What to Know
- Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, taking 278 electoral votes, NBC News projects; Hillary Clinton got 218 electoral votes
- Both candidates were in Manhattan on Tuesday night. Trump's supporters celebrated and Clinton's supporters went home, some in tears
- Global stock markets plunged upon the news of a Trump victory as the global economy faces new uncertainties
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Trump Wins Election
Republican Donald Trump, who entered politics after a career in real estate and reality TV, defied pollsters and pundits Tuesday to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton for the presidency. Clinton called Trump to concede after Trump had taken several battleground states, including Florida and Ohio. She did not give a concession speech Tuesday night. News organizations said the Republican candidate was the winner at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Trump, whose candidacy was treated with wide skepticism when he launched his campaign, beat 16 other Republicans to become the GOP nominee. Outside the Hilton Hotel in New York City, where Donald Trump and his campaign had been watching the election results roll in, supporters chanted "President Trump.”
Uncertainty for Global Economy
Global stock markets and U.S. stock futures plunged, reflecting investor concern over what a Trump presidency might mean for the economy and trade. In recent days, markets rallied on a broad expectation Clinton would win, which was seen as a more stable outcome for investors. The election of Trump creates new uncertainties for the global economy, say investors and economists, who see him as a reckless novice who might disrupt trade at a time when growth is already fragile. "We simply can't know what type of President Trump will be," said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist for Capital Economics, in a report.
Rural Voters Power Trump
Local
NBC News’ Chuck Todd described Donald Trump’s surprise victory — which none of the polls or political experts correctly predicted — as rural America “screaming at us, saying, ‘stop overlooking us!’” Analysis suggests that rural America powered Trump to a win. Third-party protests votes may have also played a role as third-party candidates took small but significant portions of the vote in a handful of key swing states.
Congress Stays Red
Republicans held onto the House of Representatives on Tuesday and retained their slim Senate majority, another stinging blow to Democrats in a night full of them. Democrats had been nearly certain of retaking Senate control but saw their hopes fizzle as endangered GOP incumbents won in Missouri, Indiana, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and even Democrat-friendly Wisconsin.
Polls Proven Wrong
Donald Trump's stunning victory against Hillary Clinton in the presidential election Tuesday was a final twist in a made-for TV thrill ride — and a stern lesson to journalists to avoid leaping to conclusions. Relying on polls and group think, television networks began covering election night with a barely concealed assumption that Clinton would win, only to see the actual results suggest something quite different.
Social Media Erupts
As avid Twitter user Trump sealed the deal to become the 45th president of the United States, the #TrumpTrain celebrated on Twitter. But plenty of other people took to social media to express their dismay. As results rolled in, Canada's immigration site went down. Twitter users suggested it was the result of Americans flooding the site to inquire about packing up for a life in the Great White North.
Schumer Wins Re-Election
Three-term Democratic New York U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer won re-election on Tuesday, easily fending off a challenge from a little-known and poorly funded Republican New York City lawyer.
Local Election Results
Head to NBCNewYork.com for a full list of election results from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
