2020
The 2020 U.S. presidential election was won by Joe Biden (Democratic) with 306 of 538 electoral votes, defeating Donald Trump (Republican). Electoral-vote margin: 74 (306 to 232). Popular-vote margin: 4.5 percentage points. Turnout was 66.6%. The cycle falls in the Modern Polarization era of American electoral history.
Open the what-if calculator → — flip states and re-count. A toy, not history.
Pandemic-era turnout breaks records
Joe Biden defeated incumbent Donald Trump in a high-turnout election dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which had killed over 230,000 Americans before Election Day. Biden won 81.3 million votes — the most ever recorded — while Trump won 74.2 million, also a record for a losing candidate. Trump refused to concede, claiming widespread fraud, and his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Biden carried Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan — all states Trump had won in 2016.
COVID-19 pandemic; racial justice (George Floyd protests); democracy and election integrity
Record turnout (66.6%); most votes ever (81.3M); Trump's refusal to concede led to January 6 Capitol riot
This summary was drafted with AI tools and has not yet been checked sentence by sentence. The vote table and the National Archives note on this page come from named sources; where they differ from the summary, rely on them. Tell us about an error.
For the first time since adopting their respective systems, both Maine and Nebraska split their electoral votes:
Maine distributes its electoral votes proportionally, with two at-large electors representing the statewide winning presidential and vice presidential candidates and one elector each representing the winners from its two Congressional districts. For only the second time since adopting this system, Maine's four electoral votes were split between the two major party tickets.
Nebraska distributes its electoral votes proportionally, with two at-large electors representing the statewide winning presidential and vice presidential candidates and one elector each representing the winners from its three Congressional districts. For only the second time since adopting this system, Nebraska's five electoral votes were split between the two major party tickets.
During the electoral vote count, objections were filed with respect to the Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes, but neither House sustained the objection, so all votes were counted.
Due to violent unrest in and around the Capitol, the electoral results were not certified until 3:44 a.m., the morning of January 7, 2021.
National Archives, Electoral College results for 2020, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.
States · 51 reporting
State results · 2020
- Georgia Biden by 11,779 · 0.2 pts
- Arizona Biden by 10,457 · 0.3 pts
- Wisconsin Biden by 20,682 · 0.6 pts
- Pennsylvania Biden by 80,555 · 1.2 pts
- North Carolina Trump by 74,481 · 1.3 pts
WisconsinBiden won it by 0.6 points; its electoral votes took the total to 278, past the 270 needed.
Line up the states the winner carried from widest margin to narrowest and add up their electoral votes: the tipping point is the state that takes the total past a majority.
Scroll the table sideways for every column.
| State | Electoral votes | Joe Biden Dem | Donald Trump Rep | Jo Jorgensen Lib | Margin | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 9 EV | 849,624 36.6% | 1,441,170 62.0% | 25,176 1.1% | 591,546 25.5 pts | Trump Rep |
| Alaska1 | 3 EV | 153,778 42.8% | 189,951 52.8% | 8,897 2.5% | 36,173 10.1 pts | Trump Rep |
| Arizona | 11 EV | 1,672,143 49.4% | 1,661,686 49.1% | 51,465 1.5% | 10,457 0.3 pts | Biden Dem |
| Arkansas2 | 6 EV | 423,932 34.8% | 760,647 62.4% | 13,133 1.1% | 336,715 27.6 pts | Trump Rep |
| California | 55 EV | 11,110,250 63.5% | 6,006,429 34.3% | 187,895 1.1% | 5,103,821 29.2 pts | Biden Dem |
| Colorado3 | 9 EV | 1,804,352 55.0% | 1,364,607 41.6% | 52,460 1.6% | 439,745 13.4 pts | Biden Dem |
