US election: First results from Kentucky and Indiana suggest Donald Trump support is still strong

Both of the earliest states are strongly Republican, but the vote shares offer an early insight into how votes are working out

US election night: Everything you need to know

The first results from the US election are showing that Donald Trump's support is staying strong.

Initial indications from Kentucky show that the Republican candidate is dominating the voting in that state, with 79 per cent of the ballots yet counted.

Only 1 per cent of the vote is in so far, and the state was always likely to support Donald Trump. But the results show that Mr Trump's support is still holding strong.

Kentucky was one of the first states to close at 6pm eastern time and is likely to be one of the first to declare its results. It is almost certain that voters there will back Donald Trump, but the margin of victory might prove a useful way of understanding the support he is generating across the country.

The results may change over time, since so small a proportion of the electorate has voted so far.

Similar results were seen in Indiana, with early votes showing strong results for Mr Trump. But that state too was always expected to be won by the Republicans – not only has it historically supported the party, it is the home state of Mike Pence, Mr Trump's running mate and Indiana's governor.

[9 November 2016 20:32 · Richard AL Williams]

Typically superb work under testing conditions from @steveanderson87 and the daily edition team twitter.com/Independent/st…

[9 November 2016 20:40 · The Independent]

Tomorrow's @Independent front page #TomorrowsPapersToday To subscribe to the Daily Edition -->… twitter.com/i/web/status/7…

[9 November 2016 20:54 · Christian Broughton]

Powerful front page of tomorrow's Independent Daily Edition. Subscribe here --> independentsubscriptions.co.uk http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cw2UcpBUQAEX6Od.jpg

[9 November 2016 20:56 · Christian Broughton]

Powerful front page of tomorrow's Independent Daily Edition. Subscribe here --> independentsubscriptions.co.uk http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cw2UcpBUQAEX6Od.jpg

[9 November 2016 21:24 · andrew__griffin]

This story on BuzzFeed's election night is really depressing cjr.org/covering_the_e…

[9 November 2016 21:24 · andrew__griffin]

I spent last night writing the names of states on a pizza box, so I know about depressing

[9 November 2016 21:33 · The Independent]

Don’t be fooled that Donald Trump's advisers can tame him in the White House – he stopped listening months ago ind.pn/2fDeZA0

[9 November 2016 21:46 · Russ Lynch]

Sign of a seismic day: when a random Londoner breaks public transport omerta to start a conversation about the US election.

[9 November 2016 22:01 · Richard AL Williams]

If we just wish it enough, maybe we can make it happen #Michelle2020 independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…