By Alexandra Feldman 
Photo Credit: City of Chesapeake, VA
Today, Americans will conclude voting for the next President of the United States. The battleground states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania will play a decisive role in determining the outcome. How are Trump and Harris polling in these critical states?
According to The Hill, Trump is polling at 48.5% and Harris at 48.1%. In Wisconsin, the race is within the margin of error, underscoring its battleground status, where just a few thousand votes could tip the balance. In Michigan, Trump won in 2016, but Biden flipped it in 2020. Similarly, Trump secured all of Arizona’s electoral votes in 2016, but Biden turned the state blue in 2020. Trump is looking to reclaim Arizona, while Harris aims to maintain Biden’s success. Arizona is also crucial due to a Senate seat up for reelection, influencing both the presidential race and Senate control. Polls currently give Trump a slight 1.9% lead in Arizona.
Apart from 2020, Georgia last supported a Democratic presidential candidate in 1992 when Bill Clinton won. Harris aims to retain Georgia for the Democrats, campaigning there in the days leading up to election day. Prominent surrogates, including Former President Barack Obama, have campaigned for Harris. Trump, too, has made multiple visits to Georgia, aiming to flip it back to red, and currently leads by a margin of 1.4%. This state remains a toss-up, with both candidates having a solid chance at winning its electoral votes.
Democrats are hopeful that they can win North Carolina, a state last won by Obama in 2008. The margin between the candidates is expected to be narrow, with current polling showing Trump leading at 49.1%, while Harris stands at 47.6%.
This election could be so close that one state might determine the winner—and that state could well be Pennsylvania. Many political analysts suggest that whoever wins Pennsylvania will win the election, making it crucial for both candidates. Polling in Pennsylvania shows an extremely tight race, with only a 0.2% difference between Trump and Harris.
Given these polling numbers, there is no clear leader in the race for the White House in 2024. Both Trump and Harris have a realistic path to victory. The outcome could very well hinge on a single state decided by just a few thousand votes.