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  • Overview and Live Results: Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming primaries

    Overview and Live Results: Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming primaries

    It’s primary Tuesday in Florida, the nation’s third most populous state. Voters will also go to the polls in two of the three least-populated states: Alaska and Wyoming. 

    Alaska has a unique system where all candidates appear on a single ballot and the top four finishers advance. The general election is then decided by ranked choice voting.

    Use the links below for full results. Displayed are the poll closings converted to Eastern Time.

    * A small part of the state (<1%) closes at 1:00 AM Eastern. | + 7:00 PM local time; portions of the Panhandle observe Central Time.


    On this page, we’ll highlight some of the key races to watch, organized by office.

    U.S. Senate

    Florida and Wyoming have Senate elections this year. 

    Florida

    Republican Sen. Rick Scott is seeking a second term. He is expected to win renomination.

    There are four candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. The frontrunner is former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26).

    It is a difficult Senate map for Democrats this year. The party is all but certain to lose West Virginia with the retirement of Joe Manchin. If there are no other incumbent party losses, and Donald Trump wins the election, Republicans will gain control of the chamber.

    Even if Trump loses, Democrats need to run the table to hold competitive seats in Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. That is, unless they can gain a seat.

    Florida and Texas are the only realistic Democratic pick-ups and both are considered long-shots at this point. That said – and bringing it back to Florida – Scott is unpopular and only led by four in the two most recent polls. Additionally, the presidential race has tightened in the state since Harris replaced Biden at the top of the ticket.   

    Wyoming

    Republican Sen. John Barrasso is seeking a third term, which he should have no trouble securing in one of the deepest of red states. He faces minor primary challengers. Scott Morrow is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

    U.S. House

    Alaska At-Large

    Democrat Mary Peltola flipped this seat in a 2022 special election held after the death of Republican Don Young. She won the regular election in November of that year, and is now seeking a second full term.

    Peltola benefited from the top four primary as well as ranked choice voting in the general election. Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III advanced to the general election, where they split the GOP vote.

    This year, there are twelve candidates on the ballot. Peltola, Begich, and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom (R) are expected to advance, along with whoever finishes in fourth place.

    To avoid a repeat of 2022, Begich has said he would end his campaign if he finished third. However, Dahlstrom has not taken a similar pledge.

    Florida

    Redistricting after the 2020 Census largely eliminated highly competitive general election districts in Florida. All but one incumbent is seeking reelection.

    District 1 (Republican)

    This district is in the Central Time Zone; results available after 8:00 PM Eastern.

    Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz is seeking a 5th term in this deep-red Panhandle district. Gaetz led the successful charge to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. A PAC connected to McCarthy is attempting to return the favor. They’ve spent millions in support of Navy veteran Aaron Dimmock.

    Despite this effort, and ongoing ethical issues, the incumbent is likely to prevail. 

    District 8 (Republican)

    Republican Bill Posey is retiring. His decision came on the final day of filing, all but ensuring his hand-picked successor, former state Sen. president Mike Haridopolos would face little competition for the nomination. This is a safely Republican district – Posey won his last term by 30% – so Haridopolos will almost certainly be the next representative.

    District 13 (Democratic)

    Freshman Republican Anna Paulina Luna is seeking reelection; she is unopposed for the nomination. Five Democrats are on the ballot looking to challenge her. The frontrunner appears to be Whitney Fox, who is the communications director at the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.

    Luna won by 8% in 2022. Now with the power of incumbency, most forecasters rate the general election as Likely Republican.

    District 15 (Republican)

    Rep. Laurel Lee is seeking a second term, which she is likely to win in this Republican-leaning district. We’re listing the primary here only because of an odd backstory. Last March, Donald Trump called for someone to challenge Lee. The former president did not explicitly specify a reason, although Lee had endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis in the presidential race. 

    After no major candidate entered the race, Trump eventually came around and endorsed the incumbent.

    District 23 (Republican)

    Democrat Jared Moskowitz is seeking a second term. He is unopposed for renomination. Six Republicans are vying to challenge him. Despite Moskowitz’s surprisingly narrow win (5%) in 2022, most forecasters see the general election as Likely or Safe Democratic.

    District 27 (Democratic)

    Republican Maria Elvira Salazar is seeking a third term. This district has moved to the right: Salazar flipped it by three percent in 2020 and won reelection by 15 percent in 2022.

    Like District 23, it is on the far edge of the competitive map; most forecasters see it as Likely or Safe Republican.

    Two Democrats are vying to take on the incumbent.

    Upcoming Elections and Events

    • August 27
    • September 3
    • September 10

      • Presidential Debate (ABC)
      • Delaware Primary
      • New Hampshire Primary
      • Rhode Island Primary

    • September 17

      • Pennsylvania State House Districts 195 and 201 Special Election

    • September 18

      • New Jersey U.S. House District 10 Special Election

    • October 1

      • Vice-Presidential Debate (CBS)

    • November 5

      • 2024 Presidential Election
      • 2024 General Election

  • Live Results: Oklahoma Legislative Runoffs, Tulsa Mayoral Election

    Live Results: Oklahoma Legislative Runoffs, Tulsa Mayoral Election

    Oklahoma requires a majority winner in most primary elections. On Tuesday, there will be runoffs in 10 legislative districts where no candidate crossed that threshold in the June 18 primary. They are all for the Republican nomination.

    Separately, there is a mayoral election in Tulsa.

    Tulsa Mayor

    Tulsa is the nation’s 48th largest city, with a population of about 412,000. This is for the city itself, not the associated metro area. Republican G.T. Bynum did not seek a third term in office.

    There are seven candidates on the nonpartisan ballot. The three most prominent are Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith (D), state Rep. Monroe Nichols (D), and businessman Brent VanNorman (R). Those three participated in a debate earlier in August, after receiving at least 10% support in a qualifying poll.

