Republican Donald Trump has won election as the 45th president of the United States in a stunning upset. He defeated Democratic nominee, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The Associated Press called the race after 2:30 p.m.
Clinton conceded the election to Trump in a phone call to him shortly before Trump spoke to his supporters at 2:45 a.m. Clinton was trying to make history as the first female president.
“This was a historic event,” Trump told his supporters. He also congratulated Clinton on a hard-fought campaign.
“I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans and this is so important to me,” Trump said. “For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, I am reaching out to you so we can unify our great country.
“America will no longer settle for anything less than the best,” Trump said.
Speaking to supporters at Trump headquarters Vice President-elect Mike Pence said President-elect Trump's "leadership and vision will make America great again."
"The American people have elected their new champion," Pence said.
Trump, 70, a businessman who had never before run for office, is poised to become the oldest president ever elected to a first term.
Trump maintained about a one percent lead throughout the evening. At this posting Trump had 57,204,543 popular votes (48 percent) and Clinton had 56,257,628 (47.2 percent).