Key swing states Results
| State | Biden % | Trump % | Winner | Margin | Flipped from 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PennsylvaniaFlipped D | 50.0% | 48.8% | Biden | +1.2pp | Yes → D |
| GeorgiaFlipped D | 49.5% | 49.3% | Biden | +0.2pp | Yes → D |
| ArizonaFlipped D | 49.4% | 49.1% | Biden | +0.3pp | Yes → D |
| WisconsinFlipped D | 49.6% | 48.9% | Biden | +0.7pp | Yes → D |
| MichiganFlipped D | 50.6% | 47.8% | Biden | +2.8pp | Yes → D |
| Nevada | 50.1% | 47.7% | Biden | +2.4pp | No |
| North Carolina | 48.6% | 49.9% | Trump | −1.3pp | No |
| Florida | 47.9% | 51.2% | Trump | −3.3pp | No |
What Decided 2020
COVID-19 and Trump's Response
The pandemic killed over 230,000 Americans by Election Day 2020, and Trump's handling — including downplaying the severity and resisting mask mandates — drove suburban voters away from Republicans. Biden made competent crisis management the centerpiece of his campaign. Ironically, the pandemic also forced Biden to run from his Delaware basement, limiting exposure of potential weaknesses.
Racial Justice Protests
The murder of George Floyd in May 2020 sparked nationwide protests and a reckoning on race. Trump's response — tear-gassing protesters for a photo op at a church, repeatedly invoking "law and order" — energized Black voters and alienated many college-educated white suburbanites who had voted Republican in 2016.
Suburban Women Shift
College-educated suburban women swung sharply toward Biden in 2020, a trend that had begun in 2018. Biden outperformed Clinton among this group by roughly 10-15 points in key suburban counties around Atlanta, Phoenix and Philadelphia — enough to flip Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania from red to blue.
Record Turnout
Over 158 million Americans voted, the highest raw number in US history and roughly 67% turnout — the highest rate since 1900. Over 100 million cast ballots by mail or early in-person due to COVID concerns. Biden received 81 million votes; Trump received 74 million — more than any winning candidate in history except Biden himself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2020 US presidential election?
Joe Biden won with 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232. Biden won the popular vote 51.3% to 46.9%, receiving over 81 million votes. He was inaugurated on January 20, 2021, becoming the 46th President and the oldest person elected to the presidency at age 78.
Why was the 2020 election result delayed?
Record mail-in voting — over 100 million absentee/early ballots — meant many states took days to count all votes. Pennsylvania, one of the last states to be called, was not projected for Biden until November 7, four days after Election Day. Trump prematurely claimed victory early on election night before enough votes were counted.
Did Trump accept the 2020 election results?
No. Trump refused to concede and falsely claimed the election was stolen through widespread fraud. His campaign and allies filed over 60 lawsuits in multiple states, all of which were dismissed by courts including those with Trump-appointed judges. On January 6, 2021, Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol during the certification of electoral votes, in what became a landmark constitutional crisis.
2020 Presidential Election - Video Analysis
CBS News: New poll shows low Trump approval rating