    That poll showed Keith leading with 46% support – well ahead of her two main competitors – and just short of the 50% needed to avoid a runoff.

    If a runoff is required, it will take place November 5. 

    Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

    State Senate Primary Runoffs

    Republicans dominate the Oklahoma State Senate, holding 40 of 48 seats. Members serve four-year staggered terms; the odd numbered districts are up in 2024.

    Nominees will be determined Tuesday for these four GOP-held seats. The only incumbent forced into a runoff is Blake Stephens in District 3.

    State House Primary Runoffs

    Republicans also hold over 80% of the seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Here the partisan advantage is 81-20 over Democrats. Members serve two-year terms.

    Nominees will be determined Tuesday for these six GOP-held seats. Incumbents are involved in Districts 32 and 98. 

    Upcoming Elections and Events

    • September 3
    • September 10

      • Presidential Debate (ABC)
      • Delaware Primary
      • New Hampshire Primary
      • Rhode Island Primary

    • September 17

      • Pennsylvania State House Districts 195 and 201 Special Election

    • September 18

      • New Jersey U.S. House District 10 Special Election

    • October 1

      • Vice-Presidential Debate (CBS)

    • November 5

      • 2024 Presidential Election
      • 2024 General Election

  • Stock market today: Live updates

    Stock market today: Live updates

    Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. 

    NYSE

    Stock futures were flat in overnight trading ahead of Tuesday’s high-stakes U.S. presidential election.

    Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 17 points. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures inched lower by less than 0.1%.

    Palantir popped 13% in overnight trading on strong quarterly results and upbeat revenue guidance, while NXP Semiconductors fell on a soft outlook due to macro concerns.

    Stocks finished lower in Monday’s session as safe-haven U.S. Treasury yields declined. The Dow slumped more than 250 points, or 0.6%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell about 0.3% each.

    The latest poll from NBC News suggests the race is “neck and neck” between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Close attention also remains on which party dominates Congress, given that a sweep by Republicans or Democrats could contribute to drastic spending changes or a big revamp of tax policy. Follow CNBC’s 2024 election live blog here.

    The results could have a significant effect on where stocks end the year, but investors may want to brace for some near-term choppiness. CNBC data going back to 1980 suggests the major averages gain between Election Day and the end of the year, but typically fall in the session and week after. Uncertainty over the results could lead to even more shakiness in the market.

    “The setup is still skewed to the positive and the bull cases is still intact, unless we get a new policy from a new political regime that looks like it’s going to be more austere,” Trivariate Research founder Adam Parker said Monday on CNBC’s “Closing Bell.”

    Beyond the election, investors await the Federal Reserve’s November rate decision due Thursday and fresh commentary from Chair Jerome Powell on the central bank’s policy moves going forward. Traders are pricing in 98% odds of a quarter-point cut following September’s half-point reduction, according to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.

    Earnings season continues Tuesday with results from Super Micro Computer and Yum Brands.

  • Overview and Live Results: Massachusetts Primary

    Overview and Live Results: Massachusetts Primary

    Massachusetts has the primary calendar to itself on Tuesday. Next week, the final primaries before the November 5 general election will take place in Delaware, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

    Massachusetts Primary

    Per the Associated Press, “Democrats have a lock on the Bay State’s congressional delegation, with both U.S. Senate seats and all nine U.S. House seats firmly in their column. They also hold lopsided supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature, where all seats are up for election in November.”

    On this page, we’ve included the only two contested congressional primaries. Visit All Massachusetts Results if you are looking for primary results for the state legislature.

    Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

    U.S. Senate

    Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren is seeking a 3rd term; she is unopposed for renomination.

    There are three Republicans vying to take her on in the general election. The nominee will have an uphill battle in this deep blue state.

    U.S. House

    All nine Democratic incumbents are seeking reelection. None of them has drawn a primary challenge.

    The only contested primary is in District 8, where three Republicans are looking to take on Rep. Stephen Lynch. This includes videographer Robert Burke, the 2022 nominee. He lost by a 70% to 30% margin to Lynch that year. 

    No Republicans are running in Districts 1 through 7. The Democratic incumbents there join the Uncontested Seats list. In these 36 districts, only one major party is on the November ballot.

    Upcoming Elections and Events

    • September 10

      • Presidential Debate (ABC)
      • Delaware Primary
      • New Hampshire Primary
      • Rhode Island Primary

    • September 17

      • Pennsylvania State House Districts 195 and 201 Special Election

    • September 18

      • New Jersey U.S. House District 10 Special Election

    • October 1

      • Vice-Presidential Debate (CBS)

    • November 5

      • 2024 Presidential Election
      • 2024 General Election

  • Overview and Live Results: Delaware, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island Primaries

    Overview and Live Results: Delaware, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island Primaries

    The only currently-scheduled presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump takes place Tuesday in Philadelphia. It will be moderated by ABC News and begins at 9:00 PM Eastern Time.

    Coincidentally, the debate begins shortly after voting ends in the final three statewide primaries before the November general election. 

    Polls close at 8:00 PM in Delaware and Rhode Island. In New Hampshire, the final polls also close at 8:00 PM. However, many locations close at 7:00 PM. All times are Eastern.

    Use the links below for full results. 

     

    On this page, we’ll highlight some of the key races to watch, organized by office. 

    Governor

    Incumbents in Delaware and New Hampshire are both retiring. While Democrats are expected to hold Delaware, the New Hampshire general election is seen as highly competitive.  

    New Hampshire

    New Hampshire is one of two states (neighboring Vermont is the other) where governors serve a two year term. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu is retiring after four terms.

