Follow our live blog for updates on who wins and who loses the 2020 Presidential Election
Updated at 11:35 a.m. on Nov. 7th
Electoral Ballot Count:
290 - Democratic Candidate Joseph R. Biden Jr.
214 - Republican Candidate Donald J. Trump
(34 votes remaining)
After four long years under Donald Trump's presidency and an even longer 2020, the 2020 Presidential Election has finally arrived.
The United States has never been more polarized politically and with the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice and climate change among the many other issues we face as a country, a lot is at stake as far as deciding who the next POTUS will be.
So it’s no surprise that this election cycle is considered one of the most anticipated elections in history between Republican recumbent Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
It has broken early voting records with about 100 million votes cast early. (For reference, 138.9 million people voted in total for the 2016 presidential election.) It's also perhaps the most anxiety-inducing, with cities across the United States boarding up storefronts in anticipation for civil unrest despite who wins.
Regardless, in true 2020 fashion, the results are sure to be surprising.
Here's what to know for election night:
The first of this country's polls close at 6 p.m. EST in parts of Indiana and Kentucky.
The last polls will close in Alaska at 1 a.m. EST.
During a continuing pandemic, this election has had more mail-in-voters than ever before. Because each state counts ballots differently, it could be days or even weeks before all votes have officially been counted.
What to look out for:
The results of the country's battleground states are predicted to determine the outcome of the presidential election. Most notably of those battleground states are Texas and Florida. According to Buzzfeed News, if Biden wins the election in Florida, he will win the presidency. If Trump wins Florida, however, things will still be up for grabs for either party.
Updated at 11:35 a.m. on Nov. 7th
What's the latest:
BIDEN DEFEATS TRUMP
After four long years, America can finally take a breath.
While dear Florida couldn't make the cut, Wisconsin and Michigan dried out the red tide and built blue walls. Biden's homestate of Pennsylvania turned a cool blue in his honor. Nevada managed to put its thinking hats to work and count thousands of mail-in-ballots. Even Georgia — oh Georgia, I'm sorry for ever doubting you — came over to the blue side, too.
In the end, Joe Biden broke President Obama's record for most ballots for a presidential candidate with 74,985,966 votes. Senator Kamala Harris broke boundaries in becoming not only the first female vice president but also the first South Asian and Black vice president in American history.
It's been a year full of sickness, violence and utter rage and dissapointment. Take today as an opportunity to smile. Celebrate. Scream from the rooftops and let the sun's rays tickle your skin (she's definetely bright and about today!).
Appreciate this victory. Tomorrow, the real work begins.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 1:21 p.m. on Nov. 6th
We're Almost There, Folks
It's day four of Election Day; We've laughed, cried, screamed into the abyss that is 2020.
Overnight, the so-called "blue wall" was the polls have leaned in Biden's favor in Pennslyvania and Georgia and votes are still coming in. But we can't quite make the call yet.
Philadelphia officials said it would release an update of an additional 2,000 to 3,000 votes today; The remaining 40,000 voting number will be released in the next few days.
In Georgia, things are more complicated. The battleground state has reported about 98% of votes, and is leaning in Biden's favor by less than 0.1%, according to The New York Times. As a result, Georgia's Secretary of State said there will likely be a recount in the state.
Georgia Democrats are encouraging those who voted by mail to check if their ballot was processed and counted correctly. If not, Georgia voters have until 5 p.m. on Friday to submit an affidavit form to fix those tainted ballots. The affidavit form can be found here.
In the meantime, take a breather. We'll be around to fill you in on the juicy details that come up along the way.
If you're getting tired of refreshing your browser, too, we've come up with a list of solutions on what to do while waiting.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 6:22 p.m. on Nov. 5th
For Once, Congress Might Be Somewhat Equal
For six years, republican senators have controlled the Senate. As of right now in the election, however, the Senate is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans with 48 members each.
The results of four state elections have yet to be announced: Alaska, North Carolina, Georgia’s general senate election and a special Georgian senate election to replace republican senator Jonny Isakson who resigned in August 2019 due to health reasons. All four races are currently leaning republican.
