Presidential election highlights: November 6, 2024

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office said Trudeau congratulated Trump in a phone call. “The two leaders discussed the enduring and successful partnership between Canada and the United States,” the statement said.

The statement noted that they discussed trade, supply chains, global trading practices and North American security.

Trump’s campaign says he has accepted President Biden’s invitation to meet at the White House to discuss the presidential transition. No date has been announced yet but Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, said it would “take place shortly.” Cheung said Trump “very much appreciated” Biden’s congratulatory call on Wednesday.

The White House is encouraging Trump to enter into the required agreements necessary to begin an orderly presidential transition.

Trump’s transition team still has not signed the agreements with the White House and the General Services Administration that allow them access to federal facilities, documents and personnel. The delay is holding up the federal government’s ability to begin processing security clearances for potential Trump administration national security appointees, potentially limiting the number of his staff who could work on sensitive information by Inauguration Day.

White House chief of staff Jeff Zients reached out to co-chairs Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon to reiterate the role the agreements play in beginning a presidential transition, according to a White House official. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive transition planning.

The president watched Harris’ concession speech from the West Wing, the White House said.

The vice president used what she called “a law of history,” recalling an adage that “only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”

“I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case,” she said. “America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, billion stars. The light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service.”

“This is not a time to throw up our hands,” said Harris. “This is a time to roll up our sleeves.”

“Only when it is dark enough,” she said, “can you see the stars.”

Just as she walked in, Harris made her exit to the strains of Beyoncé's “Freedom,” filing off the stage with her family.

Harris may have been ending her campaign against Trump, but her concession outlined the contours of future fights against the president-elect.

“We will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square,” Harris said, a nod to the work Democrats are poised to do in the next four years.

Harris specifically called out the young people she sought to organize, acknowledging the loss may hurt but that the work is not over.

“Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. The important thing is don’t ever give up,” she said. “Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place.”

Harris attempted to focus on the future work Democrats need to do in her concession speech.

“While I concede this election,” she said, “I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”

“I will never give up a fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams ambitions and aspirations,” she said. America, she added, “will never give up the fight for our democracy.”

Harris urged her supporters to accept her loss in the 2024 presidential election and touted how she would help Trump with his transition.

“Folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now, I get it. But we must accept the results of this election,” she said.

“Earlier today I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory,” Harris said to a smattering of boos from the audience. “I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”

Harris told supporters gathered at Howard University that she had lost her race against Trump, conceding to the Republican president who is now empowered by a sweeping mandate.

“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” Harris said. “But hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”

Harris had planned to address an audience like this at Howard on election night and had hoped she would have a more upbeat message to deliver. Instead, when Harris took the stage at her alma mater, she looked out at a sea of America flags and notably forlorn faces. She was flanked by 30 American flags.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, drew cheers from Democrats when he arrived at the vice president’s concession speech.

He was joined by his wife, Gwen.

The hype music ahead of Harris’ remarks has been an eclectic mix of rap and R&B, including a nod toward what Harris would have been — America’s second Black president.

Ahead of her walk on to Beyoncé's “Freedom,” a mix included Jeezy’s “My President,” which includes the lyric, “My president is Black.”

Harris’ campaign chair acknowledged the Democrat’s “unfathomably painful” loss in a memo to staff, but told the operatives who worked for the vice president that “the work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now.”

Jen O’Malley Dillon’s memo to staff acknowledged the pain of the moment for Democrats but took a hopeful tone about the work these staffers have done.

“Losing is unfathomably painful. It is hard. This will take a long time to process,” she wrote. “But the work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now.”

O’Malley Dillon said Harris “isn’t finished in this fight” and said the staffers who worked for the vice president are “going to be leaders in this collective mission.”

“View this as the beginning, not the end” she concluded. “It will be hard work. But as the boss says: hard work is good work.”

Beyoncé's “Freedom” became a mainstay of Harris’ presidential campaign, and some of the artist’s other music is providing the soundtrack of the event expected to include her concession speech.

“Run the World (Girls)” played through speakers at Howard University as supporters, members of Congress and other Democratic notables awaited the Democratic nominee.

Harris’ presidential campaign took on Beyoncé's 2016 track “Freedom” as its anthem, with Harris walking out to it at dozens of events, including her acceptance speech at this summer’s Democratic National Convention.

