump in the state.
Massachusetts has a reputation as a staunch liberal stronghold, having not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1984. President Joe Biden won 65.6 percent of the Massachusetts vote in 2020.
4.9 percent of Cornell students are originally from Massachusetts, according to College Factual.
8:01 p.m. — Kamala Harris Wins Connecticut
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris won the seven electoral votes from Connecticut, defeating Republican candidate Donald Trump. This outcome follows Connecticut’s long-lasting tradition of voting blue.
In Connecticut, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has garnered substantial support from state Democratic leaders, including Governor Ned Lamont and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who have actively endorsed her candidacy. This unified backing bolstered her campaign’s efforts to mobilize voters across the state.
3.43 percent of Cornellians hail from Connecticut, according to College Factual.
8:01 p.m. — Donald Trump Wins Florida
The Republican candidate won the 30 electoral votes from Florida, defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. This outcome aligns with recent election trends in Florida, where Trump won by 3.4 percent in 2020 and by 1.2 percent in 2016, reinforcing his support base in the state.
The Trump campaign remained all-in for Florida, doubling down on messaging that has been consistent and on-message on economic freedom, conservative social values, and opposition to socialism which appealed to a Latino voter base.
4.28 percent of Cornellians hail from Florida, according to College Factual.
Gabriel Muñoz, Max Troiano, Isabella Pazmino-Schell, Xavier Rolston, Maya Schmaling, Dalton Mullins, Aryan Batada, Jonathan Brand, Reem Nasrallah, Giselle Redmond, Dorothy France-Miller and Eric Reilly reported live from The Sun’s office in downtown Ithaca.