The House of Representaties, however, is in the democracts favor with 209 members versus Republican’s 190.
The chance for a divided congress is said to make Democrats hopeful that they will able to finally move a coronavirus relief package for Americans, something Republican senators have done in the past.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 5:05 p.m. on Nov. 5th
Trump Makes Petty Strides in Pennsylvania
A state appellate court approved the Trump campaign’s request to allow Republican observers to physically move closer to poll counters in Philadelphia’s main canvassing area.
Trump’s senior campaign aide declared on Twitter the decision was a “major legal victory.” Twitter has already flagged the post as misleading.
Before, Republican eyes were stationed 20 feet away. Now, they will be six feet away from the workers — as if that will magically alter the course of this election.
The attempt is intended to stall if not stop votes from being counted, as predicted by the Biden campaign.
By Samantha Bailon
Updated at 3:19 p.m. on Nov. 5th
WTF is Going on in Nevada
It’s day three and … yeah we’re just as confused as you are. In case you weren’t already aware, the huge surge in mail-in-ballots has caused an unprecedented delay in ballot counting across the US, most notably Nevada.
Clark County in Las Vegas announced it will not release results until Friday afternoon. It estimates there will be about 63,000 more votes tomorrow. Experts predict the remaining votes are expected to lean more democatic but Nevada plans to continue updating once a day. Joe Biden is currently polling at 53.1% in the county.
As for the entire state of Nevada, an estimate of 89% of votes have been counted and Biden remains in the lead (11,438 votes) ahead of Trump at 49.4% to Trump’s 48.5%, according to the New York Times.
Mail-in-Ballots have slowed down the state and they are focused on accuracy rather than speed, but the majority of mail-in-ballots should be counted by this weekend.
Nevada will count all ballots postmarked by Election Day and more are expected to arrive until Nov. 10, but all must be officially counted by Nov. 12.
The Trump campaign has already said they will file a lawsuit in Nevada, adding to the suits in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia under the claim that the counted votes are “illegal” and placed by people who either moved or are dead. A Michigan judge already denied Trump’s suit in the state, and there has been no evidence of fraudulent activity in the national election (duh, Donald).
The Trump administration losed in Nevada in 2016 and has struggled to win over the state’s largest metropolitan counties.
By Samantha Bailon
Updated at 5:12 p.m. on Nov. 4th
Biden Wins Arizona
In another win, Joe Biden won the battleground state Arizona, giving him 11 more electoral votes, according to the Associated Press. This raises his total electoral college vote to 264, only six votes away from winning the presidency.
This is the first time Arizona has voted blue in a presidential election since 1996, winning 51% of the votes.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 4:46 p.m. on Nov. 4th
Biden Wins Michigan
Democratic candidate Joe Biden has won the election in Michigan, a battleground state, with 49.8% of the votes. Though Michigan has been a traditionally blue state over the last 20 years, Donald Trump won the state by the smallest margin of the 2016 election.
This time around, however, Biden earned Michigan's 16 electoral votes, placing him with 253 electoral votes in total.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 4:11 p.m. on Nov. 4th
Trump Campaign Sues to Halt Vote Counts in Pennsylvania and Michigan; Demands A Wis. Recount
After Joe Biden secured Wisconsin, placing him at a 30 Electoral Vote lead, the Trump campaign said it will be suing to temporarily postpone vote counting in the remaining two battleground states, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
The Associated Press reported these plans after Trump’s campaign observers demanded improved access to ballot processing centers in both states. They also request that ballots that have been opened and processed be reviewed by campaign workers.
A recount for Wisconsin was also demanded as a result of perceived irregularities in select counties. Mail-in ballots will continue to be processed in Pennsylvania and Michigan until further notice.
As of now, Wisconsin remains blue with Joe Biden in the lead.