    Six candidates are competing for the Republican nomination. Former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte and former state Senate president Chuck Morse are the most prominent candidates. Ayotte has Sununu’s endorsement, a substantial lead in limited polling, and is also well ahead in fundraising.

    For the Democrats, there are three candidates seeking the chance to flip this seat in November. The nominee will likely be either Joyce Craig or Cinde Warmington. Craig is the former mayor of Manchester, while Warmington is a member of the New Hampshire Executive Council.

    Averaging two public polls from mid-August, Craig led by a 38% to 29% margin. However, over 20% remained undecided in each survey.

    This race has turned more contentious in the closing weeks of the campaign. 

    Delaware

    Democratic Gov. John Carney is completing his second term. He is ineligible to run due to term limit laws. 

    The Democratic nominee will be heavily favored in November. There is a three-way competitive primary between Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, and National Wildlife Federation president Collin O’Mara.

    Carney has endorsed Hall-Long, who has come under fire for campaign finance irregularities. She also trails her two opponents in fundraising.

    There are three candidates vying for the GOP nomination. Mike Ramone, the Minority Leader in the State House, is expected to advance.

    U.S. Senate

    Delaware and Rhode Island have Senate elections this year.  Both are seen as safe for Democrats in November.

    Delaware

    Democratic Sen. Tom Carper is retiring after four terms in office. Only one candidate qualified from each party. As such, the respective primaries were cancelled.

    The state’s At-large U.S. House Representative, Lisa Blunt Rochester will be the Democratic nominee. Businessman Eric Hansen will represent the Republicans. 

    Rhode Island

    Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is running for a fourth term. He faces a minor primary challenge. State Rep. Patricia Morgan and IT professional Raymond McKay will contest for the GOP nomination.  

    U.S. House

    Delaware At-large

    Three Democrats are looking to succeed Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is the party’s nominee for U.S. Senate. The frontrunner is state Sen. Sarah McBride.

    Assuming she advances, McBride will be heavily favored over the Republican nominee in November. 

    New Hampshire District 1

    Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas is seeking a fourth term. He faces a nominal primary challenge.

    Seven Republicans are on the GOP primary ballot. Four of them participated in a debate last week; one of them is likely to be the nominee. Reviewing two polls released last month, no candidate averaged more than 15%, and 60% of voters were undecided. It is fair to say this primary is wide open.

    While this is the more competitive of the state’s two districts, Pappas will start out as a general election favorite. 

    New Hampshire District 2

    Democratic Rep. Ann Kuster is retiring after six terms. Both primaries are competitive.

    The Democratic primary is a one-on-one contest between Colin Von Ostern, a former member of the New Hampshire Executive Council and Maggie Goodlander, a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice.

    The nominee will be favored in November.

    A much larger field of 13 Republicans is seeking the party’s nomination. Three of them were chosen to participate in a recent debate.

    Rhode Island

    There are no contested primaries in either of the state’s two districts.

    Upcoming Elections and Events

    • September 17

      • Pennsylvania State House Districts 195 and 201 Special Election

    • September 18

      • New Jersey U.S. House District 10 Special Election

    • October 1

      • Vice-Presidential Debate (CBS)

    • November 5

      • 2024 Presidential Election
      • 2024 General Election

  • Overview and Live Results: New Jersey Congressional Special Election

    Overview and Live Results: New Jersey Congressional Special Election

    One of four U.S. House vacancies will be filled Wednesday by voters in New Jersey’s 10th congressional district. The winner will complete the term of Democrat Donald Payne Jr., who died in April.

    As the New Jersey Globe reports, “Democrats nominated LaMonica R. McIver, a two-term Newark city councilwoman, in a special primary election on July 16. She faces Republican Carmen Bucco, a Kenilworth businessman, and two independent candidates, Rayfield Morton and Russell Jenkins.”

    Payne was reelected in 2022 by a 78% to 20% margin over his Republican challenger in this deep blue Newark-area district. Republicans last won the 10th district in 1946.

    Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern.

    Payne’s death came after the filing deadline for the statewide June 4 primary. He was unopposed on that ballot, and thus posthumously renominated. Democratic officials in the affected counties chose McIver to replace Payne on the November ballot shortly after her special primary win. Bucco will again be her major party opposition.

    House Vacancies

    Republicans currently hold a 220-211 partisan edge over Democrats in the U.S. House, likely to move to 220-212 after Wednesday’s special election.

    Two of the other three vacancies will be filled in November 5 special elections, held concurrently with the general election. Winners will serve during the lame-duck session of Congress.

    The incumbent party is expected to hold these seats, with Democrats favored in TX-18, Republicans in WI-08. Assuming no other vacancies, the House will complete this term with a 221-213 Republican margin.

    The final vacancy, in NJ-09 will not be filled this term. Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. died last month.

  • Live Results: Alabama State House Special Election

    Live Results: Alabama State House Special Election

    The vice-presidential debate airs Tuesday at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. It is hosted by CBS News, but will also be available on many other networks.

    Tuesday also brings us the final legislative special election before the November 5 general election.

    Alabama State House District 52

    Republicans dominate the Alabama House of Representatives, holding 76 of 105 seats. There are 28 Democrats and one vacancy, which will be filled Tuesday. Members serve four year terms; the next regular elections are in 2026.

    The Birmingham area District 52 has been vacant since March, when Democrat John Rogers resigned. He had been in the State House since 1982. Rogers left after pleading guilty to federal criminal charges.

    Per the Alabama Political Reporter, “The special election features Democrat Kelvin Datcher, the deputy director of community development for Birmingham, squaring off against Republican Erskine Brown Jr., a 67-year-old retired U.S. Army veteran.”

    This is the first time a Republican is contesting the seat since 2014.

    Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

  • Legal U.S. Prediction Markets for President are Live

    Legal U.S. Prediction Markets for President are Live

    For the first time in about a century, it is legal for U.S. residents to trade election contracts in a regulated prediction market. 

    This shift came after a legal battle between Kalshi, a prediction market for event contracts and its regulator, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). 

    On Friday morning, Kalshi launched a market allowing users to predict the winner of next month’s presidential election. 

    At this early point, market participants are evenly split between Harris and Trump. Click the image for current pricing.

    There are also markets for control of each branch of congress, although these are currently only available in multiples of 5,000 contracts.

    At publication time, Republicans had a 73% chance of winning the Senate, while Democrats were 63% likely to win the House.

    U.S. Senate Control >>

    U.S. House Control >>

    A Kalshi blog post indicated other markets are coming soon.

    Other political prediction markets, including the two below, have been active, but with restrictions.

    Polymarket has seen over $1 billion worth of volume in its Harris vs. Trump market. However, this exchange is not available to U.S. residents. 

    PredictIt operates on a 2014 CFTC waiver, but participants are limited to $850 in any contract. 

  • 2024 presidential election – live updates

    2024 presidential election – live updates

    Trump’s media company is a sell ‘even if he wins,’ analyst says

    3-Stock Lunch: Trump Media, KBW Bank & First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity

    A Trump victory on Election Day won’t change the fundamental challenges his social media company faces, analyst Jay Woods said.

    “We are trading this like Gamestop on steroids right now,” Woods, chief capital strategist at Freedom Capital Markets, said of Trump Media on CNBC’s “Power Lunch.”

    “And you know, kudos to those that are trading it making money. But over the long term, the metrics don’t make any sense,” he said.

    Woods said that Truth Social, the company’s main product, is shedding monthly active users and advertising revenue.

    Trump Media has said in regulatory filings that it does not track key performance metrics, such as daily and monthly active users. Third-party data firms have clocked a decline in traffic on Truth Social. A Trump Media spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Woods also noted that the investment vehicle of Trump Media co-founders Andrew Litinsky and Wes Moss — who were former contestants on Trump’s TV show “The Apprentice” — sold nearly their entire DJT stake shortly after they were allowed to do so.

    Trump, who owns nearly 57% of the company, has vowed not to sell his stake.

    Woods said that if Trump loses the election, “you may see even a little rally, people flocking to the site. But overall, how is this going to survive from a fundamental point of view?”

    “I think it is still a sell” even if he wins, Woods said.

    The analyst wondered whether a future President Trump would have to divest from the company, and questioned why he still uses X, the Elon Musk-owned microblogging site where Trump has a larger following.

    “I think Elon Musk will help him solve this problem,” Woods said.

    He added: “I don’t think it’s a good buy, even if he wins.”

    Kevin Breuninger

    Ballot measures in 10 states could expand abortion rights

    A woman walks by campaign signs at an early voting site at the West Oaks Branch Library in Ocoee, Florida, United States on October 27, 2024. 

    Paul Hennesy | Anadolu | Getty Images

    During this election, ballot measures in 10 states could increase abortion access.

    In Arizona, Florida, Missouri and South Dakota, the amendments would reverse existing abortion laws and allow the procedures until fetal viability, or what is generally considered around 24 weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions after that point.

    Most of the measures need the approval of more than 50% of voters to pass.

    “Abortion is one of the defining issues of this election and a key motivating factor with voters across the political spectrum, in battleground states — up and down the ballot,” Deirdre Schifeling, chief political and advocacy officer at the American Civil Liberties Union, told CNBC.

    — Annie Nova

    Michigan final results are expected by midday Wednesday, state secretary says

    Voters wait in line to cast their votes during early voting in the U.S. presidential election at a polling station in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. November 3, 2024. 

    Rebecca Cook | Reuters

    The first wave of unofficial results from Michigan polls will be posted by 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and the final results are expected by midday on Wednesday, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a press conference Monday in Detroit.

    Nearly 3.2 million people cast their vote already in Michigan with early in-person and absentee voting, according to Benson. More than 1.2 million of those votes were cast during the early voting period, which started on Oct. 26 and ended Sunday.

    The results coming out of Michigan, a key swing state in this year’s election, could be deeply influential in each candidates’ bid for the presidency.

    — Ece Yildirim

    Recreational marijuana could become legal in Florida if ballot measure passes

    A proposed constitutional amendment for recreational marijuana is under review by the Florida Supreme Court.

    Brad Horrigan | Tribune News Service | Getty Images

    After this election, Florida may join the growing number of states where recreational marijuana is legal. Amendment 3, which is on Floridians’ ballots, would legalize the personal use of marijuana for adults 21 and older throughout the Sunshine State.

    Meanwhile, in Nebraska, Initiative Measures 437 and 438 will give voters a chance to weigh in or whether or not to legalize and regulate the use and sale of marijuana for medical purposes.

    Initiated Measure 29 in South Dakota and Initiated Measure 5 in North Dakota would both legalize the use of recreational cannabis in the states, where medical marijuana is already allowed.

    Ballot Question 4 in Massachusetts, where medical and recreational cannabis is also already legal, would go even further by legalizing certain natural psychedelics.

    — Annie Nova

    Elon Musk uses story of euthanized squirrel Peanut to stoke fears about regulation

    Peanut was seized by officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation at Mark Longo’s home in rural Pine City, New York, on Oct. 30.

    Courtesy Mark Longo via AP

    Trump fans and surrogates including Republican megadonor and X owner Elon Musk are using the story of a recently euthanized rescue squirrel, Peanut, to rally support for Trump in the final stretch of the election.

    Musk is painting the squirrel’s death as an instance of overzealous regulation. He recently posted on X, “So here’s the thing … Don’t make me tap the sign. If they will raid a house for a squirrel, they’re sure as s—- going to come after you.”

