As Trump celebrates national victory, Harris declared winner in Maine
Nov. 5—Well after Donald Trump declared victory in the 2024 presidential election, winning key swing states in the Midwest, Maine's popular vote was called for Vice President Kamala Harris Wednesday afternoon.
With the support of over half the state's voters, Harris took a decisive — and moot — victory in the Pine Tree State, The Associated Press reported.
Roughly 52% of voters chose Harris, compared to 45% going for Trump, the AP said. By 7:45 p.m., around 92% of the votes had been tallied.
Maine split its electoral votes, granting one to Trump and three to Harris. Harris won Maine's 1st Congressional District late Tuesday night, while the AP called the 2nd Congressional District for Trump shortly before 1 a.m.
Harris won about 53% of the vote in Augusta, versus Trump's roughly 43%, according to the city's unofficial results. In Portland, she carried nearly 80% of the vote, while Trump took more than 15%. In Bangor, the split was roughly 58% Harris to 39% Trump.
Trump declared victory over Harris in the presidential election early Wednesday morning, claiming a national win just hours after the final polls closed, and minutes after the AP called his victory in Pennsylvania. It was an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.
The AP called the national contest before 6 a.m. Wednesday after the former president won Wisconsin to clear the 270 electoral votes needed for the presidency. Harris called Trump to concede the election in the afternoon.
Earlier Wednesday, addressing jubilant supporters at an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump called the moment "a political victory that our country has never seen before."
"There's never been anything like this in this country," Trump told the crowd of cheering supporters. "We're going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly."
Trump is the first former president to return to power since Grover Cleveland regained the White House in the 1892 election. He is the first person convicted of a felony to be elected president and, at 78, is the oldest person elected to the office. His vice president-elect, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, is 40 and will become the highest-ranking member of the millennial generation in the U.S. government.
Trump said it was "time to unite" after years of national division.
Around the same time the AP called Maine for Harris Wednesday afternoon, she was speaking at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she conceded the election after calling Trump to congratulate him on his win.
She urged supporters to accept Trump's victory and vowed to help facilitate a peaceful transition of power.
"While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign," Harris told the crowd, some of whom wiped tears from their eyes. "Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn't mean we won't win. ... The important thing is don't ever give up."
President Biden, who announced his withdrawal from the race more than 100 days ago, called Harris a "public servant full of integrity, courage and character."
"She will continue the fight with purpose, determination and joy," Biden said in the statement released by the White House after Harris' concession speech. "Above all, she will continue to be a leader our children will look up to for generations to come as she puts her stamp on America's future."
Gov. Janet Mills expressed disappointment Wednesday about Trump's victory, but pledged to work with him whenever it is in the best interest of Maine people.
"While some people in Maine are feeling joy and relief at the result of this election, others are feeling disappointment and sorrow," Mills said in a written statement. "Amid these strong and differing feelings, I urge all Maine people to remain respectful of and civil towards one another. We are one state and one people and we are bound together by far more than a single election or political party wins or losses. We share a history, a broader community, and a deep and abiding love for this place that we are fortunate to call home."
Mills campaigned around the state for Harris. And Trump called Mills a "weak and ineffective" governor in a call with Maine supporters last month, when he repeatedly referred to Mills as "he" during the conference call.
"I pledge to Maine people that I will do everything in my power for as long as I am your governor to protect the future and the freedoms of Maine families — and I promise to continue to do everything I can to build a state and a country where every person can have a good education, have access to good health care, have clean air and water, have a good-paying and fulfilling job, be successful, and create a better life for themselves and for their children," Mills said.
Rep. Chellie Pingree, who won reelection in Maine's 1st Congressional District, also issued a statement expressing sadness and fear about Trump's victory.
"For the sake of our democracy, it is imperative that we respect the results," Pingree said. "But that does not mean we should remain silent, succumb to despair, or forget the power we have — as Mainers, as Americans, and as participants in a democracy. We all need time to process what happened and come to terms with our new reality, but then, it's time to get to work."
Pingree's statement came as control of the House of Representatives remained uncalled.
Meanwhile, Republicans took control of the Senate, securing a majority with the reelection of Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer.
Maine is one of two states — alongside Nebraska — that allocates its Electoral College votes by congressional district. The overall winner of Maine's statewide vote gets two Electoral College votes and the winner of the state's two congressional districts each get one.
Trump picked up one of Maine's four Electoral College votes in 2016 and 2020, despite trailing in Maine fundraising to both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.
Biden won 53% of Maine's popular vote in 2020, beating out Trump's 44%. Maine split its electoral votes for the second time that year — the first was in 2016 — giving three to Biden and one to Trump.
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