By Kaylinn Escobar
Updated at 2:51 p.m. on Nov. 4th
Wisconsin Goes Blue
The Associated Press finally declared Wisconsin in favor of Joe Biden. Earning 10 more Electoral College votes, this win is instrumental if Nevada and Michigan follow suit. If projections remain consistent, Biden will receive exactly 270 Electoral College votes, declaring his presidency official.
President Trump’s campaign said earlier today that they would request a recount in the key battleground state, though the POTUS would have to fund this if he follows through.
In the event Nevada or Michigan swing back in favor of Trump, the results cannot be declared until Friday when Pennsylvania and Georgia finish tallying their mail-in and early votes.
However, if Nevada and Michigan remain blue, the results are projected to be called on Thursday when Nevada will conclude their tally. With margins in the thousands for Nevada, results are unlikely to be declared tonight.
By Kaylinn Escobar and Veronica Nocera
Updated at 7:50 a.m. on Nov. 4th
Buckle in folks! We'll be here all week.
Good morning Little Monsters.
It's the morning after the election, and we still have no idea what the hell we're going to do.
If you're like me, you ate 12 Sugar Bear Hair melatonin gummies, said your prayers and knocked out to the sweet embrace of sleep only to wake up and not see much change in the state of our union. I've made sense of all of the numbers in the past two hours so you don't have to.
If you've managed to somehow not bite off your nail beds, get ready for the next week. Right now, this election is a massive toss-up. Most mail-in ballots, highly suspected to favor Democrats, have yet to be counted. There's a ton of paths to victory out there for both candidates but one thing remains clear: you should definitely buy a pack of Red Bull. Team Rowdy is #NoSleep and will continue to be over the next few days. Everything would be so much easier if this election was decided via Kahoot.
Here's everything you need to know as it stands on Wednesday, Nov. 4th.
Not all the votes are in, yet. Here are the states we are closely monitoring and who's pulling ahead.
TRUMP
Michigan: Trump is pulling ahead, but don't count Michigan out yet. The secretary of state said we'll have a clear picture tonight on who wins. Absentee ballots, heavily expected to favor Democrats, have yet to be counted.
North Carolina: Although ballots marked before election day are accepted until next Thursday, Nov. 12, Trump is ahead in this southern state.
Georgia: Counting finishes today, but it looks like Georgia may go to Trump. There was a massive delay in Democratic suburbs though, so who knows. Either way, we never liked UGA!
Alaska: Sarah Palin's spirit manifested this one. Trump takes the cake.
BIDEN
Arizona: Biden takes the lead, but expect a final number sometime today.
Wisconsin: Cheese-topia, don't disappoint us now! Biden is in a narrow lead, but we'll know a count this morning.
WE HAVE NO EFFING CLUE
Pennsylvania: Everyone has eyes on this battleground state, calling it the clearest indicator on who will be assuming the White House come January. Trump is significantly ahead, with an 11-point lead. We should know who takes the state by Friday, Nov. 6. There's about 1.4 million absentee ballots left to be counted, and Trump is ahead by 700,000 votes. Can Biden do it? Big meep moment.
Nevada: Expect Results on Thursday at noon, P.S.T. Biden and Trump are neck-and-neck while mail-in and provisional ballots are set to be counted over the next few days. The state is way too close to call.
PATH TO VICTORY FOR BIDEN: Biden can afford to lose Pennsylvania if he wins Arizona (likely), Wisconsin (likely) and Michigan (maybe).
PATH TO VICTORY FOR TRUMP: Donny has to retain Georgia (potentially) and hold on to the Great Lakes states he flipped in 2016 including Wisconsin (unlikely) and Michigan (likely-ish for now, but strong maybe).
See you at noon!
By: Ana Escalante
Updated at 2 a.m. on Nov. 4th
Florida votes in favor of raising the minimum wage to $15
Florida voters back Amendment 2, an amendment that will raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. The measure had support from 61% of voters, meeting the 60% threshold for passing the amendment.
A $15 minimum wage may be costly for a state such as Florida, which has had much lower wages compared to other states. The amendment may affect local businesses but will help workers have more income to support themselves.
