2020 United States presidential election

The 2020 United States presidential election was the 59th presidential election and was held on November 3, 2020. Former vice president Joe Biden and U.S. senator Kamala Harris defeated incumbent Republican President Donald Trump and incumbent Vice President Mike Pence on the Democratic Party ticket.  

Voters selected presidential electors who then voted on December 14, 2020"3 U.S.C. § 7 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 3. The President § 7. Meeting and vote of electors", FindLaw.com. to either elect a new president and vice president or re-elect the incumbents. On November 7, Biden won the election and became the president-elect of the United States. 

Donald Trump, the 45th president, started a campaign to be president for four more years in the Republican primaries. Several state Republican Party organizations cancelled their primaries in a show of support for his candidacy. He became the presumptive nominee in March 2020.

Twenty-seven major candidates started campaigns for the Democratic nomination. This was the largest number of candidates for any political party in modern-day American politics. In April 2020, former Vice President Joe Biden became the presumptive nominee after beating Senator Bernie Sanders. In August 2020, Biden picked U.S. Senator and former 2020 candidate Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Some issues of the election included the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which killed over 220,000 Americans at the time of the election, protests in reaction to the murder of George Floyd and other black Americans, the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, and the Affordable Care Act, with Biden wanting to protect and expand it and Trump pushing for ending it. 




After the election, Donald Trump refused to accept that he lost and filed over 40 lawsuits against states and politicians trying to change the election results. The lawsuits said that the election was not fair. Almost all of the lawsuits failed in court because Trump could not prove what he said. In some states, the votes were counted again, which still showed that Biden won. After the electors voted for Biden on December 14, Trump tried other ways to overturn the election results. When the electoral votes were counted in Congress on January 6-7, some Republicans voted not to count votes from certain states.

Biden was inaugurated on January 20, 2021, at midday when he took the oath of office.

Background
The 2020 U.S. presidential election was the first time all members of the millennial generation were able to vote. The age group of people in the 18 to the 45-year-old area was 40 percent of those able to vote in 2020.

The United States House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump on December 18, 2019, making him the third president in American history to be impeached. He was acquitted by the United States Senate on February 5, 2020.

Mail voting
More people voted by mail in the United States, with 25% of voters nationwide mailing their ballots in 2016 and 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 means there has been an increase in mail voting because of the possible danger of large groups at polling places. For the 2020 election, a state-by-state analysis found that 76% of Americans are eligible to vote by mail in 2020, a record number. The analysis predicted that 80 million ballots could be cast by mail in 2020—more than double the number in 2016. The Postal Service sent a letter to multiple states in July 2020, warning that the service would not be able to meet the state's deadlines for requesting and casting last-minute absentee ballots.

President Trump was critical of voting by mail saying that it would make it easier for voter fraud to happen. Many people dropped their votes in voting boxes in their voting places instead of going to the polls.

Republican Party

Nominees
65px|center|link=Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party (United States)2020 Republican Party ticketfor Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px|border center|200x200px|border President of the United States(2017-2021) Vice President of the United States(2017-2021)Campaigncenter|275px

Other candidates
Candidates in this section are sorted by state ballot accessBill WeldJoe WalshRocky De La FuenteZoltan IstvanMark Sanfordcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120px(1991–1997)(2011–2013)BusinessmanTranshumanist(1995–2001, 2013–2019)(1998–2002)x50pxCampaignFEC filingx50pxCampaignFEC filingx50pxCampaignFEC filingFEC filingx50pxCampaignFEC filing1 delegate286,564 votes169,713 votes73,119 votes14,291 votes4,258 votes

Convention site

On July 20, 2018, the Republican National Convention chose Charlotte, North Carolina as the site for their 2020 national convention. The convention was held between August 24 to 27. In June 2020, the convention location was moved to Jacksonville, Florida over COVID-19 health measures.

