From coast to coast, Americans watched the results of a pivotal election Tuesday for the next president of the United States with a mix of tension, elation, relief and resignation as the votes were counted.
The race pitted Vice President Kamala Harris against former President Donald Trump.
Young and old mingled in crowds in public spaces, such as Times Square in New York City and college campuses, seeking out communities of friends to share the night and the roller coaster of emotions as the votes were tallied.
Others sought solitude or quieter spaces, such as a darkened beach or the end of a tavern bar, where the glow of hand-held devices or neon lights illuminated the results as they trickled in.
Some prayed. Some rejoiced.
And the world watched, too. From Taiwan to Jerusalem to India and beyond, many around the globe waited for the outcome of an election and wondered just how it would affect their lives in the coming days, months and years.
Lawson Beard, who said he voted for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and is anxious about the election results, watches coverage at Comet Tavern on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Pim Moynihan, of San Diego, watches election results on her phone as she lays on a wall along Mission Beach on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Students and staff watch early returns during an election night watch party at the University of Detroit Mercy, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Lisa Matassa of Nashville watches results during a watch party for Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Palm Beach County Convention Center during an election night watch party, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) A young girl holds a Black Voters for Harris-Walz sign outside of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris election night watch party at Howard University, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) Howard University students watch live election results during a watch party near an election night event for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at Howard University in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard) Supporters watch as results come in at an election night campaign watch party for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Mike and Dolly Rump of Madison, Fla., watch election results at an election night campaign watch party for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla.(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) Children watch results come in on a television screen at the DFL election night party, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris look at election results during an election night campaign watch party Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Michelle Rhea Greene prays as election results are played on a giant screen at Historic King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Bartender serves drinks with the pictures of the Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on U.S. Election Day to customers watching results roll in at a bar in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) Shamans perform a good luck ritual holding posters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, at the beach in Lima, Peru, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) Supporters of U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris watch as the first results from the state of South Carolina come in during an election night watch party at the Babylon cinema in central Berlin, Germany, early Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Guests watch the screen showing a live broadcast of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election results at Good Heavens Bar Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) A supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris reacts as they watch televised reports for the 2024 U.S. presidential election during a watch party in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) A currency trader walks by the screens showing the images of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, at a foreign exchange dealing room in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Art teacher Prithviraj Kambli paints posters of US Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, outside his school in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.(AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)