President-elect Donald Trump secured the presidency by winning the Electoral College on Tuesday, with Texas’ 40 electoral votes contributing to his victory. Texas officials, along with other electors nationwide, cast their electoral ballots to formalize Trump’s win over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election held on November 5.
Electoral votes were allocated based on the 2020 Census, with each state receiving votes equivalent to their House representatives and two senators. Trump officially secured 312 electoral votes, surpassing the required 270 needed to win, while Harris received 226 votes.
Earlier in the day, Trump celebrated the certification of Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes, a crucial win for him in the swing state. He shared his excitement on Truth Social, showcasing the state’s official electoral college ballot.
Trump’s victory included winning all seven battleground states and the popular vote nationally. The election also resulted in a Republican trifecta, granting Republicans control of the presidency, House, and Senate.
Following his win, Trump’s incoming administration is gearing up for his second term, with new Cabinet nominations and White House staff appointments being announced. Cabinet picks like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard are meeting with lawmakers for confirmations, while U.S. ambassadorships for Herschel Walker and Nicole McGraw were also revealed.
Electors have until Dec. 25 to submit their results to Washington, D.C., with a joint session of Congress set for Jan. 6 to certify the election results. Trump and JD Vance will be officially inaugurated as president and vice president on Jan. 20.
