Donald Trump Wins Arizona, Bringing Electoral Vote Count to 312 as He Sweeps Every Swing State

President-elect Donald Trump has officially won Arizona, flipping the critical swing state he narrowly lost to then-President Joe Biden in 2020.

The Associated Press called the Arizona race on Saturday night, awarding Trump the state’s 11 electoral votes.

With Arizona secured, Trump has now amassed 312 electoral votes, outpacing his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, who won 226.

This win completes Trump’s sweep of crucial swing states in the 2024 presidential election, cementing his path back to the White House.

Arizona was just one of several battleground states that Trump reclaimed from Democrats during this election.

In addition to Arizona, Trump picked up North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, Georgia, and Pennsylvania — all states he either lost or narrowly won in past elections.

Trump’s win in Arizona carries symbolic weight, as Biden’s victory in 2020 marked the first time a Democrat had taken the state since 1996.

In that election, Biden defeated Trump by a slim margin of less than one-half of 1%, including a close 2% lead in Maricopa County, Arizona’s largest population centre.

Immigration emerged as a top concern for Arizona voters this cycle, with the state’s long border with Mexico intensifying the debate.

Trump’s stance on border security and strict immigration policies resonated strongly with many in Arizona who felt the issue required immediate action.

In Phoenix, a resident named Mary expressed her support for Trump’s approach to immigration, telling Fox News Digital last month, “We have to have swifter incarceration at the border.” Such sentiments reflected the views of numerous Arizona voters worried about border control and security.

Conversely, Vice President Kamala Harris’s message of protecting democracy also resonated with some Arizona residents.

Harris campaigned in Arizona, arguing that Trump represented a “threat to democracy” and emphasising her intention to safeguard democratic institutions if elected.

Bob, a resident of Tempe, voiced his support for Harris, citing concerns about economic inequality and judicial appointments. “The rich have been riding a wave of tax cuts and not responsibility,” he told Fox News. “Kamala is going to get that back in line instead of putting more Federalist judges up there.”

Arizona’s Hispanic voters comprised a significant portion of the state’s population and were another decisive group in the election. In 2020, Hispanic voters favoured Biden by 19 points, though polling leading up to this election indicated that some were shifting toward Trump.

Hispanic voters in Arizona have diverse views on the economy, immigration, and social issues, factors that have made them a crucial swing demographic.

Trump’s ability to appeal to a segment of this voting bloc helped bolster his support across Arizona.

The 2024 election wasn’t the only primary race on Arizona’s ballot. The state also held a high-profile Senate race after independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced she would not seek re-election, leaving an open seat.

Kari Lake, a former television news anchor and the Republican candidate ran for the Senate after an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 2022. Known for her strong support of Trump, Lake has remained a visible figure in Arizona politics.

On the Democratic side, Representative Ruben Gallego, a Marine veteran and congressman for Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District, entered the Senate race.

His campaign has focused on connecting with Arizona’s working-class and Hispanic voters, who comprise a large portion of his constituency.

Both the presidential and Senate races showcase Arizona’s evolving political landscape. The state’s future direction remains pivotal as these outcomes shape the broader national picture.