Numerous news outlets have now called the election for Democratic candidate Joe Biden, defeating Donald Trump in one of the most contentious elections in the United States.

After his inauguration in January, Biden will become the 46th President of the U.S. His victory includes Kamala Harris as the new Vice President-elect. Harris will be the first female Vice President, and the first Black and Indian American to hold that office.

The race’s deciding factor was the highly sought-after swing state Pennsylvania, Biden’s birth state. Its 20 electoral votes pushed Biden to 290, surpassing the 270 electoral votes needed to win. When AP called Pennsylvania, Biden led over Trump by only 34,458 votes.

There are other states that may increase Biden’s electoral college total. This includes Arizona, which AP has already called in favor of Biden, though other outlets leave it open. Other states that are yet to be called include North Carolina and battleground state Georgia, whose officials have already said there will be a recount.

A press release from the Biden campaign states: “I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris.”

An hour prior to Biden’s statement, President Trump tweeted that he won the election.

Previous Updates

Updated Nov. 6, 12:00 p.m.

The election has Democrats optimistic

In a dramatic turn of events in a presidential election that may stretch into the weekend, Joe Biden has gained a lead in Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Many are crediting Biden’s lead in traditionally red Georgia to Stacey Abrams. Abrams lost her election for governor in 2018 by a mere 55,000 votes and has since registered 800,000 voters.

Pennsylvania also flipped in the early morning of Friday, and its 20 electoral votes are likely to turn to Biden. Fox News called Arizona for the democratic challenger, but later rescinded its projection.

Americans are still anxiously awaiting results from Biden-led states such as Nevada and Arizona.

Updated Nov. 4, 1:50 p.m.

CNN projects a Biden win in Michigan

CNN has projected a Biden win in Michigan as state results continue to be counted. The AP has not seconded this projection yet. 99% of precincts have reported, which brings the vote totals to 48.7% and 49.8%, the latter for Biden.

There are still a number of tight races as both candidates strive for 270 electoral votes. Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Nevada continue to be difficult to predict. Michigan has 16 electoral votes. By CNN’s projections – which doesn’t include Arizona, though the AP has called it for Biden – this brings the race to 253 to 213, the latter number for President Trump.

President Trump sues in two states; demands a Wisconsin recount

Trump has sued for access to better observers where ballots are being counted, AP reports. The states in which he has filed a lawsuit are tight races in Michigan and Pennsylvania. This comes after a speech early Wednesday morning on the east coast, where he projected optimism about his road to reelection.

The campaign has asked for the counting of ballots to be stopped until there can be “meaningful” access and the ability to “to review ballots” for his campaign. He has also asked for a recount in Wisconsin, where Biden is projected to win.

Updated Nov. 4, 11:30 a.m.

CNN projects a Biden win in Wisconsin

CNN has projected a Biden win in the tight race for Wisconsin. With 99% of precincts reporting, Biden has 49.4% of the vote with President Trump trailing with 48.8%. Third-party candidates make up other portions of the vote.

This gives the former Vice President ten electoral votes from the state. According to CNN"s projections, this brings the race to 237 to 213. The latter number is for President Trump.

After Election Day, Americans continue to be on-edge

November 4th has come, and votes continue to be tallied. No winner has been determined in the presidential race, and this is primarily due to a deadlock in states such as Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina.

While it was expected that votes would take a long time to be counted due to a surge in mail-in ballots, this waiting game has still caught many Americans off-guard, including President Trump, who has asked for a recount in Wisconsin.

This long wait is not only reserved for the executive branch, but also for the senate. The Associated Press has not called a majority for the upper chamber of congress. The race is currently at 45 to 47 seats. The latter number is for the Republican party.

If the Republican Party holds on to the Senate, Mitch McConnell will hold on to his role as Majority leader. Americans are bracing themselves for the possibility that a new president may not be determined today.

Updated Nov. 3, 11:30 p.m.

President Trump makes a statement

In a tempered address to a small crowd in the White House, the President said he would take to the Supreme Court in order to stop all vote counting. “We’ll be going to the US Supreme Court. We want all voting to stop,” he said. “We don’t want them to find any ballots at 4 o’clock in the morning and add them to the list.”

