WASHINGTON - Billionaire Donald Trump led from the start of vote counting to defeat Hillary Clinton and win the US presidential election in a tight race.
Mr Trump will take office next Jan 20.
His Republican Party retained control of the House of Representatives and appeared on the verge of also holding onto its majority in the senate, although several races were far from over.
US TV networks called the election for Mr Trump at 1.40am eastern time (1.40pm Thailand time) while some of the western states had barely begun counting votes.
He won most of the states considered to be evenly split, including Ohio, Florida and North Carolina.
Ms Clinton mostly won only states that were considered firmly in her Democratic Party grip.
When US analysts called the election in Trump's favour, he was winning the Electoral College vote by 274-215.
He needed 270 votes to win. The clincher was when he won Pennsylvania, with its 20 votes.
Mr Trump also was clearly winning the popular vote, by 48.4% to 47% for Ms Clinton, who failed in her bid to become the first female president in US history.
Now 69, she is unlikely to contest another major election. Mr Trump is 70.
Red - Trump. Blue - Clinton. Grey - Still undecided. (Map maintained by RealClearPolitics.com)