The singer appeared with Harris last month during a campaign rally in her hometown of Houston, bringing a high level of star power to what had become a key theme of the Democratic nominee’s bid: freedom.

House Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi, White House adviser Tom Perez and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser are among the crowd waiting for Harris to speak at Howard.

Harris has left the vice president’s residence and is traveling to Howard University, her alma mater, to publicly concede the election to President-elect Trump.

Harris has already spoken to Trump by telephone to congratulate him on winning, according to one of the VP’s aides. Trump’s team has confirmed the conversation.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will join Harris at Howard.

David Plouffe, the longtime adviser to former President Barack Obama turned top Harris aide, wrote Wednesday that the Democratic operation “left it all on the field for their county” but eventually it was not enough against Trump.

“We dug out of a deep hole but not enough,” Plouffe wrote. “A devastating loss. Thanks for being in the arena, all of you.”

Plouffe’s comments come at a time when some Democrats are starting to blame President Biden for not stepping away earlier, constraining Harris to a truncated campaign.

President Joe Biden has called President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his election victory and to invite him to the White House to discuss the transition.

The White House said staff would coordinate a date “in the near future.” Biden plans to address the nation on the election results, which will have sharp implications for his legacy, on Thursday. Biden also spoke with Vice President Harris to congratulate her on her campaign.

Trump, someone whose political career has been defined by division and acrimony, told the audience at his election night party early on Wednesday that it was “time to unite” as a country.

“It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us,” Trump said. “It’s time to unite.”

“We have to put our country first for at least a period of time,” he added. “We have to fix it.”

Most of the important people in Trump’s personal and political life have joined him on stage in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Former first lady Melania Trump stood near her husband and was joined by Barron, the former president’s youngest son. Trump’s older children, Don Jr., Eric, Ivanka and Tiffany, all joined their father on stage, too.

Trump’s top political minds, including top campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, joined Trump on stage. And his political allies were on stage, too, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Trump also celebrated a few celebrities in the audience and on stage. Dana White, the CEO of UFC, was on stage with Trump, and the former president called golfer Bryson DeChambeau on stage. Trump also shouted out Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, who has become one of his most high-profile supporters. “We have a new star. A star is born: Elon,” Trump said.

He promised that he would “not rest until we have delivered the strong safe and prosperous America.”

“Every single day,” Trump said, “I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.”

The AP’s current count has him at 267 of the 270 electoral votes he needs to win the White House. He is leading in key races left to be called, including Michigan and Wisconsin.

The former presidential candidate has arrived at the Palm Beach Convention Center, entering and walking briskly as he made his way near the stage among crowds of supporters.

Trump has said he will play a role when it comes to health policy but has not specified what that would be. Kennedy, who launched his own presidential bid as an independent before dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump, joined him at several rallies in the last stretch of the campaign.

Donald Trump Jr. is now shaking hands with supporters and pumping his fists in the air.

Harris’ campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, told the audience gathered at what was planned to be the Democratic nominee’s election night party at Howard University that the vice president would not speak tonight, but that the campaign was not giving up the fight against Trump.

“We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken,” said Richmond. “So you won’t hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow.”

Richmond said Harris would return to Howard “not only to address her supporters but to address the nation.”

The event, which began as a jubilant celebration of Harris and the prospect of a new presidency, began to sour as the Democrat’s path to victory narrowed.

With Trump expected to address the watch party at Palm Beach Convention Center, Trump supporters are making their way into the venue as the president heads over from Mar-a-Lago.

Vice President Kamala Harris is not planning to address the public during the night, according to a person familiar with the White House spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.

He’s expected to speak tonight to his gathered supporters.

“Voted for the first time - for his dad,” she shared on X.

Barron Trump turned 18 years old in March and began his freshman year at New York University this fall.

At Trump’s election night watch party, the crowd erupted in cheers, with some supporters pumping fists in the air and others jumping when the screen showed that Trump won North Carolina’s 16 electoral votes.

Some are yelling “fight, fight, fight.”

Harris’ campaign chair stressed patience and resolve in a message to all campaign staff obtained by The Associated Press, arguing that the “closeness of the race is exactly what we prepared for” and predicting the race won’t “come into focus until the early morning hours.”

The message from campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon was meant for an audience beyond campaign staff, too, as nervous Democrats nationwide watch the race between Harris and Trump narrow to a handful of key battleground states.

