Former President Donald Trump has emerged victorious against Vice President Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential race, a result called by the Associated Press on Wednesday morning. This win marks Trump’s return to the White House as the 47th president of the United States. Securing 277 Electoral College votes, Trump surpassed the required 270 with a decisive victory in Wisconsin early Wednesday. His success in other critical swing states, such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina, was instrumental in clinching the election. Alongside his electoral advantage, Trump currently leads in the popular vote, holding 51% of returns.
This victory is historically significant as Trump becomes only the second U.S. president to serve two nonconsecutive terms, joining Grover Cleveland, who achieved this in 1892. During his first term, Trump left a lasting mark on the Supreme Court, appointing three justices—Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett. These appointments contributed to a more conservative bench, which played a pivotal role in overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
With his second term, Trump is positioned to make further impactful decisions regarding the Supreme Court. Republican pollster Frank Luntz indicated that the opportunity for more appointments may be imminent. “There are a couple justices that will probably be retiring in the next year or two,” Luntz noted, although he did not specify which justices he anticipated stepping down. Currently, the two oldest conservative justices on the court are Clarence Thomas, aged 76, and Samuel Alito, aged 74. Given the Republicans’ control of the Senate—responsible for confirming Supreme Court nominees—Luntz predicted that “whomever [Trump] wants is going to end up on the Supreme Court.”
In addition to potential Supreme Court nominations, CBS News highlights that Trump may have the opportunity to appoint additional federal judges, potentially shaping the judiciary for years to come.
This victory signals a new chapter in Trump’s political journey and foreshadows significant shifts in U.S. judicial appointments.