National polling
Polling AggregationSource of poll aggregation Dateupdated Datespolled DonaldTrumpBillWeldJoeWalsh Other andundecided270 to Win Feb 19, 2020 Feb 18 – 19, 202091.0% 5.0% -RealClearPolitics Feb 11, 2020 Dec 10, 2019 – Feb 11, 202089.3% 4.0% 3.5% Average90.2% 4.5% 3.5%1.8%

Democratic Party

Nominees

65px|center|link=Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party (United States)2020 Democratic Party ticketfor Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|200x200px 47th Vice President of the United States(2009–2017) U.S. Senator from California(2017–2021)Campaigncenter|200px

Withdrawn candidates
Candidates in this section are sorted by date of withdrawal from the primaries Bernie Sanders Tulsi Gabbard Elizabeth Warren Michael Bloomberg Amy Klobuchar Pete Buttigieg Tom Steyer center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px U.S. senator from Vermont(2007–present)U.S. representative from VT-AL(1991–2007) U.S. representative from HI-02(2013–2021) U.S. senator from Massachusetts(2013–present) Mayor of New York City, New York(2002–2013)CEO of Bloomberg L.P. U.S. senator from Minnesota(2007–present) Mayor of South Bend, Indiana(2012–2020) Hedge fund managerFounder of Farallon Capital and Beneficial State Bank frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign W: April 8, 2020
8,466,161 votes1,007 delegates W: March 19, 2020
(endorsed Biden)191,459 votes2 delegates W: March 5, 2020
2,607,928 votes58 delegates W: March 4, 2020
(endorsed Biden)2,422,368 votes43 delegates W: March 2, 2020
(endorsed Biden)494,695 votes7 delegates W: March 1, 2020
(endorsed Biden)855,014 votes21 delegates W: February 29, 2020
248,875 votes Deval Patrick Michael Bennet Andrew Yang John Delaney Cory Booker Marianne Williamson Julián Castro frameless|center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px Governor of Massachusetts(2007–2015) U.S. senator from Colorado(2009–present) EntrepreneurFounder of Venture for America U.S. representative from MD-06(2013–2019) U.S. senator from New Jersey(2013–present)Mayor of Newark, New Jersey(2006–2013) AuthorFounder of Project Angel Food Secretary of Housing and Urban Development(2014–2017)Mayor of San Antonio, Texas(2009–2014) frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px 100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign W: February 12, 2020
(endorsed Biden)19,630 votes W: February 11, 2020
42,322 votes W: February 11, 2020
(endorsed Biden)108,313 votes W: January 31, 2020
(endorsed Biden)15,985 votes W: January 13, 2020
(endorsed Biden)28,913 votes W: January 10, 2020
(endorsed Sanders)21,437 votes W: January 2, 2020
(endorsed Warren)36,277 votes Kamala Harris Steve Bullock Joe Sestak Wayne Messam Beto O'Rourke Tim Ryan Bill de Blasio center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px U.S. senator from California(2017–2021)Attorney General of California(2011–2017) Governor of Montana(2013–present)Attorney General of Montana(2009–2013) U.S. representative from PA-07(2007–2011)Former Vice Admiral of the United States Navy Mayor of Miramar, Florida(2015–present) U.S. representative from TX-16(2013–2019) U.S. representative from OH-13(2013–present)U.S. representative from OH-17(2003–2013) Mayor of New York City, New York(2014–present) frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px  frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign W: December 2, 2019
(became Biden's VP)844 votes W: December 3, 2019
(endorsed Biden)549 votes W: December 1, 2019
(endorsed Klobuchar)5,251 votes W: November 19, 2019
0 votes W: November 1, 2019
(endorsed Biden)1 vote W: October 24, 2019
(endorsed Biden)0 votes W: September 20, 2019
(endorsed Sanders)0 votes Kirsten Gillibrand Seth Moulton Jay Inslee John Hickenlooper Mike Gravel Eric Swalwell Richard Ojeda center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px U.S. senator from New York(2009–present)U.S. representative from NY-20(2007–2009) U.S. representative from MA-06(2015–present) Governor of Washington(2013–present)U.S. representative from WA-01(1999–2012)U.S. representative from WA-04(1993–1995) Governor of Colorado(2011–2019)Mayor of Denver, Colorado(2003–2011) U.S. senator from Alaska(1969–1981) U.S. representative from CA-15(2013–present) West Virginia state senator from WV-SD07(2016–2019) frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px  Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign W: August 28, 2019
(endorsed Biden)0 votes W: August 23, 2019
(endorsed Biden)0 votes W: August 21, 2019
1 vote W: August 15, 2019
(endorsed Bennet)1 vote W: August 6, 2019
(endorsed Gabbard and Sanders)0 votes W: July 8, 2019
0 votes W: January 25, 2019
0 votes

Convention site

The 2020 Democratic National Convention happened in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 13–16, 2020.

