In a landmark political upset, Donald Trump has defeated Hillary Clinton to become the 45th President of the United States. After a long and riveting Tuesday election night, major news networks began to project Trump as the likely victor around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning. Shortly thereafter, Trump addressed his supporters, announcing that, “the forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer…it is time for us to come together as one united people.” Later in the morning, Clinton delivered her concession speech in New York City, during which she commented “this is painful, and it will be for a long time,” but when referring to the potential of a Trump presidency, also suggested citizens “keep an open mind.” Concluding her address, Clinton added, “to all the little girls who are watching this: Never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world.”

Though Clinton may have won the majority of the popular vote, which refers to the total number of votes cast in an election, Trump won the race by way of the Electoral College system. This system provides each state a number of electoral votes equal to how many members of Congress the state is entitled to. When the majority of a state’s voters choose a particular candidate, their electors then pledge to vote for that candidate, and once they submit their selections, an official winner is named. This year, Trump earned 279 of the 538 available electoral votes, 270 of which are required to win the presidency. The 2016 election is only the fifth instance in which the Electoral College system has resulted in the election of a candidate who did not win the popular vote.     

History of the Electoral College System

http://www.history.com/topics/electoral-college

Highlights of Hillary’s Concession Speech and Obama’s Remarks

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/us/politics/donald-trump-won-now-what.html

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