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NBC News Election Day Highlights
What You Need to Know
Millions of Americans are heading to the polls today to cast ballots for Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump. This historic election could result in either the first woman elected president or the second president to serve two nonconsecutive terms. Over 75 million voters have already cast ballots early or by mail.
In recent weeks, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, along with Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, have campaigned heavily across the nation. The latest NBC News poll shows a close race, with a notable gender gap.
Trump and his supporters have fueled skepticism about the election's integrity, circulating false claims of voter fraud and reiterating the disproven narrative that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
Control of the House and Senate, as well as numerous state offices and ballot measures, are also in play.
Moo Deng, the Pygmy Hippo, Predicts a Trump Win
Mithil Aggarwal
Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus and TikTok star, has joined the ranks of election forecasters, predicting a Trump victory. On Monday, caretakers at Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo presented Moo Deng with two fruit platters, each decorated with a watermelon carving of "Trump" or "Harris." Moo Deng went straight for the Trump platter, igniting online debate.
The hippo’s popularity skyrocketed in September, with videos of her toothless munching and lounging going viral. However, not everyone appreciated her involvement in the election. One commenter on X wrote in all caps, “Leave her out of politics. She’s the one good thing left on this planet.”
Election Day Has Arrived: Harris vs. Trump in the Final Showdown
Natasha Korecki
After months of intense campaigning, voters nationwide will cast their ballots today, determining whether Harris or Trump will lead the nation.
The campaign has highlighted stark ideological differences, with a significant gender divide between Harris and Trump. The latest NBC News poll shows Harris has a 16-point lead among women, while Trump holds an 18-point lead among men.
More than 77 million votes have already been cast by mail or through early in-person voting. Both campaigns have focused heavily on seven critical battleground states — Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina — which are likely to decide the race.
Trump's Final Rally: Predicting Victory and Stirring Controversy
Jillian Frankel and Jake Traylor, reporting from Grand Rapids, Michigan
At his last rally of the 2024 campaign, Trump cast doubt on the ballot-counting process, emphasizing his preference for paper ballots, which he claims are "safer and more efficient." He predicted a "95% chance of victory" and, despite conflicting polls, declared that he was winning in all states.
Trump also took jabs at former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, stopping short of using derogatory language but leaving his intentions clear to the crowd.