He began his address by listing the states in which he claimed victory. In addition to these, he claimed a premature victory in Georgia, and expressed that his campaign had “a lot of life” in Arizona, which has been projected to swing blue.

He also accused the Biden campaign of voter suppression: “A very sad group of people is trying to disenfranchise that group of people [who’d voted for Trump]”.

Trump projected to win Texas

The Associated Press has handed Texas’s 38 electoral votes to Trump, bumping his projected total of electoral votes to 212. Democrats had hoped to flip the state, and political analysts had speculated that the historically Republican stronghold would become a swing state in the 2020 election. By winning 230 of the state’s 254, Trump has maintained a red Texas.

Biden projected to win Rhode Island, New Hampshire

With 75% reporting, the Associated Press has given Rhode Island’s 4 electoral votes to Biden, along with 4 electoral votes from New Hampshire at 80% reporting. Though these are small victories in comparison to Texas’s significant 38 votes, small victories will be crucial in determining such a close race.

Updated Nov. 3, 10:09 p.m.

Biden makes a statement

Joe Biden with his wife Jill made a speech in Wilmington, Delaware at 12:45 am local time. He began telling a crowd of voters in cars per social distancing: “Your patience is commendable.”

Joe and Jill Biden appeared to be in good spirits and positive about battleground states such as Pennsylvania. He cited that “unprecedented” mail-in votes were partially the reason for the delay in votes and to have faith in the “hard work of tallying votes.”

The former Vice President asserted that the full story of the election will not be clear until tomorrow morning. Biden ended his speech with: “Keep the faith! We’re gonna win this!”

Updated Nov. 3, 9:40 p.m.

Trump campaign disputes Fox News' projection for Biden to flip Arizona

With 73% reporting, Fox News projected Biden to win Arizona, a decision which the Trump Campaign’s senior advisor Jason Miller described as “WAY too soon to be calling.”

Biden projected to win Minnesota

The Associated Press has former Vice President Biden winning Minnesota. There are 74% of precincts reporting with Biden earning 53.3% and Trump has 44.7% of the vote. This would give Biden 10 electoral votes. According to CNN’s projections, this brings the race to 205 to 136. The latter number for President Trump.

Biden projected to Win Hawaii

New York Times is currently projecting a Hawaii win for former Vice President Biden. The democrat stronghold has four electoral votes. According to CNN’s projections, this brings the race to 205 to 136. The latter number is for President Trump.

Trump projected to win Ohio

Fox News and NBC News are both projecting swing state Ohio to go towards President Trump. The state has eighteen electoral votes. According to CNN’s projections, this brings the race to 205 and 132. The latter number is for President Trump.

Biden projected to win Virginia, Arizona

CNN is now projecting that Biden will win the Commonwealth of Virginia with 66% of precincts reporting. Biden has 48.3% of the vote while Trump has 50.1%. Virginia has thirteen electoral votes. This brings the race to 205 and 114 electoral votes. The latter is for President Trump.

Fox News is projecting Biden to take Arizona with its 11 electoral votes. The swing state went to Trump in 2016, and polling in the state showed a tight race heading into the election.

Barriers broken in House races

Democrat Sarah McBride has defeated Steve Washington in the state senate election for District 1 –– a firmly Democratic district in a firmly Democratic state. She is the first openly transgender senator in American history. Ritchie Torres has won the NY-15, Mondaire Johnson has the NY-17 and both are now the first openly-LGBTQ Black members of congress.

Updated Nov. 3, 8:30 p.m.

Fox News projects Florida for Trump

Fox News has become the first major news network to project the electoral college prize for incumbent President Trump. Currently, 98% of precincts are reporting and have Trump at 51.3% of the votes, 47.8% are going towards Biden.

CA, OR, and WA projected for Biden; UT, WY, NE, KS for Trump

With 0% of precincts reporting, Associated Press has called historically blue states Oregon and Washington for former Vice President Biden. California--the largest electoral college prize--is also projected for Biden. Trump has gained Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas. In terms of electoral college wins: Utah and Kansas have six, Wyoming has three and Nebraska has five. This brings the total to 192 to 108. The latter for President Trump.