A study done by Florida Policy Institute found that a higher wage will benefit 2.5 million people, found in The New York Times. The minimum wage will increase to $10 an hour starting September 2021, and increase by $1 every year until it reaches $15.
By Michelle Holder
Updated at 1:36 a.m. on Nov. 4th
Trump Takes Texas
Donald Trump takes Texas with 52.3% of the vote, compared to 46.2% by Biden. Trump will gain 38 electoral votes.
Trump won the state by 6 percentage points, the second-closest margin in a presidential race in more than two decades.
Texas has historically been a Republican state, and the state was on the Trump train in 2016, too. Biden struggled to overcome Trump’s lead in the rural areas and gain momentum with Latin and Hispanic voters. However, this year’s election in Texas has been competitive with candidates neck and neck in the polls. But once again, the lone star state joins the red wave.
By Kalia Richardson and Michelle Holder
Updated at 1:22 a.m. on Nov. 4th
Biden Snags Minnesota
Biden has won another battleground state, earning him 10 electoral college votes. This means he only needs 47 more electoral ballots to win the election.
Minnesota has not voted for a Republican candidate since Richard Nixon in 1972. However, a lot has happened in Minnesota, that may have contributed to the state’s political shift.
Earlier this year, George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, ushering the country into a widespread social movement that also created civil unrest. President Trump has fallen under large criticism for his approach against the Black Lives Matter movement and his resistance for supporting the movement.
By Michelle Holder
Updated at 1:11 a.m. on Nov. 4th
Oregon Ends the War on Drugs and Decriminalizes All Drug Possession
Oregon becomes the first U.S. state to decriminalize possession of all drugs for personal use, including cocaine, heroin and meth. The state also plans to invest in substance misuse treatment and focus on helping the public’s health.
This measure will remove criminal penalties for low-level drug possession offenses, including prison time. Those caught with small amounts of drugs will either have to pay a $100 fine or get a complete health assessment at an addiction recovery center, according to Vox Media.
By Michelle Holder
Updated at 12:44 a.m. on Nov. 4th
Trump Wins Florida
In Florida, the POTUS winner was back and forth — a purple blur that didn’t know whether it was red or blue. Yet again, our home is crucial to this election. Ultimately, the battleground state went to Trump earning him 29 electoral votes. He won 51.2% of the votes.
In 2016, President Trump won Florida by just a percentage point. University of Central Florida historian Jim Clark said it’s been almost a century since a Republican claimed the presidency without doing so.
According to The New York Times, early voting and previously tabulated mail ballots point to a stronger Democrat presence. That holds true for a lot of Florida counties, which are blue.
Major population hubs in South Florida –– Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach –– all went strongly to Biden. The major university hubs of Orange County (UCF), Leon County (FSU), Pinellas County (USF) and here in Alachua County (UF) helped turn these counties blue, as well.
Outside of Miami-Dade, Biden has outperformed Clinton in Florida. But compared with 2016, Trump has more Hispanic voters in the state.
By Katie Delk
Updated at 12:20 a.m. on Nov. 4th
Trump Wins Ohio
President Trump just won the battleground state Ohio, earning himself 18 electoral votes. He won 53.5% of the state's votes.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 11:16 p.m.
Biden’s Electoral College Votes Almost Doubled
Within the last hour, Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s electoral college votes have almost doubled from about 130 to about 200 votes. The said states he won were New Hampshire, Washington State, Oregon and California (which has 55 electoral college votes on its own).
Meanwhile, President Trump has won Idaho and Missouri, which are worth four and 10 electoral votes respectively.
Many of the country’s battleground states have yet to conclude a result, however.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 11:02 p.m
Black Lives Matter Activist Cori Bush Wins in St. Louis
In St. Louis, Black Lives Matter activist Cori Bush has been elected to represent Missouri’s 1st congressional district. She will be the first Black woman to serve in Missouri’s House of Representatives. As a nurse and single mother, she has been a leader of the BLM protests in Fergeson, Missouri.
By Michelle Holder
Updated at 11:02 p.m.
