While many Americans pay attention to the popular vote in the race for the White House (and the candidates often mention their success with it), the winner of the presidency is determined by the Electoral College and the number of electoral votes they get.

North Carolina was one of the biggest battlegrounds up for grabs this year, as Democrats looked to flip a state that's voted Republican in nearly every election since 1980

Plus: A month after Helene, we hear stories of heroism and heartbreak out of North Carolina. All these and more stories on USA TODAY's The Excerpt.

From ordinary blue collar workers to seasoned political hands to members of the clergy, many Americans are combing through the election results trying to make sense of the outcome. Here's what the exit polling tells us.