Democrats projected to retain control of the House

Democrats have flipped house seats and all members of “The Squad” have been reelected. This includes Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. This is as news of the Democrats continue to hold power in the lower chamber. Nancy Pelosi is expected to keep her seat as well.

Illinois projected for Biden, Missouri for Trump

CNN has now projected that Illinois will go for Biden, Missouri for Trump. Illinois has twenty electoral college votes; Missouri has ten. The race stands at 118 to 105. The latter number for President Trump.

Updated Nov. 3, 7:55 p.m.

USPS declines judge’s order to sweep for 300,000 uncounted ballots

Attorneys representing the United States Postal Service have declined to conduct a sweep of their processing facilities by 3:30 p.m, citing previously established schedules between 4 and 8 p.m. It is likely that the previously established sweeping schedule will fail to account for ballots before their states' deadlines, meaning those votes will not be counted.

North Carolina elected first Congressman to be born in the 1990s; state continues to be a battleground

Associated Press has Madison Cawthorn having won with 54% of the vote. He is twenty-five years old and has been referred to as the “Republican AOC.” Jewish residents of the NC-10 raised concerns during the campaign after Cawthorn visited Hitler’s summer home and referred to the dictator as the “Fuhrer.” While Asheville is traditionally a democratic city, North Carolina-10 now has a Republican representative. He posted on Twitter after his win: “Cry more, lib.” 90% of the state’s precincts are reporting. President Trump has 49.7% of the vote while Biden has 49.1%

Kentucky senate race goes to Mitch McConnell

With 92% reporting, the Associated Press has called the race for incumbent Mitch McConnell, marking his 35th year in the Senate.

Biden is projected to win Colorado; Trump for South Dakota, North Dakota, South Carolina

Joe Biden is now projected to win Colorado, the same state that holds a now-flipped Senate Seat with John Hickenlooper who has beaten Republican incumbent Cory Gardener. Trump now is projected to hold both Dakotas as well as South Carolina.

Updated Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m.

Arkansas projected for Trump

With 31% reporting, the Associated Press has called this historically Republican-leaning state for Trump. With 6 electoral votes, this brings Trump’s projected total to 93 electoral votes, barring any upsets.

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Mexico projected for Biden

Joe Biden is now projected to win two Democratic strongholds in New Jersey and New York.

New Jersey has fourteen electoral college votes. New York is the third largest electoral college prize with twenty-nine votes. While expected to go for Biden, New York is Donald Trump’s home state. CNN has narrowed the electoral college map to 80 and 51. The latter number for President Trump.

Florida continues to be a difficult race to predict

Thus far, not a single network has projected a win in Florida.

The Wall Street Journal reports that with 89% of the precincts reporting, Trump is ahead with 50.9% of the vote while Biden has 48.2%. In 2016, Trump led in the polls pulling 48.6% of the vote while Hillary Clinton had 47.4% of Floridians.

Texas has 62% of precincts reporting

While typically regarded as a Republican stronghold, Texas is showing itself this election to be more of a battleground. The New York Times is reporting that Biden is leading with 50.6% of the vote while incumbent President Trump is trailing with 48.1% of the vote. Additionally, Biden is leading with 0.6% of the vote for absentee ballots.

Joe Biden projected to win Delaware, DC, Maryland, and Massachusetts; Trump wins West Virginia, Oklahoma, Tennessee

CNN and ABC are each projecting that Biden will win three states, the District of Columbia, including his home state where he was a senator and keeps a home. Trump is projected to win West Virginia, Oklahoma and Tennessee bringing him twenty-two electoral votes. This brings the electoral college battle to 30 and 44. The latter total for President Trump.

Updated Nov. 3, 5:10 p.m.

Vermont projected for Biden, Kentucky for Trump

CNN and ABC are projecting that Joe Biden will win Vermont and its three electoral votes.

