Donald Trump appears headed for a significant victory over Democratic rival Kamala Harris in the US presidential election, with voters’ concerns about high prices and immigration playing a decisive role in shaping the outcome.
National exit polling by Edison Research revealed widespread discontent among American voters, with three-quarters saying the country is heading in the wrong direction. Of these voters, 61% backed Trump. Among those who described themselves as “angry,” 71% supported the Republican candidate.
The economy emerged as a crucial factor, with 79% of voters who cited it as their primary concern choosing Trump. Harris, meanwhile, gained support from 51% of voters who believe abortion should be legal in most cases.
Notably, voters who said American democracy is “under threat” split their votes evenly between the two candidates.
The exit polls showed Trump making significant inroads with key demographic groups compared to 2020:
- Increased support among men of colour and voters under 45
- Maintained backing from suburban women, with 51% of white women supporting Trump versus 47% for Harris
- Gained 12% of African American votes in North Carolina, up from 5% in 2020
- Secured 20% support from Black men nationally
- Hispanic male support increased by 18 percentage points compared to 2020
Harris’s campaign focused heavily on abortion rights to attract women voters. However, while she secured strong support from Black women, Trump maintained his appeal among white women. The national exit poll showed 54% of women overall backed Harris, down from 57% who supported Joe Biden in 2020.
Age demographics showed Trump leading slightly among men aged 18-44 and winning decisively among those over 45. However, he lost ground with voters over 65 in key states like Wisconsin and Michigan, with support in this age group now even between the candidates nationally.
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