“As we have known all along, this is a razor thin race,” wrote O’Malley Dillon, citing turnout in Philadelphia and early vote totals in suburban Bucks County, Pennsylvania; outstanding votes in Detroit; and uncounted vote in Dane and Milwaukee counties in Wisconsin, two Democratic strongholds.

While the longtime Democratic operative noted forthcoming counting in Nevada and Arizona, the memo highlighted how central the so-called “blue wall” states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania are to Harris’ path to victory.

“We’ve been saying for weeks that this race might not be called tonight,” she wrote, adding later, “This is what we’ve been built for, so let’s finish up what we have in front of us tonight, get some sleep, and get ready to close out strong tomorrow.”

Allies, donors and some of Trump’s most loyal supporters are filing into the Palm Beach Convention Center for his watch party.

Red is the color of the night, with some dressing in sparkles and sequins, and others wearing American flag blazer and pants.

Tables with lines of red “MAGA” and “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” hats were available for guests to take as they arrived.

Trump spoke to Philadelphia radio host Rich Zeoli and talked about his support in Pennsylvania’s largest city, often asking more questions than the other way around.

“What were you saying about Philly?” Trump asked. “Because I have been hearing a lot about Philly.”

Zeoli shared news about a Philadelphia Inquirer analysis finding support from working-class and Latino voters in the city.

“That’s great. Wow,” Trump said before saying he was feeling confident about it on Monday but was hearing bad things Tuesday.

Both Democratic and Republican election officials in Pennsylvania have denounced Trump’s earlier post on social media about “massive cheating” in Philadelphia, saying it is untrue.

Howard alumni returned in droves to the campus they once called home for a festival of history and — many hope — a barrier-breaking victory for Harris, one of their own.

Catherine Sammerson, who graduated from Howard a year ahead of the vice president and voted for her in North Carolina, said she never imagined that a Howard graduate could enter the Oval Office.

“And I don’t even think Howard University thought that if we get the first woman president, she would be a graduate from Howard University,” said Sammerson, 59, who flew in from Trinidad and Tobago that morning. She said it was a point of pride to see another alumna of Caribbean heritage potentially ascend to the nation’s highest office.

“I always think of all the ancestors and their struggle,” she said. “I vote for the struggle of what it took for us.”

The election night event is channeling the spirit of HBCU homecomings with a kickoff from Howard’s “Showtime Marching Band.” The energy continued with various line dances including “Wobble” by rapper V.I.C., Beyoncé's rendition of Maze & Frankie Beverly’s “Before I Let Go” and “Jerusalema” by Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode.

Homecoming season is a sacred tradition at many HBCUs. Although Howard had its homecoming in mid-October, the live music and dancing is reminiscent of the annual festival that fills the same yard on campus and brings students, alumni and community members together to celebrate.

Trump posted a clip on his social networks asking Republican voters to “stay in line.”

“We’re doing really well. If you’re in line, stay in line,” he says in the 13-second clip. “Don’t let them take you off that line.”

The clip was shared on various social networks.

Senior Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski is projecting confidence as polls begin to close.

“He feels great,” he said of Trump, speaking at the former president’s watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida. “We are ready, when the election is called, to begin the transition to put this country back on track.”

Trump’s campaign sees its easiest path to the nomination running through Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

“Donald Trump has momentum,” he argued.

As for the persistent gender gap in polls, he says, “Women do not vote only on their gender … It’s a fallacy.”

Trump is holding a massive watch party at the convention center tonight.

The former president himself will be watching the results come in at Mar-a-Lago, with family members and club members.

It’s TBD when — or even whether — Trump will decide to motorcade over to the venue.

A senior official at the federal cybersecurity agency says no nationwide security problems are threatening the integrity of the elections and is pushing back on claims of fraud in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.

Cait Conley, a senior adviser to the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told reporters tonight that though officials have responded to bomb threats, disinformation and other problems, there are no major incidents with a national-level impact.

Asked about claims of widespread fraud in Pennsylvania being advanced by Trump and some of his supporters, Conley said federal officials had been in close contact with their state and local counterparts across the country and “we see no data or reporting to support these claims.” Multiple Pennsylvania officials, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, have also said they had not seen any signs of cheating and have called the election secure.

Officials associated with both political parties are denying Trump’s claim of “massive cheating” in Philadelphia.