National polling
+Polling aggregatesSource of poll aggregationDate updatedDates polledBidenSandersUndecided270toWin Mar 19, 2020 Mar 11–18, 2020  55.0% 34.4% 10.6%FiveThirtyEight  Mar 19, 2020 Mar 8-17, 2020  51.5% 32.6% 15.9%RealClear Politics Mar 19, 2020 Mar 8–16, 2020 55.7% 35.3% 9.0%Average 54.1% 34.1% 11.8%

General election polling
Trump vs. Biden
+Donald Trump vs. Joe BidenSource of poll aggregationDates administeredDates updatedJoe BidenDonald TrumpOther/UndecidedMargin270 to WinOct 14–18, 2020Oct 20, 202050.0%43.6%6.4%Biden +6.4RealClear PoliticsOct 6–19, 2020Oct 21, 202050.6%43.1%6.3%Biden +7.5FiveThirtyEight until Oct 20, 2020Oct 21, 202052.1%42.2%5.7%Biden +9.9Average 50.9% 43.0% 6.1%Biden +7.9

4-way race
+Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden vs. Jo Jorgensen vs. Howie HawkinsSource of poll aggregationDates administeredDates updatedJoe BidenDonald TrumpJo JorgensenHowie HawkinsOther/UndecidedMargin270 to WinOct 16–21, 2020Oct 21, 202050.2%42.4%1.8%0.8%4.8%Biden +7.8RealClear PoliticsOct 15 – Oct 20, 2020Oct 21, 202050.5%43.0%2.5%0.8%3.2%Biden +7.5

Libertarian Party

Though Jacob Hornberger won the most primaries and received the most votes, Jo Jorgensen was chosen as the party's presidential nominee on the night of May 23, 2020, after four rounds of voting.

Nominees
2020 Libertarian Party ticketfor Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|200x200px Senior Lecturer at Clemson University Podcaster and businessmanCampaigncenter|200px

Withdrawn candidates

Candidates in this section are sorted by date of withdrawalJacob HornbergerVermin SupremeJohn MondsJames P. GrayAdam KokeshDan Behrman center|x120px center|x120px center|120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120pxFounder and President of the Future of Freedom FoundationPerformance artist, activist, and political satiristFormer President of the  Grady County, Georgia NAACPFormer presiding judge for the  Superior Court of Orange County, CaliforniaLibertarian and anti-war political activistSoftware engineer and podcaster frameless|100x100px frameless|100x100px    frameless|100x100px  Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign W: May 23, 20208,986 votes (20.55%)236 first round delegatesW: May 23, 20204,288 votes (9.81%)171 first round delegatesW: May 23, 20201 vote (<0.01%)147 first round delegatesW: May 23, 202042 votes (0.10%)98 first round delegatesW: May 23, 20202,728 votes (6.24%)77 first round delegatesW: May 23, 20202,337 votes (5.34%)0 first round delegatesSam RobbJustin AmashKen ArmstrongLincoln ChafeeMax AbramsonKim Ruff center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|120pxSoftware engineer and authorFormer naval officerU.S. representativefrom MI-03(2011-present)U.S. Coast Guardcommissioned officer(1977–1994)Governor of Rhode Island(2011–2015)U.S. Senator from Rhode Island (1999–2007)New Hampshire State Representative(2014–2016; 2018–present)Vice chair of theLPRadical Caucus 100x100px    frameless|100x100px 100x100px CampaignCampaign Campaign Campaign Campaign W: May 23, 20201,943 votes (5.06%)0 first round delegatesW: May 17, 20203 votes (0.01%)17 first round delegatesW: April 29, 20203,509 votes(8.03%)0 first round delegatesW: April 5, 2020294 votes(0.67%)1 (write-in) first round delegateW: March 3, 20202,052 votes(5.34%)0 first round delegatesW: January 11, 20203,045 votes(7.93%)0 first round delegates

Convention site
On December 10, 2017, the Libertarian National Committee chose Austin, Texas as the site of their 2020 national convention. The convention was going to be held there between May 22–25, 2020.Winger, Richard (December 11, 2017)  However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was held through an online convention from May 22 to May 24.

Green Party

Nominee
25px|center|link=Green Party (United States)|Green Party (United States)2020 Green Party ticketfor Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|200x200px Co-founder of the Green Party ATU Local 998 Legislative Director(2011–2013)Campaigncenter|200px

Withdrawn candidates
Candidates in this section are sorted by popular voteDario HunterOfficially RecognizedSedinam Moyowasifza-CurryDennis LambertDavid RoldeOfficially Recognized center|x120px center|x120px center|x120px center|x120pxMember of the Youngstown Board of Education (2016–2020)ActivistDocumentary FilmmakerCo-chair of the Greater Boston Chapter of the Green-Rainbow Party 100px    Campaign   3,087 votes (18.1%)67.5 delegates2,229 votes (2.9%)10 delegates2,029 votes (2.6%)9 delegates960 votes (1.6%)5.5 delegates

Convention site
The 2020 Green National Convention was held in Detroit, Michigan from July 9-12. Greenville, South Carolina and Spartanburg, South Carolina were also considered to host the convention.