    Peanut, also known as P’Nut or PNUT, was rescued by animal welfare advocate Mark Longo seven years ago, and turned into an icon on Instagram and OnlyFans. Longo also opened a sanctuary in his pet’s name in upstate New York.

    Peanut and a raccoon named Fred were both seized during a raid of P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary on Wednesday by the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation, following anonymous complaints.

    The department later euthanized Peanut and Fred to test for rabies after the squirrel reportedly bit a person involved in the investigation. Longo has said he did not see Peanut bite any officer, the Associated Press reported, but also said he knew it was against New York state law to own any wild animal without a license.

    JD Vance said that Trump was “fired up” over the animal’s death, and he called Peanut the “Elon Musk of squirrels.”

    Trump has not mentioned the squirrel at his many rallies this past week.

    — Lora Kolodny

    RNC sues Milwaukee over alleged poll watcher limits; city fires back

    A man votes on the second day of early voting in Wisconsin at the American Serb Hall Banquet in Milwaukee, Oct. 23, 2024.

    Vincent Alban | Reuters

    The Republican National Committee has sued the Milwaukee Elections Commission, alleging that the number of observers allowed at voting locations in Wisconsin’s biggest city was “arbitrarily” limited.

    The number of observers was limited to two people in at least two polling locations, the RNC said in the lawsuit filed in circuit court in Milwaukee County.

    While state law allows the number of observers at polling sites to be “reasonably” limited, the RNC argued that there “was no legal basis” to allow so few poll watchers at the sites in question.

    “When access is arbitrarily restricted to two persons, it opens the door to fraudulent claims of party affiliation so as to ‘freeze out’ one or the other major party,” the lawsuit said.

    The Milwaukee Election Commission said in a statement to NBC News that it “refutes the claims made by the RNC,” adding that the city “favors the greatest possible transparency during elections,” including “accommodating all observers at election locations.”

    The commission also said that it had been in communication with the RNC and met with the committee Sunday night.

    But, the commission said of the RNC, “it seems that filing a lawsuit was their goal all along.”

    The commission added that the GOP was never denied an observer during the in-person absentee voting period and will not be denied one on Election Day either.

    “Our city attorneys will respond to any lawsuits that are filed,” the commission said.

    Kevin Breuninger

    U.S. election infrastructure is secure, federal officials say

    Jen Easterly, director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, speaks to The Associated Press in Washington, Oct. 2, 2024.

    Ben Curtis | AP

    The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has seen no evidence of activity that has the potential to materially impact the outcome of the presidential election, Director Jen Easterly told reporters Monday during a briefing.

    Easterly said the agency has observed some small-scale incidents during the early voting period, such as severe wet weather and criminal destruction of ballot boxes. She said that disruptions happen in every election and she expects others will follow in the coming days.

    “As we head into tomorrow, I can say with great confidence that our election infrastructure has never been more secure and that the election community has never been better prepared to deliver safe, secure, free and fair elections,” Easterly said.

    Easterly encouraged Americans to seek out state and local election officials for the most accurate information about their local proceedings.

    Ashley Capoot

    Trump Media suddenly surges 16%

    Trump Media shares rapidly shot up as much as 16% in intraday trading.

    It’s unclear what prompted the sudden surge. DJT stock was down as much as 8% premarket, and in the first hours of the trading day shares had hovered around even.

    Many analysts see the stock as a proxy for pro-Trump retail investors to back the Republican nominee or bet on the presidential election. The company’s performance on the Nasdaq has therefore been viewed as an informal gauge of enthusiasm among Trump supporters.

    Trump owns nearly 57% of Trump Media.

    Stock Chart IconStock chart icon

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    Trump Media (DJT) Stock Price

    Crypto donors have already directed $78 million to a PAC for the 2026 election

    Crypto donor Chris Larsen on why he's giving millions to the Harris campaign

    Crypto companies have already started donating tens of millions of dollars to a political action committee that is already fundraising for the 2026 election cycle. The pro-crypto and bipartisan super PAC Fairshake said Monday that the committee and its affiliates have raised $78 million for the next midterm elections.

    That includes more than $30 million raised, plus $48 million in new commitments from centralized crypto exchange Coinbase and Silicon Valley venture fund Andreessen Horowitz, also known as a16z, and other companies.

    Overall, a16z has given $70 million to Fairshake, as the VC looks to support the PAC’s larger mission of building a Congress composed of pro-crypto legislators.

    Coinbase, the largest U.S. crypto exchange, announced it would give an additional $25 million to Fairshake, bringing its total donations to Fairshake and its affiliated PACs up to more than $75 million. The crypto company is currently battling the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over claims that it engaged in unregistered sales of securities.

    — MacKenzie Sigalos

    The gender gap is the most glaring split in the electorate

    Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 30, 2024. 

    Eloisa Lopez | Reuters

    Ahead of election day, Americans are sharply divided along racial and gender lines. But the gender gap is becoming the most glaring split, with 57% of women backing Harris and 41% supporting Trump. Among men, 58% are favoring Trump and 20% are backing Harris — a 34-point gender divide, according to the final national NBC News poll.

    Harris is also maintaining a large lead among Black voters nationwide, including in the key battleground states. 

    A separate Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll released Saturday showed Harris leading Trump in Iowa, which has stayed decidedly to the right in recent elections.

    Among likely voters, 56% of women preferred Harris, up from 53% from the same poll in September. Among men, 52% back Trump, down from September’s 59%. Among independent voters, Harris is favored 46% to 39%.

    Politically independent female voters now support Harris by a wide margin, along with women over 65. Such strong support among these contingents contribute to the positive news for Harris in the most recent polls.

