By Pete Schroeder

Key Battleground Counties to Watch in the 2024 Presidential Election

As Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris are in a tight race for the White House, political forecasters are focusing on key counties for insights as polls start closing.

Bellwether Counties

A list of pivotal counties across seven battleground states compiled by Reuters, utilizing research from various financial and political institutions.

Arizona

Maricopa County is essential, home to over 4.5 million people. Biden won here in 2020, marking a significant Democratic shift since 1948. Results reporting starts after polls close at 9 p.m. ET, with potential delays in counting.

Florida

Miami-Dade County is critical despite Trump’s lead; it showed Democratic erosion in recent elections. Polls close at 7 p.m. ET, and results are expected early.

Georgia

DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties are crucial for assessing Democratic performance, with early voting counting helping to expedite results. Polls close at 7 p.m. ET.

Michigan

Saginaw County has historically predicted presidential winners since 2008. Wayne County, including Detroit, is also significant; Biden won it two-to-one in 2020. Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.

Nevada

Clark County, with Las Vegas, is vital for Biden’s vote share. Washoe County is another focus for Republicans. Polls close at 10 p.m. ET.

North Carolina

Wake and Mecklenburg Counties are Democratic strongholds vital for Harris. Cabarrus County showed a notable swing from Trump in 2016. Polls close at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Pennsylvania

Key counties like Erie and Lackawanna will be indicators of statewide trends. Polls close at 8 p.m. ET with a slow start to ballot counting.

Wisconsin

Dane County, where Biden achieved over 75% of the vote, and Waukesha County, showing Democratic momentum, are crucial spots. Polls close at 9 p.m. ET, but results may lag due to early voting processing.

These counties are critical as political analysts anticipate trends that could foreshadow the winner of the 2024 presidential election.