2016 Election Electoral Map found on 270toWin.com

In what came as a surprise to many political insiders, media members, and citizens all around, Republican candidate and businessman mogul Donald J. Trump became the President-Elect of the United States of America after Tuesday’s election by an electoral total of 279 to Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton’s 228 (a total expected to rise for Trump with votes still being counted in Arizona and Michigan).

The night started off well for Trump as he secured victories in key Republican strongholds such as Kentucky and South Carolina.

What shocked party officials and pollsters alike was just how well Trump performed in areas where his Republican counterparts Mitt Romney and John McCain in 2012 and 2008 respectively. In states which ending up being the difference for Trump like Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania, he outperformed his predecessors, particularly with white voters.

Trump’s victory was far from a “landslide” however because as it appears now, Secretary Clinton is ahead in the popular vote by a margin of .2 percent. This was especially noticeable in Florida where the final difference between the two was less than 250,000 total votes.

It has been no secret that this political season has been one of the most vicious in recent memory as the country appears to be incredibly divided along racial, religious, and socioeconomic lines. However, to their credit, both candidates were noted by many in the political field as being extremely gracious in their victory and defeat, a sign that the nation may be sooner healed than it is deeply divided.