| Connecticut | 7 EV | 1,080,831 59.3% | 714,717 39.2% | 20,230 1.1% | 366,114 20.1 pts | Biden Dem |
| Delaware | 3 EV | 296,268 58.7% | 200,603 39.8% | Not named | 95,665 19.0 pts | Biden Dem |
| District of Columbia | 3 EV | 317,323 92.1% | 18,586 5.4% | Not named | 298,737 86.8 pts | Biden Dem |
| Florida4 | 29 EV | 5,297,045 47.9% | 5,668,731 51.2% | Not named | 371,686 3.4 pts | Trump Rep |
| Georgia5 | 16 EV | 2,473,633 49.5% | 2,461,854 49.2% | 62,229 1.2% | 11,779 0.2 pts | Biden Dem |
| Hawaii6 | 4 EV | 366,130 63.1% | 196,864 34.0% | Not named | 169,266 29.2 pts | Biden Dem |
| Idaho7 | 4 EV | 287,021 33.1% | 554,119 63.8% | 16,404 1.9% | 267,098 30.8 pts | Trump Rep |
| Illinois8 | 20 EV | 3,471,915 57.5% | 2,446,891 40.6% | 66,544 1.1% | 1,025,024 17.0 pts | Biden Dem |
| Indiana | 11 EV | 1,242,416 41.0% | 1,729,519 57.0% | 59,232 2.0% | 487,103 16.1 pts | Trump Rep |
| Iowa9 | 6 EV | 759,061 44.6% | 897,672 52.8% | 19,637 1.2% | 138,611 8.2 pts | Trump Rep |
| Kansas | 6 EV | 570,323 41.6% | 771,406 56.2% | 30,574 2.2% | 201,083 14.7 pts | Trump Rep |
| Kentucky | 8 EV | 772,474 36.2% | 1,326,646 62.1% | 26,234 1.2% | 554,172 25.9 pts | Trump Rep |
| Louisiana10 | 8 EV | 856,034 39.9% | 1,255,776 58.5% | 21,645 1.0% | 399,742 18.6 pts | Trump Rep |
| Maine11 | 4 EV Biden 3, Trump 1 (2nd congressional district) | 435,072 52.5% | 360,737 43.6% | 14,152 1.7% | 74,335 9.0 pts | Biden Dem |
| Maryland | 10 EV | 1,985,023 65.4% | 976,414 32.2% | 33,488 1.1% | 1,008,609 33.2 pts | Biden Dem |
| Massachusetts12 | 11 EV | 2,382,202 65.1% | 1,167,202 31.9% | 47,013 1.3% | 1,215,000 33.2 pts | Biden Dem |
| Michigan13 | 16 EV | 2,804,040 50.6% | 2,649,852 47.8% | 60,381 1.1% | 154,188 2.8 pts | Biden Dem |
| Minnesota | 10 EV | 1,717,077 52.4% | 1,484,065 45.3% | 34,976 1.1% | 233,012 7.1 pts | Biden Dem |
| Mississippi14 | 6 EV | 539,398 41.1% | 756,764 57.6% | Not named | 217,366 16.5 pts | Trump Rep |
| Missouri15 | 10 EV | 1,253,014 41.4% | 1,718,736 56.8% | 41,205 1.4% | 465,722 15.4 pts | Trump Rep |
| Montana | 3 EV | 244,786 40.5% | 343,602 56.9% | 15,252 2.5% | 98,816 16.4 pts | Trump Rep |
| Nebraska | 5 EV Trump 4, Biden 1 (2nd congressional district) | 374,583 39.2% | 556,846 58.2% | 20,283 2.1% | 182,263 19.1 pts | Trump Rep |
| Nevada16,17 | 6 EV | 703,486 50.1% | 669,890 47.7% | 14,783 1.1% | 33,596 2.4 pts | Biden Dem |
| New Hampshire | 4 EV | 424,921 52.7% | 365,654 45.4% | 13,235 1.6% | 59,267 7.4 pts | Biden Dem |
| New Jersey18 | 14 EV | 2,608,335 57.3% | 1,883,274 41.4% | Not named | 725,061 15.9 pts | Biden Dem |
| New Mexico | 5 EV | 501,614 54.3% | 401,894 43.5% | 12,585 1.4% | 99,720 10.8 pts | Biden Dem |
| New York19,20 | 29 EV | 5,244,88619 60.9% | 3,244,798 37.7% | Not named | 2,000,088 23.2 pts | Biden Dem |
| North Carolina21 | 15 EV | 2,684,292 48.6% | 2,758,773 49.9% | Not named | 74,481 1.3 pts | Trump Rep |
| North Dakota | 3 EV | 114,902 31.8% | 235,595 65.1% | 9,393 2.6% | 120,693 33.4 pts | Trump Rep |
| Ohio | 18 EV | 2,679,165 45.2% | 3,154,834 53.3% | 67,569 1.1% | 475,669 8.0 pts | Trump Rep |
| Oklahoma | 7 EV | 503,890 32.3% | 1,020,280 65.4% | 24,731 1.6% | 516,390 33.1 pts | Trump Rep |
| Oregon | 7 EV | 1,340,383 56.5% | 958,448 40.4% | 41,582 1.8% | 381,935 16.1 pts | Biden Dem |
| Pennsylvania | 20 EV | 3,458,229 50.0% | 3,377,674 48.8% | 79,380 1.1% | 80,555 1.2 pts | Biden Dem |
| Rhode Island | 4 EV | 307,486 59.5% | 199,922 38.7% | Not named | 107,564 20.8 pts | Biden Dem |
| South Carolina | 9 EV | 1,091,541 43.4% | 1,385,103 55.1% | 27,916 1.1% | 293,562 11.7 pts | Trump Rep |
| South Dakota | 3 EV | 150,471 35.6% | 261,043 61.8% | 11,095 2.6% | 110,572 26.2 pts | Trump Rep |
| Tennessee22 | 11 EV | 1,143,711 37.5% | 1,852,475 60.7% | Not named | 708,764 23.2 pts | Trump Rep |
| Texas | 38 EV | 5,259,126 46.5% | 5,890,347 52.1% | 126,243 1.1% | 631,221 5.6 pts | Trump Rep |
