Republican former President Donald Trump held a lead over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris early Wednesday morning with 93% of Michigan’s votes counted.
The eyes of the nation were watching whether Harris or Trump would secure Michigan’s 15 electoral votes, as the race focused on the so-called “blue wall” states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. At about 2:30 a.m., as the Associated Press declared the former president the winner of Pennsylvania, Trump declared victory nationally, and telling a crowd in West Palm Beach, Florida, that he was winning in Michigan.
Trump had 50.1% in Michigan, while Harris had 48%, with 93% of the estimated vote in, according to the unofficial returns. But the numbers were expected to shift when more results from Wayne and Kalamazoo counties get reported.
Just before 2 a.m., as the race was moving in Trump’s favor, a crowd of Michigan Republicans gathered at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi became raucous.
“It feels like everything we’ve been waiting for for four years has finally come home,” said Hima Kolanagireddy, the Republican National Committeewoman from Michigan.
Just before midnight, as results showed Trump in the lead across several key states, Zsa Zsa Hubbard of Detroit said she was not concerned. She had come to celebrate a presumed Harris victory at the MotorCity Casino where Michigan Democrats held their election night event.
“I think Michigan did what Michigan was supposed to do,” said Hubbard, 39. “We got out the vote, we increased our voter turnout like never before. I had to wait in line today, so that felt good to be able to wait in line. It definitely made me feel hopeful.”