On social media, one of three Philadelphia election board members, Seth Bluestein, a Republican, said there is “absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation.” Voting in the city is “safe and secure,” he said.

Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Department of State said, “Pennsylvania counties, including Philadelphia, are running a safe and secure election.”

Trump provided no details about the alleged cheating. His spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment about what he meant.

Ahead of poll closures in Pennsylvania, Trump said on his social media platform that there was “talk about massive cheating in Philadelphia” and said law enforcement was on the way.

He did not provide details, and there was no immediate indication of what he was referring to, and his spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment about what he meant.

Election Day voting had proceeded relatively smoothly across Pennsylvania, with a few counties reporting problems with ballot tabulators.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner issued a statement responding to Trump’s post, saying the only suggestion of cheating was coming from the Republican presidential nominee.

“There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation,” Krasner said. “We have invited complaints and allegations of improprieties all day. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath.”

Trump’s allies appeared worried about turnout among men today, urging them to vote as Election Day drew to a close.

“If you know any men who haven’t voted, get them to the polls,” Stephen Miller, a longtime adviser to the Republican nominee, posted on X at 5:58 p.m. EST

Charlie Kirk, the leader of the conservative group Turning Point, seemed concerned earlier in the day. “Turnout is mixed and not where we want it to be,” he wrote on X. “We need more people to vote. We can’t let turnout flatline.”

He struck a more positive note at 4:11 p.m. EST “The men are arriving,” he posted. “Turnout is SURGING.”

Hours before Harris arrives at Howard University, Black Greek organizations are practicing strolling for her election event. Strolling is a tradition in Black Greek organizations where students form a line and perform choreography specific to the sorority or fraternity.

Black sororities and fraternities, known collectively as “The Divine Nine,” have been a source of strength for Harris. This year there was a surge in support from members of these groups, many of whom were excited by Harris’ historic presidential run despite being barred from endorsing candidates.

The vice president is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which was founded at Howard University in 1908. Harris pledged as a senior at Howard in 1986.

“The path to the White House runs through North Carolina,” Harris said in an interview on Raleigh’s Foxy 107.1. “And it’s a tight race. We are tied. Every vote matters.”

Harris told host Karen Clark she plans to work the phones until polls close to get out every vote she can.

“This is about turning the page and bringing in a new generation of leadership for America,” Harris said.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told reporters Tuesday that his experience as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate “restored” his faith in the nation.

“This is truly a remarkable thing we do every four years,” he said in a conversation with reporters outside his campaign plane. “It’s democracy. It’s messy. It’s beautiful. It’s the people.”

“My faith in this country has been so restored,” he added.

Walz said he had not talked with Harris on Election Day but projected confidence that they would prevail over former President Donald Trump.

“I just can’t describe the difference in the vibe that is out there with folks and how hungry they are for something different,” he said.

The agreement struck with the International Association of Machinists on the eve of Election Day includes a 38% wage increase for workers over four years, and ratification and productivity bonuses.

Boeing refused to meet strikers’ demand to restore a company pension plan that was frozen nearly a decade ago.

“I want to congratulate Boeing and the IAM for reaching an agreement that secures historic wage increases and benefits for these workers,” Harris said in a statement. “This agreement represents a positive step for Boeing’s future as a leader in the aerospace industry. As I always say: collective bargaining works.”

“If it’s a fair election, I’d be the first one to acknowledge,” the results, Trump said, though what meets that definition wasn’t clear.

Speaking to reporters after voting in Florida, Trump said that he had no plans to tell his supporters to refrain from violence should he lose.

“I don’t have to tell them,” because they “are not violent people,” he said.

Trump planned to visit a nearby campaign office to thank those working on his behalf.

“I’m hearing in Pennsylvania they won’t have an answer ‘til two or three days from now,” Trump said. “I think it’s an absolute outrage if that’s the case.”

Trump says he will have “a very special group of people” at Mar-a-Lago and a few thousand people at a nearby convention center to watch the election results.

“It looks like we have a very substantial lead,” he said without elaborating on whether he has a plan on when to declare victory.

“It seems that the conservatives are voting very powerfully,” Trump told reporters in Palm Beach, Florida.

“It looks like Republicans have shown up in force,” he said.

Asked if he had any regrets about his campaign, Trump responded, “I can’t think of any.”