Republican nominee Donald J. Trump won the race on Tuesday evening to be the 45th President of the United States. Mr. Trump won in key swing states such as Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, contributing to his 278 electoral votes. These results were shocking to some, as previous polls predicted that Democratic nominee Secretary Clinton would win in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Although Secretary Clinton won the popular vote, she only received 228 electoral votes.
Secretary Clinton conceded to Mr. Trump privately in a phone call late Tuesday evening. Her public concession speech Wednesday morning encouraged her supporters to welcome Mr. Trump’s leadership with an open mind. President Obama congratulated Mr. Trump in a phone call and planned a meeting with him to discuss the transition. The President and President-elect will meet today in the White House.
Additionally, four women of color were elected to the Senate in this week’s election. Illinois Democrat Tammy Duckworth, a biracial double-amputee, lost her legs serving in the Iraq War. Duckworth defeated incumbent Republican Senator Mark Kirk. California Democrat Kamala Harris became only the second African-American woman and the first Indian American woman to be elected to the Senate. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Nevada Democrat, became the first Latina woman to be elected to the Senate. Pramila Jayapal also made news as the first South Asian woman elected to the Senate. Jayapal, a Democrat from Washington State, has been endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers and is a strong voice for college students and women.
Despite these significant Democratic victories, the Republicans ultimately regained control of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan pledged to lead a unified Republican government.