What Steve Kornacki is watching for tonight: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the Election Day edition of From the Politics Desk, where we'll give you everything you need before the results come in tonight. We'll be back tomorrow morning with the latest news in your inbox.

Follow NBC News' live election coverage Here and download the free app (Apple or Google Play) for the latest election news and to watch NBC News NOW.

3 leading counties to watch tonight

By Steve Kornacki

After months of election speeches, advertisements and polls, we are just hours away from polls closing across the country. As results are announced tonight, starting on the East Coast, there are three battleground states I'll be keeping a close eye on to get a sense of which way the political winds are blowing in the presidential contest.

Fayette County, Georgia: The key to Georgia Democrats' success in recent elections has been the growing Atlanta metropolitan area. Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Douglas, Cobb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, Newton and Henry counties formed a “blue patch” of support for the party in the middle of the state. One of the questions in this election is whether Kamala Harris can continue to expand the Blob beyond these nine counties.

Fayette County, south of Fulton and home to Peachtree City, is a place that could be a harbinger of Donald Trump's weakness if he loses additional support in metro Atlanta.

Nash County, North Carolina: The county voted for Barack Obama in 2012, Trump in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. Whoever wins in the district tonight could be a signal of what the national picture will look like.

Nash County, northeast of Raleigh, is about 40% black, a population that may illustrate how this particular group of working-class voters are engaged this year.

Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania: A 3-point victory for Hillary Clinton in this district in 2016 led to an 8-point victory for Biden in 2020, as his Scranton roots may have helped him win back some of the voters who have increased noticeably since 2012 Trump tended. Class voters and a growing Latino population are the dynamics to watch as Lackawanna could make another hard turn toward Trump.

🗳️ Your guide to election night

• Here's an hour-by-hour guide to the end of contested state elections, the most competitive congressional races, and many of the key voting measures to keep an eye on, all organized by poll deadline.
• In addition to the three listed above by Steve, here are the other key counties in the swing states to keep an eye on.
• And here are the down-ballot contests that could serve as initial clues.

That’s all from the Politics Desk for now. If you have any feedback – likes or dislikes – email us at [email protected]

And if you are a fan, please share with anyone and everyone. You can log in Here.