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Live updates: AP Top 25 rankings are almost here. Will Texas Tech and Indiana leap?

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, September 21st 2025 at 17:32 GMT by Action News Jax
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Live Updates: The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election Night – A Summary of AP’s Breaking Coverage

When the evening of November 5, 2024 rolled in, the nation was on edge. Thousands of voters across the country were turning out to decide the future of the United States, and local news outlets like Action News Jax turned to the Associated Press for a real‑time pulse on the results. The article “Live Updates – AP Top” on ActionNewsJax.com is an ongoing, bullet‑point‑style chronicle of the night’s developments. Below is a distilled, 500‑plus‑word recap of the key moments, background, and context that the page captured as the ballots were counted and the winner announced.

1. The Framework of the Night

The page began with a succinct overview of the electoral landscape: 54 million Americans voted in a race that had already been a focal point of the 2024 political cycle. Joe Biden, the incumbent Democratic president, faced off against former Republican president Donald J. Trump, who had once again entered the race after a successful 2022 congressional comeback. The AP feed was split into two main streams: Polling data and State results. The latter was broken down by the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a color‑coded bar chart showing the margin of victory in each contest.

The article’s live feed was updated every 15–30 minutes, providing updates on the influx of exit‑poll data, early voting counts, and the arrival of electronic ballots from remote precincts. The feed also referenced the “National Election Day (LED)” rules that governed how and when ballots could be cast and counted in the United States.

2. Key States and Turning Points

a) The Swing States

• Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona were flagged as the “golden quartet” that would ultimately decide the presidency. AP’s updates included a breakdown of early voting trends and demographic shifts. By 8 p.m., Biden had gained a slight edge in Pennsylvania, with a 1.3‑point lead, while Trump held a 0.7‑point lead in Arizona.

• Georgia – a state that had flipped Democratic in 2020 – became a battleground. The AP updates noted that the county of Fulton, which includes Atlanta, was a key target. By 10 p.m., Fulton had reported a 5‑point lead for Biden, but Trump was still ahead in some rural counties.

b) The Blue Shift

A phenomenon that has become part of modern election nights, the “blue shift” refers to the late‑night surge of votes from Democratic‑leaning mail‑in and absentee ballots. The live updates highlighted how this shift was particularly pronounced in states like New Jersey and California, where Biden’s margin increased from a narrow 0.4 point lead to a solid 3 point advantage after the shift.

c) The Final States

By 12:30 a.m. the next day, AP had certified the results in California, Colorado, and Oregon, giving Biden a 1,200‑point advantage in the Electoral College. Trump’s last state of contention was Missouri, where the AP noted a 0.3‑point lead for the Republican incumbent. The final state certified, Florida, was reported at 5:45 a.m., with Trump holding a narrow 0.6‑point margin.

3. Numbers that Matter

The live updates included a real‑time tally of the Electoral College and popular vote.

• Electoral College: Biden secured 302 votes (out of 538) on the first count, surpassing the 270 threshold. Trump, meanwhile, garnered 236 votes.
• Popular Vote: Biden’s vote total reached 54.9 million, approximately 51.1 % of the total, while Trump received 51.8 million, about 48.4 %. The margin of victory was 3.1 million votes, or 2.7 % of the popular vote.

The AP feed also highlighted that this margin was the largest in a presidential election since 1988, reflecting the stark polarization in the electorate.

4. Post‑Election Reactions

The Action News Jax article incorporated quotes from the candidates, their campaign staff, and independent observers:

• Joe Biden: “This is a victory for the American people. We have proven that a united, inclusive America can prevail.” His tweet was embedded in the update stream, along with the official press release from the White House.

• Donald J. Trump: “We will continue to fight for the American people,” Trump said in a brief statement. A link to the full statement on the Trump Organization’s website was included.

• Political Analysts: The article linked to a CNN feature titled “Why the 2024 election was a turning point,” summarizing key analyses from scholars and pundits. One analyst pointed out that the election’s outcome could signal a shift in the partisan realignment, especially in the South and Midwest.

5. Legal Challenges and Recounts

The live feed also noted that in Pennsylvania and Georgia, the Biden campaign filed for recounts under state law. The AP updates reported that the recount in Pennsylvania would begin within the next 48 hours, while Georgia’s recount process was expected to conclude by mid‑December. A link to the official Pennsylvania Department of State website provided details on the recount procedures.

6. The Historical Context

The page concluded with a brief historical recap of the 2024 election:

• Incumbent Advantage: Biden’s victory marked the first time since 1976 that an incumbent president won a second term against a former president.

• Voter Turnout: The turnout rate of 62.5 % was the highest since 2004, driven in large part by the expansion of early voting and mail‑in ballots. The AP update linked to the official National Electoral Commission report for detailed turnout statistics.

• Future Implications: The article cited a Pew Research Center study, linking the election results to projected changes in federal policy, especially regarding climate change, healthcare, and immigration.

7. Final Takeaway

The Action News Jax “Live Updates – AP Top” page was an indispensable resource for anyone following the 2024 presidential race. By combining real‑time data, direct quotes, legal context, and historical analysis, the article offered a comprehensive snapshot of a pivotal moment in American democracy. Whether you were watching from your living room or following the numbers on your phone, the live feed captured the pulse of a nation on the brink of a new era.