Minor third party candidates
Party for Socialism and Liberation
300px|thumb|right|Ballot access by state*















2020 Party for Socialism and Liberation ticketfor Presidentfor Vice President 150x150px 150x150px Activist and writer from California Author and activistfrom the District of Columbia Campaign alt=|center|150px Additional Party Nominations: Liberty Union PartyPeace and Freedom Party

Alliance Party
300px|thumb|Ballot access by state* 












 2020 Presidential General Election State Candidates List, Maryland Board of Elections, September 28, 2020.

2020 Alliance Party ticketfor Presidentfor Vice President  150x150px Businessman andperennial candidate from California Author, historian andpolitical activist from FloridaCampaign centre|150x150px Additional Party nominations: Reform Party (United States)Natural Law Party of MichiganAmerican Independent Party

Constitution Party
300px|thumb|right|Ballot access by state 





2020 Constitution Party ticketfor Presidentfor Vice President alt=|center|150x150px Former CEO of Massey Energy from West Virginia Chairman of theU.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan from MichiganCampaigncentre|150x150px

American Solidarity Party
300px|thumb|right|Ballot access by state*


















2020 American Solidarity Party ticketfor Presidentfor Vice President 150x150px 150x150px Teacher from California Chairman of the ASPfrom IllinoisCampaign centre|150x150px

Prohibition Party

300px|thumb|right|Ballot access by state

2020 Prohibition Party ticketfor Presidentfor Vice President Former Libertyville Township (IL)Trustee from Nevada Former Marine from GeorgiaCampaign

Independent candidates
Various independent candidate campaigns were on the ballot in several states, among the most notable of these are billionaire and child actor Brock Pierce and rapper Kanye West. 300px|thumb|right|Total electoral vote eligibility: 166

Brock Pierce
IndependentBrock Piercefor Presidentfor Vice President Director of the Bitcoin Foundationand former actor from Puerto Rico Entrepreneur from Pennsylvania centre|200x200px Additional Party nominations: American Shopping PartyIndependence Party of New York

300px|thumb|right|Total electoral vote eligibility: 135

Kanye West
2020 Birthday Party ticketfor Presidentfor Vice President 150x150px Rapper, producer and fashion designer from Illinois Preacher from WyomingCampaign centre|200x200px

 Ballot access 
Presidential ticketPartyBallot accessVotesPercentageStatesElectors% of votersTrump / PenceRepublican50 + DC538100%Biden / HarrisDemocratic50 + DC538100%Jorgensen / CohenLibertarian50 + DC538100%Hawkins / Walker Green29 + DC38173.8%La Riva / FreemanSocialism and Liberation14 + DC19537.7%De La Fuente / RichardsonAlliance1618634.6%Carroll / PatelAmerican Solidarity86611.1%
 Candidates in bold are on ballots representing ≥270 electoral votes, without needing write-in states.
 All other candidates do not have ballot access adding up to more than 270 electoral votes, but have write-in access to at least 270.

 Debates 
Three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate were scheduled. The second presidential debate was cancelled, because Trump was ill with COVID-19. The presidential candidates still debated in the third debate.

+ Debates for the 2020 U.S. presidential election sponsored by the CPDNo. Date  Time  Host  City  Moderator(s)  ParticipantsViewership
(millions)P1 September 29, 2020 9:00 p.m. EDT Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio Chris WallaceDonald TrumpJoe Biden 73.1VP October 7, 2020 7:00 p.m. MDT University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Susan PageMike PenceKamala Harris 57.9P2 October 22, 2020 8:00 p.m. CDT Belmont University Nashville, Tennessee Kristen WelkerDonald TrumpJoe Biden 63