    — Jessica Dickler

    Trump celebrates the weak October jobs report: ‘I said, ‘Thank you” to God

    Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at J.S. Dorton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S., November 4, 2024. 

    Brian Snyder | Reuters

    Trump said he thanked God for the significant miss in the October jobs report Friday, because it could help him make his case against Harris on the campaign trail.

    “We had the worst jobs report in modern history,” Trump said at his rally in North Carolina. “I looked up. I said, ‘Thank you.’”

    The U.S. added a mere 12,000 jobs in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, well below the Dow Jones estimate of 100,000 and a significant drop from September. It was the weakest pace of growth since late 2020.

    Almost immediately, Trump pounced on the downbeat report to help boost his economic pitch to voters.

    “I’ve been saying it’s going to happen because of what they’re doing,” Trump said of the Biden administration. “Because they know nothing about economics or business or honestly, they’re stupid people.”

    But economists largely view the sharp decline as an anomaly, attributable to temporary shocks including the back-to-back hurricanes in early October and the Boeing strike.

    Chief Moody’s economist Mark Zandi called the October report “a head fake.”

    “Abstracting from these one-offs,” such as the hurricanes and Boeing strike, Zandi wrote in a Friday post on X, “Employment increased by close to 150k, about the same as the gains in recent months.”

    “It is fair to say the job market remains rock-solid,” he added.

    Rebecca Picciotto

    Here are the states that have gained or lost Electoral College votes since 2020

    A 4th grader works on an election themed art project at Heather Hills Elementary School in Bowie, Md., on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. 

    Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images

    A total of 13 states have gained or lost Electoral College votes since the 2020 presidential election, including some battleground states.

    The electoral votes are allocated based on the state’s total congressional delegation, which is determined by its population, according to the U.S. Census.

    Texas gained two electoral votes. Gaining one vote each were Oregon, Montana, Colorado, North Carolina and Florida.

    The U.S. Census Bureau conducts a Census every 10 years. The electoral votes for this year’s election are based on the 2020 Census. The numbers weren’t official in time to be used for that year’s presidential election.

    Seven states lost a vote: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, Illinois and California.

    Despite the one-vote loss, California remains the state with the largest share of electoral votes, at 54.

    — Ece Yildirim

    Harris outspent Trump on ads by over $300 million

    A painted mural supporting Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and an electric billboard supporting Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump are seen in Atlanta, Georgia, Oct. 21, 2024.

    Yasuyoshi Chiba | Afp | Getty Images

    The total ad spending for Harris’ four-month presidential run was $1.26 billion, far exceeding the $933 million in total ad support for Trump, the ad-tracking firm AdImpact reported.

    Nearly $1 billion of all ad spending this cycle came in the last week alone, AdImpact data show.

    Harris outpaced Trump in ad support despite having essentially launched her presidential campaign less than four months earlier.

    President Joe Biden, who dropped out as the likely Democratic nominee in July, received $321 million in total ad support in the 2024 cycle, per AdImpact.

    Kevin Breuninger

    Nikki Haley, absent from Trump’s campaign trail, still urges her bloc to vote for him

    Former Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley speaks on Day 2 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 16, 2024.

    Mike Segar | Reuters

    Nikki Haley is urging voters with mixed feelings about Trump to cast their ballots for him anyway.

    “I don’t agree with Mr. Trump 100% of the time,” Haley wrote on the last day of the 2024 campaign in The Wall Street Journal. “But I do agree with him most of the time, and I disagree with Ms. Harris nearly all the time. That makes this an easy call.”

    In the editorial, Haley said the Biden administration has made “the world far more dangerous” and caused prices to spike for U.S. households. Recently, inflation has cooled from its pandemic peaks, and other data points to a healthy economy.

    Haley, a Republican and former governor of South Carolina, dropped her bid for president in March. While she was still in the race, she said in an interview with Craig Melvin, co-host of NBC’s “TODAY,” that Trump was “not the same person he was in 2016” and that he’d become “unhinged” and “more diminished.”

    Although Haley said she endorsed Trump at the Republican National Convention in July, she’s been largely absent from his campaign trail.

    Some Trump allies think the former president should have campaigned with Haley, who maintains broad support among moderate Republicans, but Trump never warmed to the idea.

    — Annie Nova

    Trump threatens to impose new 25% tariff on Mexican imports if he wins

    Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at J.S. Dorton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S., November 4, 2024. 

    Brian Snyder | Reuters

    Trump says if he is elected president, he would impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican imports unless the country enacts stricter border regulations.

    If Mexican leaders “don’t stop this onslaught of criminals and drugs coming into our country, I’m going to immediately impose a 25% tariff on everything they send in to the United States of America,” the Republican presidential nominee said at his first rally of the day in Raleigh, North Carolina.

    He added that it was the first time he had announced the proposal, though for months, a central plank of his economic platform has been a hardline approach to tariff policy. Trump has floated a 20% tariff rate on all imports from all countries with an especially high 60% rate on China.

    Economists and Wall Street analysts view Trump’s hyper-protectionist trade policy as a potential threat to America’s inflation recovery, just as consumer prices have begun to cool from their pandemic-era spikes. In turn, the Harris campaign has branded the tariff plans as the “Trump sales tax.”

    Rebecca Picciotto

    Voters could raise minimum wage in Alaska, Missouri and California

    Early and absentee voting begins for 2024 US presidential elections in Alaska, United States on October 21, 2024. 

    Hasan Akbas | Anadolu | Getty Images

    The minimum wage in three states could get a bump on Tuesday.

    If history is any guide, ballot measures to raise the minimum wage in Alaska, Missouri and California will likely win support from a majority of voters and lead to bigger paychecks for workers, said Sebastian Martinez Hickey, a state economic analyst at the Economic Policy Institute.