A Win for Gun Reform and Climate Action — Colorado Elects Democrat Senator John Hickenlooper
Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper gained a key seat for Democrats in the Colorado Senate race.
As a former geologist, he grounds himself in climate change policies aiming to transition to 100% renewable energy and zero net emissions by 2050. Hickenlooper also notably backs policies to mitigate gun violence and was applauded by March For Our Lives Founder David Hogg on Twitter.
According to Vox Media, his win was expected since Colorado typically leans blue. Regardless, his seat is a victory for March For Our Lives and climate action activists, and more.
By Katie Delk
Updated at 10:32 p.m.
First Openly Gay Afro-Latino Congressman Elected in New York
Ritche Torres (D) became Congress’s first openly gay Afro-Latino congressman on Tuesday. He won against republican Patrick Delices with 88.6% of the votes.
New York also voted for presidential democratic candidate Joe Biden and re elected Senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 10:29 p.m.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Re-elected in New York
AOC will be heading back to Congress with a landslide victory in New York’s 14th congressional district. She won 69% of the votes and beat 60-year-old Republican candidate John Cummings, according to The New York Times. This was a costly loss for Republicans, where her challenger raised around $10 million.
AOC is known as a trailblazer in the political landscape. She considers herself a socialist democrat and has advocated for medicare for all, housing as a human right and just recovery for Puerto Rico. She is also known for her proposed Green New Deal, which is an ambitious plan to combat climate change.
As an icon for many Democrats and millenials and Gen Z alike, many voters are excited to have AOC back for two more years.
By Michelle Holder
Updated at 10:16 p.m.
Ilhan Omar Reelected in Minnesota
Democratic candidate Ilhan Omar has been re-elected in the U.S. House of Representatives for Minnestota’s 5th congressional district. She easily defeated Republican candidate Lacy Johnson, with 65.6% of the votes.
Omar has been serving in the house since 2019, and is the first Somali-American and woman of color to represent Minnesota. She is also recognized as part of “the Squad” with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley.
Some of the issues she cares about include guaranteeing access to public education, providing healthcare coverage for all, fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and peace and prosperity, among other issues, according to her website.
By Michelle Holder
Updated at 10:06 p.m.
New Jersey Legalized Recreational Marijuana
The vote to legalize recreational marijuana won by a large margin, the Associated Press reported. The vote will allow those who are 21 and older to smoke as many blunts as they please. It is predicted that this win will increase the pressure for New York and Pennslyvania to legalize marijuana, as well.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 9:15 p.m.
Democrat Sarah McBride Becomes First Openly Trans Senator in Delaware
Sarah McBride has become the first openly trans person in Delaware’s senate. She won 84% of the votes, according to the New York Times. Her win makes her the highest-ranking transgender person in the country’s government.
Delaware has also voted in favor of Biden, winning him three electoral college votes.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 8:54 p.m.
In Arkansas: Trump Wins and Republican Senator Tom Cotton Reelected
The republican state of Arkansas has voted for President Donald Trump and has reelected senator Tom Cotton. The state earned President Trump three electoral college votes.
Senator Cotton has previously received a lot of controversy for his remarks claiming that slavery was a “necessary evil upon which the union was built.” He also came under fire when the New York Times published his column in which he said the nation’s governor’s should “send in the troops” in retaliation to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The column was so controversial that many New York Times employees declared the column “dangerous” for the publication’s Black employees, leading its Opinion Editor James Bennet to resign.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 8:34 p.m.
Mitch McConnell is Re-Elected for 7th term as US Senator for Kentucky
Senator Mitch McConnell defeats Democrat Amy McGrath with 56.1% of votes and is re-elected to serve as Kentucky’s U.S Senator.
Despite facing lower favorability ratings than Donald Trump at 47%, McConnell’s deep ties to Kentucky’s conservative party maintained his seat. McGrath was viewed as too liberal and inexperienced for a state notorious for voting red.
McConnell has been a target for the Democratic party and tensions have recently grown since his rapid push and hypocritical procedures to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S Supreme Justice Court.
