Trump nears victory with 277 votes

The vote-counting process in the US presidential and congressional elections continues. While some Eastern States are nearing completion, counting has just begun in Western States.

Republican candidate Donald Trump showed early signs of winning, though Democratic candidate Kamala Harris narrowed the gap as California, with its substantial electoral weight, began tallying votes.

Trump has garnered 246 electoral votes so far, according to preliminary media estimates.

Some key states where the Republican candidate is leading include Texas (40 votes), Florida (30), Ohio (17), and North Carolina (16).

Meanwhile, Harris has secured 216 electoral votes, with major wins in California (54 votes), New York (28), and Illinois (19).

In terms of the popular vote, Trump received approximately 65 million votes, compared to around 60 million for Harris.

The total number of electoral votes nationwide is 538, with a candidate needing at least 270 to win the election, regardless of the popular vote count.

It is still too early to draw conclusions, as vote counting continues in several crucial states, with many Democratic-leaning Western states still in the early stages of counting.

On the other hand, Republicans secured a majority in the Senate with 51 out of 100 seats, while Democrats hold 42.

The race for the House of Representatives is ongoing, but Republicans currently lead with 179 seats compared to 148 for Democrats. To secure a House majority, a party needs at least 218 seats.