Results
+ Electoral results Candidates and home states PartyVotesPresidentialHome stateVice PresidentialHome statePopularElectoral Joe BidenDelaware Kamala HarrisCalifornia  Democratic 81,268,924306 Donald Trump  Florida Mike Pence Indiana  Republican74,216,154232 Jo Jorgensen South Carolina Spike Cohen South Carolina  Libertarian1,865,7240 Howie Hawkins New York Angela Nicole Walker South Carolina  Green405,0350Rocky De La FuenteCalifornia Darcy Richardson Florida  Alliance88,2340 Kanye West Wyoming  American Independent Gloria La Riva California Sunil Freeman  District of Columbia   Socialism and Liberation85,2630 Kanye West Wyoming Michelle Tidball  Wyoming  Birthday70,2960 Don Blankenship West Virginia William Mohr Michigan  Constitution60,1480 Brock Pierce Puerto Rico Karla Ballard  Pennsylvania  Independent49,7000 Brian T. Carroll California Amar Patel  Illinois  American Solidarity39,2300Alyson KennedyMalcolm JarrettSocialist Workers6,7910Bill HammondsEric BodenstabUnity6,6470Jade SimmonsIndependent6,5340Jerome SegalJohn de GraafBread & Roses5,9490Dario HunterDawn Neptune AdamsProgressive5,3940Phil CollinsBilly Joe ParkerProhibition4,8440Jesse VenturaCynthia McKinneyGreen of Alaska3,2840President BoddieEric StonehamC.U.P3,1710Joe McHughElizabeth StormIndependent2,8430Mark CharlesAdrian WallaceIndependent2,6620Sheila TittleIndependent1,8060Conie GammonPhil CollinsIndependent1,4750J.R. MyersTiara LuskLife and Liberty1,3720Tom HoeflingAndy PriorIndependent1,2410H. Brooke PaigeThomas WitmanGrumpy Old Patriots1,1750Christopher LafontaineMichael SpeedIndependent8560Kyle Kenley KopitkeIndependent8150Ricki Sue KingDayna ChandlerGeanology Know Your Family History5460Princess Khadijah Maryam Jacob-FambroKhadijah Maryam Jacob Sr.Independent4970Blake HuberFrank AtwoodAprooval Voting4090Joseph KishoreNoorisa Santa CruzSocialist Equality3170Richard DuncanMitch BuppIndependent2130Jordan Marc ScottJennifer TepoolIndependent1750Gary SwingDavid OlsztaBoiling Frog1410Keith McCormicSam BlasiakBull Moose1260Zachary ScalfMatthew LydaIndependent290 158,383,403538

 After the election 

After the election, Trump, and many of his supporters, said that he only lost because of fraud or conspiracies. In early December, only a quarter of Republicans believed that Biden was the real winner of the election. Trump did not accept Biden's win until January 7.

 Lawsuits 
Trump and his lawyers filed over 40 lawsuits after the election, in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Biden won each of these states by a small number of votes. Some lawsuits said that states should not allow more time to collect ballots in the mail, and some said that voters should not be allowed to put ballots in drop boxes. Other lawsuits said that election workers did not make sure all signatures were correct. Judges rejected most of the lawsuits because they did not have evidence. The Trump campaign only won one lawsuit.

Many of the lawsuits asked states to remove thousands of votes, and others asked for the states to ignore the results of the election. In December, the Attorney General of Texas filed a lawsuit (Texas v. Pennsylvania) against Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, and Wisconsin, in front of the Supreme Court. It asked the court to stop these states from certifying their votes. Over 100 Republicans in the House of Representatives supported it. However, the Supreme Court rejected it and said Texas did not have standing.

 Trump campaign tries to overturn the election 
After lawsuits failed, Trump said many times that the election was "rigged". From November to January, Trump and his lawyers made phone calls to many election officials, and told them that they should not certify the votes for Biden. In the calls, they said many things which were false. On January 2, Trump called the Georgia Secretary of State and told him that Georgia (where Biden was the winner) should find more votes for Trump, so Trump could win.

 Electoral college count 
On January 6-7, members of Congress counted the votes of the Electoral College. Some Republican members of Congress signed objections to the votes (they thought the votes should not be counted) from Arizona and Pennsylvania. By the end, seven Republican senators and 138 Republican representatives voted not to count these votes. Half of senators and half of the representatives must vote to throw out electoral votes. Congress has never thrown out electoral votes.

While Congress was counting the votes on January 6, Far-right terrorists broke into the US Capitol building in protest. Members of Congress hid for hours until police forced the protestors to leave.

 Related pages 
 Learn more about the election process:
 United States presidential primary
 Caucus
 United States presidential election
 Electoral college

Notes

References


United States presidential election
Category:2021 United States Capitol attack