    “Since 2014, 12 states have passed minimum wage increases through ballot measures,” Martinez Hickey told CNBC.

    Alaska

    Voters in Alaska will decide if they want to hike the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027, with adjustments pegged to inflation after that. Ballot Measure No. 1 would raise the minimum wage to $13 in 2025, and to $14 in 2026.

    Alaska’s current lowest possible hourly pay is $11.73, so the increase would be significant for those at the bottom of the earning scale.

    Missouri

    Proposition A in Missouri, if approved, would gradually increase the minimum wage, with a bump to $13.75 an hour on Jan. 1, 2025, up from the current lowest wage of $12.30. By 2026, the minimum wage would reach $15. Afterward, increases would be based on inflation.

    California

    In California, Proposition 32 would increase the minimum wage to $18 from $16. The timeline of that boost would vary by employer size, giving businesses with 25 or fewer workers until 2026 to have to pay that amount.

    If the measure is successful, larger employers would need to raise the wage to $18 in 2025, and to $17 for the rest of 2024.

    — Annie Nova

    Barry Diller: Harris should ask Elon Musk to join her administration if she’s elected

    Barry Diller on Elon Musk: He's a 'deserved megalomaniac'

    IAC Chairman Barry Diller said that if Harris wins the presidency he hopes she will bring conservative billionaire Elon Musk to her administration to cut costs.

    “Call him and say ‘You know what, Mr. Musk, you are truly a great cutting executive,’” Diller said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” this morning, before praising Musk’s work at X and calling him “a deserved megalomaniac.”

    “‘Come in, help our government. You’ve got absolute authority, cut everywhere,” Diller mused.

    Diller also said that he would like to see Harris appoint a Republican with foreign policy experience as secretary of defense.

    — Ece Yildirim

    Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger warns of foreign election disinformation: ‘Lot of bad people out there’

    Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger speaks during a press conference on Georgia’s Presidential Primary Election Day, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., March 12, 2024. 

    Alyssa Pointer | Reuters

    Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger urged voters to be on the lookout for false or misleading election claims, warning some are coming from foreign sources who want Americans “fighting amongst ourselves.”

    Raffensperger, the state’s top elections official, pointed to a recent social media video that showed someone claiming they would vote for Harris multiple times in Georgia.

    “It was all made up, and it actually came from Russia,” he said during an election update this morning.

    U.S. intelligence officials said Friday that the video was manufactured by “Russian influence actors.”

    “So I think we as Americans, we just need to sit back sometime and make sure that you’re really hearing the truth,” Raffensperger said. “Because there’s a lot of bad people out there that want to just kind of get us fighting amongst ourselves.”

    “We know who they are. We know Russia, China, Iran. There’s a list of them. It’s a basket full. And they’re just not really our friends. And if they can create us fighting amongst each other, then they feel like they’ve won,” he said.

    Kevin Breuninger

    John Paulson: Internal Trump campaign polls show him leading in swing states

    Billionaire investor John Paulson: Internal polling shows Trump leading or tied in swing states

    John Paulson told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” this morning that he has seen some internal Trump campaign polling showing that Trump is leading or tied in all the swing states.

    The polling was done “outside the campaign” over the weekend, after a surprising poll on Saturday showed Harris leading Trump in Iowa.

    “I agree that the race is very tight, but I’m optimistic that [Trump] will win,” Paulson said.

    — Ece Yildirim

    RFK Jr. calls for nominees to positions in a potential Trump administration

    Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes an announcement on the future of his campaign in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. August 23, 2024. 

    Thomas Machowicz | Reuters

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is asking people to nominate candidates for positions across a potential Trump administration, according to a post on his Make America Healthy Again website.

    The call for nominees is a surprising move from Kennedy, who appears to be at odds with the co-chair of the Trump transition team, Howard Lutnick, over what his potential role might be.

    Lutnick recently said Kennedy is not in line for a Cabinet position. “He’s not getting a job for HHS,” Lutnick told CNN’s “The Source,” referring to the Health and Human Services Department. On Sunday, Kennedy told Fox News that Lutnick was wrong, and if Kennedy wanted to be HHS secretary, Trump “would fight like hell to make that happen.”

    Still, for Kennedy to be seeking nominees to a potential administration through his own website, and not a Trump campaign site, ahead of the election, is highly unusual. A Trump campaign spokesman did not immediately reply to a request for comment from CNBC about the nomination site.

    The Make America Healthy Again site says it is looking for nominees across 12 categories, including health, economy and government efficiency. At the bottom of the page, there is a form to fill out in order to nominate someone. Once a person is nominated, their profile posts to a public website, unless the nominee specifies otherwise.

    Kennedy would likely have a role in health in a Trump administration. He previously ran for president this election cycle before dropping out and endorsing Trump.

    — Jake Piazza

    Trump Media stock vacillates in heavy trading at market open

    A smartphone displays the logo of Donald Trump’s Truth Social app on March 25, 2024.

    Anna Barclay | Getty Images

    Shares of Trump Media fluttered up and down in heavy trading on the day before the election.

    DJT shares were initially up more than 4% after the market opened at 9:30 a.m. ET. But the stock turned negative shortly after, and was down more than 2% by 9:50 a.m.

    Earlier Monday morning, Trump Media stock was down as much as 8% in the premarket.

    Many of the company’s retail investors are supporters of the former president, who are buying the stock as a way to back Trump or bet on his odds of winning the election.

    Trump owns nearly 57% of the company, which operates the Truth Social platform. Trump Media executives have said that the company would benefit if Trump beats Harris in the election.

    Kevin Breuninger

    ‘I’ve been shocked’: Harris’ edge in Iowa stuns legacy pollster

    Pollster Ann Selzer on MSNBC.

    MSNBC

    The new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll that showed Harris leading in Iowa within a margin of error came as a major surprise — even to the pollster that conducted it.