Vermont has been a Democrat stronghold since the 1992 election, having last voted Republican for George W. Bush in 1988. The Associated Press has projected that Trump will win Kentucky, having already amassed 57% of the 380,000 votes that have thus far been counted.

Stocks rise leading up to election

With Joe Biden favored to win the election, stocks have risen 2.06% on Tuesday with the prospect of a Democratic Covid relief package.

Ballot counting begins in Georgia and Florida

Florida has begun counting Election Day votes, having already counted many of the early ballots and mail-in ballots. Early projections showed a Trump victory in Florida, but Biden has edged ahead by a slim margin. If Biden wins Florida, Trump will have a negligible chance of winning the election.

Georgia, having begun vote counting at 7 p.m. EST, has historically been a Red State, but appears to have emerged as a swing state in the 2020 election. This is partially the reason for Obama’s visit to Georgia the day before the election.

Precinct reports above 100% voter turnout

Precinct 538 at the University of Central Florida (UCF) campus is reporting 100% voter turnout.

The Orlando Sentinel reported that over 780 voters were registered which is up from 730 on October 30th. The Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office indicated on Twitter this was due to voters updating addresses changing their polling locations. UCF has in-person experiences this year with students on campus. This is also indicative of a large under-25 voter push to get new voters to the polls for the first time.

Businesses shutter across country in case of unrest

Dozens of businesses in downtown DC have boarded their windows in preparation for potentially violent protests.

Before the race

Presidential campaign comes to an end; polling hours extended and searches for USPS missing ballots

Today marks the end of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Trail with Democrat Joe Biden vying to make incumbent Donald Trump a one-term president.

North Carolina is crucial territory for both men and is currently seen as a swing state. In an effort to get all votes, the North Carolina State Board of elections voted to extend polling hours at three additional precincts in the state. This also means that there will be a delay in seeing returns as all precincts must be closed before ballots can be counted, reports WCNC.

300,000 ballots have not received exit scans from processing facilities, meaning they may be stuck in transit as the voting deadline passes. These are in facilities in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Texas, and more. All are seen as crucial states to win the 270 electoral votes. For reference, 80,000 votes could have turned the 2016 election.

A federal judge in Washington has ordered the U.S Postal Service and law enforcement agents to search for these missing ballots throughout 12 Districts.

Want to see state-specific updates on breaking results? Check out our list of states we’re tracking.

2020: The year for first-time voters

This election may see a staunch increase in youth and first-time voters, according to CNN. But some are still conflicted.

Russell Barry, a 20-year-old engineering student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, is undecided between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Barry says he will probably not vote for either candidate, but would vote for Biden if he had to choose.

A would-be first-time voter, Barry believes the most pressing issue in the election is environmental health.

“Science says we are running out of time to switch to cleaner energy sources,” Barry said. “Leaders of this country in the next four years need to take this seriously.”

Many people have expressed concern over the results of an election that will rely greatly on voting by mail and other alternatives to in-person voting. Barry, however, said he will trust the election results.

“I think voter turnout for this year will be so much higher this year than in past elections,” Barry said. Though he is worried about fraudulent voting, he thinks this year’s results will be a more “accurate reflection of what U.S. citizens as a whole want.”

Other first-time voters are excited to get involved. Colby Henry, a 20-year-old engineering student at North Carolina A&T University, plans to vote for Joe Biden.

Though Colby does not believe Biden is the best candidate, he thinks “his opponent is detrimentally contributing to the growing polarization of our country.” Colby feels that Biden has better addressed the issues he cares about most: Healthcare, student debt, and police brutality.

Still, Colby expressed his dissatisfaction with the way this election has been handled.

“There is a considerable difference between what I believe is being addressed in this election and what I wish was being considered,” he said. “I wish it was more about policy than a battle to decide if a leader should possess basic human decency.”

Colby also seemed to be somewhat skeptical about the efficiency of mail-in ballots. “The current mail-in ballot system is not equipped to handle an election during a pandemic where many people are not willing to vote in person,” he said.

Colby said he wasn’t necessarily worried about voter fraud, but instead the likelihood that the results might not be finalized on election day, and instead take several days to confirm the new president.

Joe Biden elected President of the United States

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