There are two southern swing states: Georgia and North Carolina. They are also the two swing states where the polls close the earliest – and where the votes are counted the fastest.

Trump just won both.

Does this mean he is completely in control of the election? Not quite. Pre-election polls showed Trump narrowly ahead in both southern battlegrounds. In other words, they were already leaning towards him. A Harris win in either or both cases would have put her on the path to 270 electoral votes Easier. But losing both doesn't make it impossible.

So what does Harris' path look like?

Pennsylvania is by far the most important remaining state on the panel. If Trump wins the Keystone State, he can effectively secure at least 270 electoral votes – and the election.

That makes Pennsylvania a must-win for Harris. Assuming she makes it, and before big surprises elsewhere, she would have three routes remaining at 270:

• Also win Michigan and Wisconsin (exactly 270 electoral votes)

• Wisconsin loses, but Michigan and Arizona win (271 electoral votes)

• Michigan loses, but Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada win (272 electoral votes)

In 2020, Joe Biden won Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada. Harris doesn't have to hold all five of these states to succeed her boss as president. But she has to win most of them.