By Samantha Bailon
Updated at 8:18 p.m.
What's the latest:
USPS Disregards Court Order to Sweep the Mail
District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the U.S. Postal Service to sweep 27 processing facilities for remaining ballots and immediately send them for delivery from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. today. His aim was to prevent a delay in the delivery of ballots. USPS disregarded the order, however.
As part of an ongoing dispute, groups of voters and advocacy groups argue delays in the mail system could lead to inaccurate election results, especially for the 28 states that do not accept votes past Election Day. Sullivan ordered USPS personnel to work late and run extra trips to increase on-time mail deliveries, and to send the court daily updates.
Today’s order came after USPS said they cannot trace 300,000 ballots.
USPS failed to sweep the mail though, and Justice Department Civil Division attorney Joseph Borso signed a response that blamed their insufficiency on a lack of time and people. He also said the postal service is working on pre-existing postal inspection processes.
Project on Government Oversight (POGO) Investigations Director Nick Schwellenbach tweeted that the agency’s “refusal” to follow the court order was “doubly concerning.” Lawyer Joe Dunman said the USPS “defied” the order.
Sullivan scheduled a hearing for tomorrow. However, contempt could be on the table, Rick Hasen said.
By Katie Delk
Updated at 8:03 p.m.
Biden Wins Vermont and Virginia
Democratic nominee Joe Biden has won Vermont and Virginia, earning him 16 electoral votes. This places him three electoral votes.
Earlier today, Vermont’s GOP Governor Phil Scott declared he has broken his ties to the Republican party for the first time to cast a ballot for Joe Biden. Scott is trudging the way for other “Never Trumpers,” a movement initiated by the Republican party to prevent Donald Trump from winning the 2020 election.
“Any small percentage of voters who no longer support him could be critical in a closely matched swing state,” Republican pollster Whit Ayres said.
By Lauren Rousseau and Samantha Bailon
Updated at 7:53 p.m.
Donald Trump Wins Kentucky and West Virginia
President Trump won Kentucky and West Virginia earning himself 13 electoral votes.
By Lauren Rousseau
Updated at 6:45 p.m.
An Unprecedented Voter Turnout
According to The Guardian, this election is on course to have the highest voter participation been in over a century. Already at least 100 million early votes have been cast, which is over half of the 136.5 million votes that were cast in the 2016 presidential election.
The US Elections Project predicts that over 150 million people could cast their ballot in the 2020 election — a 62% voter turnout. With polls around the country still open for several more hours, millions of more votes are still bound to be cast. So hold onto your hats ( preferably Biden2020, not MAGA ) and maybe a glass of wine because it's going to be one historical night.
By Taesha Jones
Lauren Rousseau is the Online Editor of Rowdy Magazine. When Lauren's not starring at a phone or laptop screen, she enjoys watching ridiculous reality television, stress-baking and listening to music. You can pitch her stories at rowdymagazine.submissions@gmail.com and find her on Instagram @laurenxrousseau
Taesha Jones is an Editorial Print and Online Writer at Rowdy Magazine. She enjoys hanging out with her cat, reading fiction novels, applying lipgloss, and memorizing female rap verses. Her passions include combatting racial injustice, raising cultural awareness, and promoting a more diversified society. Dm her on Instagram @taeeesha or email her at taeshayjones@gmail.com.
Sam is a staff writer at Rowdy Magazine. She enjoys long summer days, funk music and drinks her coffee black because she's a tough guy. You can follow her on Instagram @samanthax1999x or email her at samantha.bailon24@gmail.com.
Katie Delk is an Online Writer at Rowdy Magazine. Her simple pleasures include meditating, sitting beneath trees, writing poetry and blasting ’70s music. She cares immensely about the earth, powerful women and social justice. You can reach her at kdelk@ufl.edufor more info.
Michelle Holder is an Online and Print Writer at Rowdy Magazine. She is passionate about international affairs and travel. You can typically find her buried in a book or drinking expressos at local coffee shops. Contact her at michellecholder@gmail.com or find her on Twitter @michellecholder.