    “This was a shock poll,” J. Ann Selzer, the president of the Des Moines-based polling company that conducted the survey, said in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

    “I’ve been shocked since Tuesday morning last week, so I’ve had the time for this to sink in, because no one, including me, would have thought that Iowa could go for Kamala Harris,” she said.

    The poll, which was released Saturday, showed Harris ahead of Trump by 47% to 44%. Though that lead was within the survey’s margin of error of 3.4 percentage points, it was a marked seven-point shift from September. Harris’ edge was partly fueled by a 28-point lead over Trump with independent women voters.

    “If you’re a Democrat, you’re really looking at this and hoping that it means something for states like Michigan and Wisconsin that appear to be deadlocked battleground states,” Brianne Pfannenstiel, the Des Moines Register’s chief politics reporter, said on CNN.

    Rebecca Picciotto and Dan Mangan

    Trump campaign prepares for what’s next — win or lose

    Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Atrium Health Amphitheater in Macon, Georgia, U.S., November 3, 2024. 

    Brian Snyder | Reuters

    Top Trump campaign officials acknowledged the possibility that their nominee may not win as they briefed staff about how operations will wrap up after the election.

    An internal email, signed by senior advisors Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita and obtained by NBC News, tells campaign staff that their last payroll day is Nov. 30, “regardless of the outcome of the election.”

    The message reflects standard procedure for any operation that will soon close its doors, but it is noteworthy when anyone in Trump’s orbit nods to the possibility that he could lose.

    If Trump does win, many of the employees will be reassigned to either the Trump-Vance transition team or the president-elect’s inaugural committee, the email says.

    Those working at the campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach are advised to clear their work areas of personal belongings by Nov. 10. The space will be converted to handle the transition and inaugural teams, “God-willing,” Wiles and LaCivita write.

    “As the campaign comes to a close in a few days, please be proud of the work you have done and the contribution you have made to President Trump and Senator Vance [and their] work on behalf of freedom, security, the financial health of our nation, and to peace around the world,” they write.

    “Most of all, be proud that you worked to Make America Great Again.”

    Kevin Breuninger and Jonathan Allen, NBC News

    Elon Musk voter lottery hearing underway in Philadelphia court

    SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk awards Judey Kamora with $1,000,000 during an America PAC town hall on October 26, 2024 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

    Samuel Corum | Getty Images News | Getty Images

    A Philadelphia judge could rule at a hearing underway Monday morning that Elon Musk’s $1 million daily voter lottery should be blocked from continuing — but with just a day before Election Day that might not matter much.

    Philadelphia’s district attorney last week sued the Tesla billionaire CEO and his political action committee in the county Common Court of Pleas, accusing them of running an illegal lottery by awarding cash prizes — 16 so far — to registered voters in swing states who signed a petition backing the Constitution.

    Musk then got the case briefly transferred to federal court, but District Attorney Larry Krasner nearly as quickly got it returned to the county court.

    Musk has said his America PAC would run the giveaway until Election Day, so if Krasner gets the injunction he is seeking from a judge at the hearing, it could save the Trump backer a million dollars or two.

    Dan Mangan

    Trump Media shares sink in premarket trading, worsening DJT stock slide

    Omar Marques | Lightrocket | Getty Images

    Shares of Trump’s social media company dropped as much as 8% in premarket trading, exacerbating the Truth Social operator’s stock slide just before the election.

    Trump Media, which trades as DJT on the Nasdaq, aw its market cap fall more than 40% between Tuesday afternoon and Friday.

    The sudden drop erased much of the company’s gains from a massive rally in October, when its share price more than tripled.

    Despite its multibillion-dollar valuation, the company has posted net losses of more than $340 million on revenues of less than $2 million this fiscal year.

    The frenetic trading around the stock often seems to bear little correlation to its business fundamentals. Rather, analysts see the company as a magnet for pro-Trump retail investors to support the former president and bet on his odds of beating Harris in the election.

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    Harris to barnstorm Pennsylvania on the final day of campaigning

    Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends a campaign rally, in Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 14, 2024.

    Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters

    Harris will spend her final day on the campaign trail holding rallies across Pennsylvania, a must-win battleground state that both Republican and Democratic strategists see as the key to winning the Oval Office.

    Harris will start the day in Joe Biden’s hometown of Scranton, before holding a rally in Allentown, then going on to a local stop in Reading. On Monday night, Harris will hold rallies in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The latter two will feature musical guests, including Lady Gaga in Pittsburgh and Katy Perry in Philadelphia, according to the campaign.

    Pennsylvania went for Trump in the 2016 presidential election, but flipped to Joe Biden in 2020. Polls show Harris and Trump neck and neck in the state.

    — Jake Piazza

    Roughly 76 million Americans have already voted early

    Residents of Mecklenburg County wait in line to cast their ballots near campaign signs on the last day of early voting in the state, in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. November 2, 2024. 

    Jonathan Drake | Reuters

    Roughly 76 million Americans have already voted early, both through mail-in and early in-person voting, according to NBC News.

    Among the states that record voters’ party alignment, 41% of early voters are registered Democrats and 39% are registered Republicans. Early voting rules differ across states.

    — Jake Piazza

    Trump to hit three battleground states on election eve

    Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump smiles while the audience cheers during his rally in Kinston, North Carolina, U.S., November 3, 2024.

    Jonathan Drake | Reuters

    Trump will split his time across three battleground states on the final day before the election.

    Rallies are planned in Raleigh, North Carolina; Reading, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, according to the Trump campaign.

    Grand Rapids occupies a unique position in Trump campaign history: Michigan’s second-largest city has been Trump’s final stop on election eve in both of his previous presidential campaigns.

    — Jake Piazza