| Utah23 | 6 EV | 560,282 37.6% | 865,140 58.1% | 38,447 2.6% | 304,858 20.5 pts | Trump Rep |
| Vermont24 | 3 EV | 242,820 65.5% | 112,704 30.4% | Not named | 130,116 35.1 pts | Biden Dem |
| Virginia | 13 EV | 2,413,568 54.1% | 1,962,430 44.0% | 64,761 1.5% | 451,138 10.1 pts | Biden Dem |
| Washington | 12 EV | 2,369,612 58.0% | 1,584,651 38.8% | 80,500 2.0% | 784,961 19.2 pts | Biden Dem |
| West Virginia | 5 EV | 235,984 29.7% | 545,382 68.6% | 10,687 1.3% | 309,398 38.9 pts | Trump Rep |
| Wisconsin25 | 10 EV | 1,630,866 49.4% | 1,610,184 48.8% | 38,491 1.2% | 20,682 0.6 pts | Biden Dem |
| Wyoming26 | 3 EV | 73,491 26.4% | 193,559 69.5% | 5,768 2.1% | 120,068 43.1 pts | Trump Rep |
Shares are of each state’s total vote for president. “Not named”: the figures do not give that candidate a line of their own in that state — for example under 1% of the vote, not on the ballot there, or counted on an unnamed line (see the state’s note). Margin is the leader’s lead over the second-placed candidate.
Notes on the figures
- Alaska 'Other candidates' includes 1,127 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Arkansas 'Other candidates' includes 2,108 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Colorado 'Other candidates' includes 5,061 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Florida 'Other candidates' includes 3,902 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Georgia 'Other candidates' includes 61 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Hawaii 'Other candidates' includes 6,246 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Idaho 'Other candidates' includes 1,886 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Illinois 'Other candidates' includes 18 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Iowa 'Other candidates' includes 10,966 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Louisiana 'Other candidates' includes 860 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Maine 'Other candidates' includes 8,844 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Massachusetts 'Other candidates' includes 26,603 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Michigan 'Other candidates' includes 7,235 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Mississippi 'Other candidates' includes 1,279 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Missouri 'Other candidates' includes 3,919 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Nevada 'Other candidates' includes 3,138 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Nevada The source reports 14,079 write-in votes on one line with no candidate name, so the people they went to cannot be shown separately; they are counted in 'Other candidates'.
- New Jersey 'Other candidates' includes 2,954 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- New York The MIT Election Lab file gives Joe Biden 5,230,985 votes; the FEC's official results give 5,244,886. This site shows the FEC figure.
- New York The state total (8,616,861) is the FEC's official total; the MIT file's total is 8,661,735. 'Other candidates' is that total minus the figures shown.
- North Carolina 'Other candidates' includes 7,549 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Tennessee 'Other candidates' includes 5,365 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Utah 'Other candidates' includes 5,551 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Vermont 'Other candidates' includes 3,748 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Wisconsin 'Other candidates' includes 5,146 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
- Wyoming 'Other candidates' includes 1,738 blank, void, over- or under-vote or 'none of these candidates' ballots, which the source reports as lines of their own.
SourcesMIT Election Data and Science Lab, U.S. President 1976–2024 ; Federal Election Commission, Federal Elections 2020 . How these figures were compiled
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